Silky Terrier

Some people think they're large Yorkshire Terriers, and others think they're tiny Australian Terriers. But even though those dogs are in his ancestry, the Silky Terrier has his own identity – and isn't likely to let you forget it. Sure, he's a charmer and, at 10 pounds or so, highly portable. But he's also a smart, sassy demanding little dog with a great gift for getting his humans to do exactly what he wants them to, and being a pretty big pain in the neck (and a noisy one) when they don't. Make no mistake: He might be tiny and he might lack the usual scruffy-rough coat of his terrier cousins, but the Silky is no lap dog. Or he is, but mostly on his own terms. He's endlessly curious, full of energy and loves to play. And like most terriers, he has a great fondness for that sub-genre of gardening known as "digging huge holes in the yard" along with a well-developed interest in barking loudly and chasing cats. Train him gently but consistently from a young age to channel his cleverness and independence into activities that won’t involve noise or destructiveness. The American Kennel Club's Earthdog events offer one such possibility; agility or other active sports are others. He's also a bit difficult to housetrain, so careful training from the day he comes home is essential as well. Bigger than the Yorkshire Terrier, the Silky is a better choice for families with children, but is still much too small to be played with roughly or unsupervised. In fact, he can be a bit nippy and possessive of his toys, food, and favorite humans. And while the Silky Terrier is not a big shedder, his coat is long and – yes, you guessed it – silky, and it requires frequent brushing to prevent matting. The development of the Silky Terrier was a happy accident. In the late 19 th century, many Yorkshire Terriers were exported to Australia where they were bred to Australian Terriers in an effort to improve that breed’s blue and tan coat color. Some of the resulting puppies were shown as Yorkies, some as Australian Terriers, and some as dogs called Silky Terriers. Those Silkys were selectively bred to achieve the breed we know today. Breed standards were written for the Silky in 1906 and 1909 in Sydney and Victoria. The two standards were not quite the same, but a revised standard written in 1926 reconciled the differences. The American Kennel Club recognized the Silky in 1959. The breed ranks 78 th among the dogs registered by the AKC. The lively and spirited Silky Terrier is a confident and friendly companion. He is full of energy, and thrives in the company of a devoted owner. The Silky loves to be active, so expect him to join you as you go about your daily activities. Though he only weighs a dainty 10 pounds, he has the heart of a watchdog and will bark an alert when he thinks it is necessary. To be sure, the Silky is all terrier: alert and intelligent. His natural outlook is quick, friendly, and responsive, not overly shy or nervous. The Silky Terrier has a heart for digging, which can be upsetting to owners with well-manicured lawns. Also, he loves to chase. When he isn’t in a secure fenced area, he should be on leash. The Silky’s assertive terrier temperament can seem bossy at times, so he needs an owner who can firmly and kindly train him. A Silky Terrier’s owner must be a pack leader who is willing to devote time to him. The Silky Terrier gets along well with children, but is best around older children who are more capable of handling a small dog carefully. He is sturdy, but not so much so that he can’t be injured by a clumsy toddler. Training should begin right away for the Silky Terrier puppy. Even at 8 weeks old, he is capable of learning good manners. Never wait until he is 6 months old to begin training, which can make bad habits hard to break. If possible, get him into puppy kindergarten class by the time he is 10 to 12 weeks old, and socialize, socialize, socialize.