The Silky
Terrier, also known as the Australian
Silky Terrier, is a small-sized dog with a large personality. A fully
mature adult, weighing merely 8 to 10 pounds, is a resilient and a self-confident
dog.
He has a history of hunting small prey. Despite this,
he is an affectionate companion dog who doesn’t like to stay away from his
person.
The Silky is an adventurous and highly active dog who
is also alert. Considering its small size, its exercise requirements are not high
demanding. It can be mischievous at times.
The breed was born in Australia although its ancestors
were from Great Britain.
In North America, it is known as the Silky Terrier, whereas, in Australia
and other parts of the globe, it is called the Australian Silky Terrier.
Its highly glossy coats give it a charming look. It is
originally from Sydney in Australia and is larger than his cousin, the
Yorkshire Terrier.
<>Silky
Terrier Pictures
<>Silky
Terrier Facts
Average
Weight: 8 – 10 pounds
Average
Height: 9 – 10 inches
Life
Expectancy: 12 – 15 years
Dog Group: Toy
Group
Colors: Blue, Tan
At a Glance
Size
(1/5):
The Silky is a little longer than tall, possessing an
athletic body. Though it is a toy dog, it is built to hunt small animals.
The Silky
Terrier weight is only eight to ten pounds while its height is only up to
ten inches.
Affection
Level (4/5):
Silkies are loving, smart, and friendly. However, they
can be stubborn as well. They have all the characteristics of a best friend.
They are soft, faithful, and gentle. They like to
spend good time with owners and are considered as therapy dogs.
Apartment
Friendly (5/5):
In spite of him being highly energetic, he is very
capable of being an apartment-friendly dog.
He needs a lot of exercise, and yet he has all the
traits necessary to be a good apartment dog. Silkies remain active even inside
the house.
Cold
Weather Tolerability (1/5):
The Silky has very poor tolerability for cold weather.
Extra care will be needed to be taken during the winter season to avoid any
kind of infection from harming it.
Put winter clothes on him in cold weather as its
single coated body won’t be sufficient to provide it the basic protection
against cold.
Hot
Weather Tolerability (4/5):
Silkies can endure hot weather brilliantly. No extra
protection is demanded for the hot season.
Its silk coated body helps it to expel excessive heat
in hot weather. Its coat is quite weightless, and so it also helps the Silky in
managing its body well while moving.
Barking
Tendencies (4/5):
The Silky
Terrier dog is fond of barking and chasing. He has a high tendency to bark,
though a restrictive command like “Quiet” can be useful in curbing its
behavior.
Barking is a common trait in Terriers. It is kind of a
pass-time for Silkies. If you give him orders not to bark, he will still bark
if he thinks it is essential.
Cat
Friendly (3/5):
They are very good with anybody they get together including
pet cats. They have a high prey drive. If they see unfamiliar cats, they may
give them a chase.
Dog
Friendly (2/5):
Silkies are reasonably friendly towards strangers but
can sometimes turn out to be aggressive towards dogs.
They can sometimes be dominating with other dogs and argumentative
with other same-sex dogs.
Only if he is raised to be dog-friendly can Silky get
really well with other dogs.
Exercise
Needs (3/5):
The silky has an average exercise necessity. Due to
their size, the workout needs can be met in a small space.
Providing him with 20 to 40 minutes of rigorous
exercise every day can make him remain active and energetic for the rest of the
day.
Grooming
Needs (3/5):
Regular grooming is essential for a Silky Terrier. As a dog of a young age,
make him accustomed to grooming on a routine basis.
Brushing 2 times a week is proper, and a bath every
week or two is advised. You should always refrain from brushing a dry coat, and
instead, should spray some liquid before starting to brush.
Playfulness
(4/5):
A Silky Terrier’s temperament is nice and cool. He is
inquisitive and playful and is interested in approaching people and be held by
them.
Trainability
(4/5):
Terriers have a tendency to be highly trainable, and
so is Silky. Interestingly, they are resistant to some types of training.
Training with abuses can mean giving negative
reinforcements. Repetitive training is also not recommended. Some breeds are
helped by repetitive commands, while the Silky will resist your commands if it
finds them boring.
Intelligence
(4/5):
Their high intelligence can lead them to mischief and
destruction if handled improperly.
As long as children acknowledge their intelligence and
don’t handle them irresponsibly, Silkies are good towards them.
Mouthiness
(2/5):
Silkies have an average inclination towards nipping,
biting, and chewing. It is common during their puppyhood.
If too much of this habit persists during its
adulthood, then it can turn out to be an aggressive behavior. Silkies don’t
bite hard but should be taught against developing this habit further.
Price
Group (4/5):
The average price of a Silky is $1000 to $2000. They are included in the medium to high price
range. There are lot many things to consider while buying and maintaining a
puppy such as grooming, vet expenses, reputation of breeders, etc.
