Origin

The Australian Silky terrier originated from Yorkshire terriers that have been bred with other terriers. Yorkshire Terriers were developed in the northern parts of England mainly as companions or pets. But because of the strong industrial appeal, people have migrated to neighboring countries, including Australia.

Immigrants have brought their terriers with them, and the breed has been met with enthusiasm in their new home. Importation and breeding were rampant in Sydney at the time. Mixes of Australian terriers and Yorkshire terriers became popular. Terriers were found to be great rat catchers, which added more to their appeal.

Australian Silky Terrier with collar

In 1959, the American Kennel Club recognized the Australian Silky Terrier as a breed. In the 1950s, the breed had a surge of popularity in the US. But, even so, they weren’t widely known. The Silky Terrier is also known as the Sydney Terrier, the Sydney Silky, the Sydney Silky Terrier, and the Silky Toy Terrier.

Traits and Behavior

Silky Terriers are more of a working dogs than they are toy dogs. They have the same tenacious terrier temperament but are more sociable than their cousins.

They are quite affectionate to the people they are familiar with and would love to be around their favorite people.

They are not aggressive towards strangers; in fact, some of them are polite towards them. Unlike other breeds, Silky terriers are independent and can be left alone.

Even though they are friendly, befriending a Silky terrier and making it to his list is not that easy.

But with love, care and affection, he will eventually come around. They are also bold and daring, but some are shy and timid.

Silky terriers are easily fazed by quick and jerky movements, and they couldn’t handle rough housings. Thus, they are not ideal around children.

This breed is intelligent, obedient, sociable, and independent. But, they can also be stubborn and aggressive if not trained properly.

Pet Care and Diseases

A condition common in small dogs is the “Toy dog Syndrome” in which the owner fails to train his dog-like larger sized dogs. Silky terriers are very vocal and if not trained properly, they can develop undesirable behaviors.

Australian Silky Terrier on bed

Due to their high energy, they need more exercise than most toy breeds. They need at least long daily walks and occasional games that involve burning a lot of energy. The average owner can, however, provide this breed with its required exercise.

Silky Terriers have high grooming requirements due to their long coats. They need professional grooming several times a year to keep their coats silky. Their hair should be constantly trimmed, especially around the legs and feet. They also need regular baths to keep their coats clean. However, this breed is not a known shredder.

Australian Silky Terrier long coat

This breed is considered to be the healthiest of the terriers. But, like most toy breeds, they are still prone to injury. Health problems include Hypothyroidism, Hypoglycemia, Diabetes, Allergy, Dysplasia and Epilepsy.

Appearance

Australian Silky Terriers are easily mistaken for the more popular Yorkshire terrier because they have similar builds and appearances.

Silky Terrier small

Like any other toy breeds, Silky Terriers are very small, standing at about 9 to 10 inches and weighing only 8 to 11 pounds.

They have a long body and short legs. The ideal Silky should be 20 percent longer than they are tall. But don’t let their looks fool you; Silky Terriers are extremely sturdy and strong.

Silky Terriers usually have a relatively short tail and free of feathering. They have a proportionate head with small, dark oval eyes. Their ears are small in comparison to their size, but they may look larger because they are erect.

As their name suggests, they have a beautiful coat that is similar to their Yorkshire cousins. It is fine, glossy, flat, straight, and, of course, silky.

They have long hair, but not excessively so that it impedes movement (Silky Terriers should still be able to run freely.)

Silky terriers should have a blue and tan color scheme. They may be darker and tan markings are present around the ears, muzzle, cheeks, legs, and feet.

General Information

The age expectancy for the Australian Silky Terrier is about 14-15 years. The litter size is around 4 to 5 puppies. Other Names for this breed are Silky Terrier and Sydney Silky.

Breed Club

Visit these dog club websites dedicated to Australian Silky Terriers. Click this link:

http://silkyterrierclubofamerica.org/

http://www.australiansilkyterrierclub.org.au/