Silky Terriers have existed for many years now, and their creation goes back to the 1800s, where a Yokishare Terrier was crossed with an Australian Terrier, where the goal was to create a dog with a more muscular body than the Australian terrier, but with its fur being like Yokishare’s fur.
The dog’s name has been changed multiple times, from the Australian silky Terrier to Sydney silky Terrier. Still, ever since the breed came to the US, it has been accepted as a Silky Terrier, and ever since then, the breed has gained a lot of popularity.
Silky terriers are a good choice for families with children but still should be looked after and are too small to be played within a rough way.
What does Silky Terrier Look Like?
Silky terriers are believed to be real-life “toy terriers.” They are a bit longer than they are tall, their ears are small and pointed upward, and they have small almond-shaped eyes.
The Silky terrier’s tail is docked and pointed up; the real Silky terrier should be built as though it is ready to hunt for small rodents.
The hair of Silky terrier is one of the features that makes them so special, it is silky and straight, and in comparison to Yorkshire terriers, it does not come down to the floor. The color of Silky terriers fur is blue and tan.
Silky Terrier Temperament
Even though they are small, they are not those tiny dogs that can be carried around in a bag all the time.
They are very playful and energetic, and they would go rodent hunting if they had a chance, but luckily they are small, and their playing needs can suffice when playing around the house or your backyard.
But be careful if you have just planted your favorite flowers since, just like any other terriers, Silkies love digging and are very hard to train when it comes to it.
They are very good watchdogs but are also too small to be guard dogs. They are very friendly with people and won’t be aggressive towards guests, but they might be aggressive towards other dogs or cats if they are not socially trained.
All in all, Silkies are playful and just looking for a good time, but they have high “playtime” expectations, so make sure to make them fun with toys and treats, or otherwise, your Silky will quickly get bored.
Are Silky Terriers Good Family Dogs?
Yes, silky terriers are good family dogs. Still, because of their aggressive personality, we don’t recommend buying Silky Terriers if you have children that are younger than ten years of age.
You are probably asking yourself why? It is because Silkies can get stressed with the energy levels of a small child, so we recommend getting one if you have a more mature child.
Otherwise, Silkies are very family-oriented and will have a strong bond with their owner.
How Big Do Silky Terriers Get?
Silky terriers’ size depends on their sex, meaning that female Silkies can get up to 9 inches tall, while male Silkies get up to 10 inches tall. They are smaller dogs, but they have the biggest of hearts.
How Much Do Silky Terrier Weigh?
Their weight also differs depending on their sex, so male Silky terriers can weight anywhere from 9 to 11 lbs, and females weigh anywhere from 8 to 10 lbs.
It is essential to keep your Silky terrier slim and fit, so it can live up to its full potential.
Do Silky Terrier Shed?
The Silky Terriers sheds very little, or not at all. Thus, and because their hair grows constantly, they should be groomed and professionally trimmed regularly.
They are dogs that require a lot of brushing, at least once a day, so they could keep their silky and beautiful hair because they are prone to tangles, which you don’t want your Silky to have.
But remember that their hair should never be brushed dry; always spray it with water, at least before you brush their hair.
How Often Should You Bathe a Silky Terrier?
Bathing the Silky terrier is very important and should be done every week or every two weeks at a minimum. They require bathing to avoid tangling.
When you are bathing your Silky terrier, it is important to choose the right products because some can be bad for your Silky’s hair, and you defiantly don’t want that. While bathing your Silky apply its shampoo in downwards motion to keep the hair in place.
To get all the dirt out, make sure to keep on using downward motion; when you are done with rinsing the shampoo out of its hair, make sure to use a conditioner and apply it in the same way you did the shampoo.
When you are almost done with bathing, your Silky cool the water down and rinse to make sure you got all the product out of its hair.
Once you are done with the shower, make sure to use a towel to squeeze the water out of its hair, and always remember to use the downward motion because, in this way, you’ll make sure to avoid tangling.
Do Silky Terrier Dogs Bark a Lot?
Just like any other terrier, Silkies are known to bark if they see anything new or interesting around them. They are known for barking a lot.
But, when your Silky is younger, you can train it by stopping it before it even starts barking because if you don’t, it will most likely become a habit, and you won’t be able to train it afterward.
Is Socializing Important for Silky Terriers?
As we mentioned above, it is very important to keep your Silky terrier social; from a young age, try to surround your Silky with people, as well as other puppies, because if you don’t do so, you may have a problem to yourself when your Silky grows up.
Since they can become more aggressive towards other dogs, and can be scared of people, and suspicious of newcomers in the house, which can be a problem for the Silky terrier owner.
