SILKY TERRIER
APPEARANCE
The Silky Terrier is a small, compact, dog with small, erect ears, and a sweet yet alert expression. The coat of the Silky Terrier is luxuriously silky (hence the name), and is long and fine. The coloring of the coat is blue and tan. These dogs weigh in at around 10 pounds and reach around 9-10 inches in height.
PERSONALITY
Lively, spirited, and full of energy, the Silky Terrier is a confident and charming little dog with plenty of character. These are friendly and cheerful dogs, and are very adaptable and intelligent. The Silky Terrier, while affectionate to its master, is hardly a gentle lap dog. It is very boisterous and playful and generally enjoys the company of children. They express their curiosity by digging.
TRAINING
Training the Silky Terrier shouldn’t be too much of a problem, as they are quick to learn and responsive, making them ideal for inexperienced owners as well as the more experienced. These dogs may be small but they have plenty of courage and a curious streak. Housebreaking the Silky Terrier may prove difficult, and owners should look out for his possessive streak when it comes to his belongings and food.
EXERCISE
Being a very active breed, the Silky Terrier will enjoy being allowed to run around and play. However, it can easily adjust to its owners living conditions.
SOCIALIZATION
You should socialize your Silky Terrier early on to promote a stable temperament and sociable personality, as some can grow to be suspicious. The Silky Terrier gets along well with children, but is best around older, gentle children as he doesn’t take kindly to boisterous kids and being handled roughly. They will get along okay with other pets, but may be quarrelsome with dogs of the same sex. He does have a tendency to chase other animals, even if they are bigger than him. He will bark to announce visitors, and can make an effective watchdog.
LIVING CONDITIONS
The Silky Terrier can easily adapt to small living areas. They are very active indoors and do not require a large yard.
GROOMING
The Silky Terrier is not a particularly high maintenance dog, despite his silky, long coat. You can brush the coat every few days to keep it looking silky and smooth. Occasional clipping or trimming can help to keep the coat a little shorter, and you should trim the hair around the bottom for hygiene reasons. These dogs are low shedders, and are well suited to those with allergies.
HEALTH ISSUES
The Silky Terrier has a life expectancy of around 13-16 years, and there are a number of health problems linked to the breed. Some of these include Legg-Perthes, luxating patella, epilepsy, collapsing trachea, and allergies. The parents of the Silky Terrier puppy should have OFA and CERF certificates.
HISTORY
The Silky Terrier originates from Sydney, Australia, and is the result of crossing Australian Terriers with Yorkshire Terriers. They were developed as rat hunters and pets, and the breed was registered with the AKC in 1959.
