Dog
Group:
Toy 
Silky Terrier Champions
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Pronunciation:
sil-kee ter-ee-er
Breed Description:
The Silky Terrier breed of dog is a fine boned breed of dog that should be small and toy sized in stature. They should have a delicate appearance without looking like they are too fragile. The breed should be slightly longer than they are tall and they should have short legs that make them low to the ground. The head of the Silky Terrier should be wedge shaped and the small ears should be pricked. The top line should be level and the tail should be medium in length.
The coat of the Silky Terrier should be very long, measuring 5 to 6 inches when at its longest. There should be a full part down the back of the dog and the coat should lay flat against the dog on either side. The hair on the head is commonly kept in a top knot and the overall texture of the single coat should be silky. The Silky Terrier has only one coat color and that is blue with tan markings.
Temperament:
The Silky Terrier breed of dog is the quintessential "big dog in a little dog's body." The breed is known for the confidence, boldness and their spirited nature. This is a dog that won't back down from anything and they can often get themselves into trouble simply by following a challenge. When they aren't pursuing a challenge, the breed is known for being a very happy breed that is a wonderful companion. They thrive when they are with their owners and they usually get along well with children, although their small size makes them better with older children. The breed can be very friendly and while they can learn to adapt to life with other dogs, they can be aggressive towards them. The breed does have a high prey drive and is not recommended for homes with small non-canine pets.
Height:
The average height for a Silky Terrier is between 9 to 10 inches.
Weight:
The average weight for a Silky Terrier is between 8 to 11 pounds.
Health Problems:
The Silky Terrier breed of dog is considered to be a healthy breed, however, they can suffer from a number of health problems including Epilepsy, Tracheal Collapse, Intervertebral Disc Disease, Diabetes Mellitus, Patellar Luxation and Legg-Calve-Perthes Disease.
Living Conditions:
The Silky Terrier breed of dog is versatile when it comes to living conditions and they can live in both apartments and homes with yards. They should not live outdoors and do best when they are inside with their family as a companion dog. A fence is important with this breed because they can have a strong prey drive and may chase other animals.
Exercise:
The Silky Terrier breed of dog is an active breed that requires between 20 to 30 minutes of exercise each day. Generally, two good walks will meet their needs but it is also important to give them an opportunity for off leash exercise as well.
Life Expectancy:
12 to 15 years
Grooming:
The Silky Terrier breed of dog can be very difficult to groom and if you keep them in their natural coat, you should expect to brush them on a daily basis. In addition, it is important to use a leave in conditioner before you brush the dog to prevent the hair from splitting and breaking. Some hand stripping may be required to remove mats and the hair will need to be put up in a top knot over their eyes. Bathing should be done on a weekly basis as well as cleaning their ears. Nails should be done once or twice a month.
Origin:
The Silky Terrier breed of dog was developed in Australia by crossing the Australian Terrier with the Yorkshire Terrier. The result was a small, silkier version of the Australian Terrier and the breed, also known as the Australian Silky Terrier was born. The development of the breed occurred in the late 1800's and by the early 1900's they were a very popular breed. By the 1920's, the current breed standard was created and in the later 1950's the breed was already established in North America and was accepted by the AKC. Comments
The standards for all the breeds accepted to the AKC are used here for breed information, and those not part of the AKC are resourced from FCI standard information, where it is written and coded into the club rules for those breeds.
