The Silky Terrier has an interesting point of origin. During the late 1800s, many Yorkshire Terrier dogs from England were brought to Australia. Most of these dogs were colors of tan and steel blue. They were then bred with Australian Terriers who had tan and native blue colors. These breeding efforts were designed to create a dog with improved coat color while maintaining its robust conformation.
Many of the descendants from crossing these breeds started to appear with a slightly different look and were named the “Silky Terrier” because it was thought that an entirely new breed was starting to emerge. They were medium in size and coat length, as compared to its parental stock.
Silky Terriers started to interbreed and within a very short time had produced its own strain. There were two breeds standards that were drawn up since the dog had originated from two different areas of Australia. One standard was created in 1906 and the other in 1910.
The major disagreement was the difference in weight. Finally in 1926, a standard was revised which encompassed all areas from both sides. Compromises were made and the name “Australian Silky Terrier” became official in 1955.
During that same year, the Americans had officially named this breed the “Silky Terrier”, dropping the Australian description. And soon after it was recognized by the AKC. Although this dog breed is not rare, its popularity has been slow to grow as common household pets.
Personality
Although small and considered to be a lapdog, the Silky Terrier is not as mellow and quiet as you might think. It is feisty, playful, and quite bold when it comes to taking action. This dog can be a bit aggressive towards other dogs and house pets. Most Silky Terrier dogs tend to be a bit stubborn when it comes to training, but then that’s a general trait of most terriers. These dogs have such a beautiful personality, if you get the chance to meet one, you’re sure to fall in love with them.
Taking Care Of Your Silky Terrier
Silky Terrier dogs tend to require a bit more exercise than other toy breeds. Like most dogs, they love to take plenty of walks on the leash and prefers to have an area outside in which they can roam free (fenced in of course). This dog breed is not meant to live outdoors. Grooming requirements should consist of a thorough brushing every other day to keep the long coat from matting.
Health Information
The average lifespan of the Silky Terrier is approximately 12 to 13 years, with some living as long as 16 years. Considered to be one of the healthiest of dog breeds, there are absolutely no major health concerns to worry about and the only two minor issues include Legg-Perthes and patellar luxation.
Thanks for spreading information on my favorite breed. I have a 2 yr old silky male and a 10 wk old silky female. They are truly my ‘other’ children. I will disagree with you on the barking issue. My silkies only bark when the doorbell rings, or someone knocks on the door. Otherwise, they may give a warning growl to something that scares them.
They are a delightful breed, and with the help of a seasoned breeder and silky kennel close to our home, my female will be shown in AKC shows, and eventually we may have a litter or two to help spread a little bit of silky joy in the Mississippi/Tennessee area before she is spayed.
Also, if you keep the dog in it’s original coat length, daily brushing is required to avoid matting. The minute they step outside their hair begins to mat.
Once again, thanks for the info for people.
Thank you Angela! And thanks for your comment. I love Silkies, they are beautiful dogs. I’ll edit this article, re the barking. Also, from memory, I believe Silkies don’t shed or have a ‘doggy smell’. Can you confirm that? I wanted to add that to the article, because I think it’s an important consideration for many people, but I just wanted to confirm it.
It’s great you are going to breed from your female, and I’m sure anyone who has had some contact with Silkies will absolutely fall in love with them.
You are absolutely correct. Silkies are considered a ‘no shed’ breed. They have a undercoat that will shed a tiny bit throughout the year, but otherwise, no shedding problems. I won’t go so far as to say no doggie smell, lol, because my two love to get dirty and wet outside. But, in winter, when they are indoors alot more, the bi-weekly bath keeps them fresh and neat.
Thanks again for your great work.
Thanks Angela! I will add that to the article. Now I just need to get some nice photos to add to it. If you have any you wouldn’t mind me using, please feel free to let me know
I’m aiming to get some nice photos of all the dog breeds to go with the articles. I can’t afford to pay for photos but I’m more than happy to include an attribution link. All my dogs are mixed breed rescue dogs, but I still love trying to work out what breed mix they are. There are definitely both physical and personality traits that come through in each of them.
I’m also considering setting up a public gallery, where dog lovers can sign up and create a gallery of their dog photos. Free to join of course. What do you think? Would you be interested in participating in something like that?
I would be happy to send you a couple of pics. I actually have pics of my silky terriers, pictures of a purebred american pit bull, and my mixed breed lab/??. How should I send them to you?
I think it is a great idea to set up a public gallery. People love their animals and love to see others animals.
Hey thanks Angela! So sorry I didn’t reply sooner, it’s been a crazy, busy week! I’ll email you so that you have my email address and you can send them to me that way if that works okay for you. I look forward to seeing them