About Silky>About Silky Terriers
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The Silky
Terrier breed dog is a graceful little dog with a fine, silky coat of tan
and blue. Under this exterior of it, is a confident and zesty personality.
Many are taken by surprise by its ability to tackle
intruders, deal roughly with larger dogs, or the stamina they display in a
hike.
It has all the traits and temperament of a Terrier and
loves digging, barking, and chasing. The Silky is a family dog and is faithful.
He can’t stay alone too long in an apartment because
he always strives for human companionship. If left unsuperintended, he can
create lots of mischiefs.
The Silky
Terrier puppy requires exercise every day and it would be great to take him
for a walk.
If the Silky is exposed to children in early
puppyhood, he can become friendly with older children. The children must also
be kind and considerate towards him.
The Silky
Terrier, if handled appropriately, can add flavor and love to life.
Where Silky
T>Where Silky
Terriers Come From?
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The first Silky was born in Australia in the 1890s. He
was a cross between the non-native Yorkshire Terrier with the native Australian
Terrier.
Some of the initial offspring had the resemblance of
the Yorkie, some appeared like the Australian Terrier, while a few like the
Silky itself.
The breeds were bred until the offspring had the right
characteristics of a Silky.
In the first decade of the 18th century, a
two breed standards for the Silky were developed. The standards included
details on how the breed should move, appear, and behave.
After some years, these breed standards were merged to
form the standardization of today’s Silky
Terrier dog.
As compared to its progenitors, the Silky is larger
than the Yorkshire Terrier and smaller than the Australian Terrier.
Size>Size
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The Silky has more length than height. It is not a big
dog since it is a toy breed. It has a lean and sturdy body, suited for the
purpose of hunting small wild animals such as rodents.
Its neck is medium in size, not too long and not too
short. Its ears are small and upright. Its tail always remains high.
The Silky’s legs and feet are short and small
respectively, and its head is wedge-shaped and strong.
Interestingly, there is not much to distinguish in the
body sizes of males and females. Unlike many other dogs, the sizes of males and
females are same.
Both, the males as well as females have a height of 9 to 10 inches and have a weight of
around 8 to 10 pounds.
TrainabilityTrainability
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Although he is a toy dog, the Silky needs a reasonable
amount of exercise and training. Daily walks are his favorite mode of workout.
He enjoys playing energetically with the owner in the
yard. He also likes to visit dog parks especially where there is a separate small
dog section.
If you don’t have the time to go take the dog
outdoors, no problem. The Silky can work out well indoors as well. In a
sufficiently large area such as the hall of the house, you can play the
exciting game of fetch with Silky thereby giving it the required exercise.
Prevent other dogs to get into the territory of the
Silky, because they may get into a brawl with your Silky.
Silkies are quite able to be trained and are obedient
like students. Caution is advised while training him because he is a smart dog.
They may make up their own ways of training, so you
need to be constantly accurate while training them.
Giving positive reinforcements in a fun way can make
them highly cooperative. Housetraining can be given to them effectively with
the use of crate training.
To know how to effectively potty train your dog, visit
this link.
Grooming>Grooming
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The Silky Terrier’s coat is charming. It is long,
smooth, and glossy. His coat, beginning from the back, hangs down very long,
almost 5 to 6 inches below his belly.
To ensure a proper upkeep of his beautiful coats, a
regular and thorough brushing and combing is essential. Brushing his coat two
to three times a week (before bath time) is beneficial.
A bath every month with a dog-specific shampoo is a
must to keep your Silky tidy, free of knots, and without skin problems.
Oatmeal shampoo and Avocado shampoo will assist in
lessening the itchiness and dryness of the Silky’s skin.
In your grooming sessions, look for signs such as
lumps or skin problems. Also check whether the eyes and ears are free from
problems.
To prevent bacteria and germs from building up inside
the teeth, brush the Silky’s teeth two or three times every week. Brushing his
teeth daily is even better.
Trimming his nails one or two times a month is ideally
recommended. Be careful not to cut his nails so deep that their skin starts to
bleed.
For stepwise instructions on grooming your silky,
visit this link.
Common
Diseases<>Common
Diseases
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TARGETING
THE BONES
Legg-Calve-Perthes
Disease:
This condition affects the hip joint. Here, the blood
supply to the big bone on the rear of the dog is reduced. The head of the rear
bone connected to the pelvis starts degenerating.
The initial symptoms of the disease are limping and
atrophy of the leg muscles. These can be seen when the puppy is 4 to 6 months
of age. Surgery can help eliminate the pain associate with this condition
Patellar
Luxation:
In this condition, the kneecap separates from its
usual location. This is common in small dog breeds such as the toy breed.
Patellar Luxation occurs when the puppy is 4 to 6
months old. Surgery is required if the dog develops a difficulty to walk.
This condition causes pain in the dog and can cripple
him for a lifetime. However, many dogs can carry on with normal living.
TARGETING
THE NERVOUS SYSTEM
Epilepsy:
It is a neurological disorder that causes seizures in
the body.
Often, awkward behavior will be seen in the dog with
epilepsy, such as falling sideways with legs straight and head twisted, or
running around uncontrolled.
The causes of most seizures remain unknown.
TARGETING
THE EARS
LIFESTYLE
DISORDERS
Diabetes Mellitus:
When the dog’s body becomes incapable of regulating
the blood sugar level, this condition occurs. Symptoms most often include
excessive urination and thirst, increased appetite, and weight loss.
A proper diet and the provision of insulin can help
keep diabetes in control.
BREATHING
DISORDERS
Tracheal
Collapse:
This condition is common in smaller breeds. When the
cartilage weakens, the windpipe becomes flat, which results in obstructing the
airway.
Symptoms involve coughing, passing out, and reluctance
to exercise. Treatment options include cough suppressants, antibiotics, and
steroids. Surgery can be carried out only if other treatments don’t work.
Feeding
Feedinge class="alignleft is-resized">
Quality dog food for your Silky is highly recommended.
Feed it according to the age of the dog. Feed only puppy dog food for a puppy
and adult dog food only for an adult dog.
Give a regulated diet to your dog keeping in mind its
small size.
Give table food in limited quantity. Refrain from
giving cooked bones and food items with high fat content.
Divided into two meals, give your adult Silky daily a
diet consisting of ½ to ¾ cups of high quality dry food. For Silky puppies,
provide 1/8 to ¼ cups of high quality dry food.
Silkies are good artists and can act as if they are
hungry even after finishing food. Don’t give in to this behavior. Measure
regularly the amount of food he takes in order to keep him in good shape.
Check with your veterinarian immediately if you feel concerned about your Silky Terrier weight or diet.
The breeder must vaccinate the Silky before he is sold.
Check the vaccination certificates from the breeder. This ensures that your dog
has undergone full health checkup process.
The vets will provide certificates at the time of consultation. Protect your dog from problems such distemper, hepatitis, parvovirus, etc. Give first vaccination at the age of 8 to 9 weeks, and second at 12 weeks of age.
Silkies require enough time to be devoted to them. You
ignoring them will be hated by them. Rules must be made for them and it should
be ensured that Silkies adhere to those rules. Otherwise, they may start
creating mischief.
Keep the Silky leashed at all times since it has a
high prey drive.
Australian
Silky Terriers are not hard to train. However, because of their
smartness, they can easily take a different route if not trained constantly and
accurately.
Crate training your dog can help in housetraining, and
to adjust your dog to confinements such as hospitals if ever required.
eputable breeder,
it will cost around $1000. If you are interested in buying show dogs, then the
cost may well reach $2000.
Be cautious of local ads and online ads, as some of
these breeders are not well-informed and are intentionally cruel.
Medical needs for the Silky Terrier dog can reach to about $50 to $300. Medical costs
including neutering or spaying, blood tests, physical exams, etc. can reach up
to $260.
Accessories such as a leash, crate, and bedding can
cost about $120.
Food costs including treats and dry dog food can be
$75. Basic medical care can be almost $435 per year.
Behavior
Behavior/h3>
If the Silky is made to be with children from their
puppyhood, they can grow to be good companions of children over 10 years of
age.
The kids should be taught to be kind and considerate
towards Silkies. Poking by children will annoy the Silky Terrier.
Dogs:
They can play energetically with larger dogs because
Silkies aren’t afraid of them.
Silkies have an intense prey drive. Not only do they
chase smaller animals such as cats and rodents, they also do chase other dogs.
Always leash your dog when around other dogs to prevent fighting.
Silkies can be territorial and sometimes be aggressive
with other dogs.
Cats:
Cats will mostly be chased whenever the Silkies spot them
from a reachable distance.
With other pets at home, and especially with cats as
pets, Silkies won’t do good as companions. Thus, other pets should not be kept
along with these dogs.
Overview
In spite of his small size, the Silky is a good
watchdog, as he can readily give the warning by sound if a stranger enters his
territory.
The Silky is highly dedicated to his family despite
his independent nature. He does best when he has the company of his fellow
humans.
The dog would be happy to travel along with you
wherever you decide to go, as he is adaptable.
In spite of their long coats, they can manage them
easily. They do need regular grooming.
A Silky enjoys digging. Train him to dig in a specific
area and make sure it doesn’t dig flowerbeds or the neighbor’s area.
Barking is common in these dogs. You can control it by
giving commands. However, it is also useful as a watchdog trait.
When in the open yard, he must never be left
unsupervised, as other wild animals in the vicinity may consider it a prey.
Something
Fun about Silky Terrier>Something
Fun about Silky Terrier