We are not saying that whit Silky terriers; you have to have people around always when you first get them, but to make sure you make your Silky interact with your guests and other puppies whenever they are around.
Are Silky Terriers Hypoallergenic?
Yes, Silky terries are hypoallergenic. Because they don’t shed and have no undercoat, Silky terriers can be perfect for people who have any pet-related allergies.
Although they are hypoallergenic, we don’t recommend getting one before testing your allergies by spending some time around the breed before you get a Silky terrier.
You must be wondering why. Well, it is because no dog is 100% hypoallergenic, and you don’t want to think that you got yourself the perfect best friend, only to find out that you won’t be able to be its best friend.
Are Silky Terriers Easy to Train?
When using treats and praises, Silky terriers can be very easy to train, but don’t ever try to use violence with Silkies since they can be stubborn, and they will do the opposite of what you asked if you ever try to use violence with them.
One of the tasks that Silky terriers can be a bit difficult to train in is barking because, as said earlier, if it is not done on time, you probably won’t be able to teach your Silky not to bark around the house.
And another thing that can be a bit challenging with Silkies is that they can be very possessive of their food and toys, so make sure to train your Silky to share at an early age.
We also don’t recommend letting your Silky off the leash unless they are in a closed-off area because they are very fast, and once they see something that interests them, they might run away.
Housebreaking with Silky Terriers
Just like any other toy dog, Silky terriers are difficult to housebreak. Because of their size, they can hide behind your sofa or couch and do the deed, which you won’t see, and for that, you won’t correct it, which allows the dog to do it again and again.
That is why it is very important to keep a tight leash when it comes to housebreaking and trains your Silky terrier as soon as you get it.
Do Silky Terriers Have a Prey Drive?
Yes, Silkies have a very big prey drive. This is one of the main reasons why keeping your Silky terrier on a leash is important; as soon as it sees any other animal, including rodents, cats, and even other dogs, it can easily wander off, and you may never see your dog again.
So keep your Silky leashed, as said above, when you are in an unsecured area. They might not be the best choice for people who have other small animals.
Can Silky Terriers be Kept in a Yard?
Silky terriers are usually house dogs and are very sensitive when it comes to cold weather. They don’t cope with it very well and get sick if they are left outside easily.
Silky terriers are not good when kept in a yard, too, because they can easily dig a hole in the ground and go under the fence if they see something interesting over it.
Anyway, Silkies are not good guard dogs because of their size, so we recommend keeping them inside the house if you are getting one.
Silky Terriers and Their Food
Food plays an important part in your dog’s life, and it is very important to get the best quality food possible for your dog; not only that but, it is important to measure how much food you are giving your dog.
The amount of food that your Silky takes in should be determined by their activity and not only how hungry it is. These dogs can easily trick you into giving them food all the time, and we all know that dogs are hungry most of the time.
If your dog is an active dog that gets regular daily exercise, you would want to give it more food than give a dog that doesn’t get any exercise throughout the day and just likes to lay in bed all day long.
Determining if your dog is overweight can be done by doing an eye test and a hands-on test. Look at your dog and see if you can spot its waist, then press on his ribs; you should be able to feel them without pressing too hard.
If you can not, rest assured that your Silky is overweight, and you need to lower its food input.
The recommended amount of food is ½ to ¾ of the cup of dry dog food two times a day. And when it comes to puppies, they will need anywhere from 1/8 to ¼ a day.
Don’t leave the food out all day for your dog to eat whenever he feels hungry because that can lead to your dog turning obese.
Silky Terrier Behavior Problems
As far as behavior problems go, Silky terriers don’t have many. As we mentioned above, problems that Silky terrier owners can face are their Silky barking too much around the house, or not being aware of its size, and being a bit too aggressive towards other dogs.
Both of those things can be avoided with the proper training and a lot of love and care. These dogs are very smart, so it will be very easy for you to solve any behavior problems, but make sure you start from a very young age.
Silky Terrier Health Problems and Lifespan
Our Silky friends have a lifespan of 11 to 14 years, and here are some health problems that they could be facing.
Still, before we dive in, we would like to recommend that if you have any health concerns about your Silky, consult with your veterinarian before making assumptions on your own.
Also, we think that finding a good breeder plays an important part since it is best to know that your dog did not inherit any diseases and get a healthy dog that will live as long as naturally possible.
The health problems our Silkies can have are diabetes, epilepsy, allergies, patellar luxation, Legg-Perthes disease, tracheal collapse, and Cushing disease.
Remember to keep Silky’s life as healthy and active as possible to avoid any of the health problems we mentioned.
How Much do Silky Terriers Cost?
Silky terriers are on the more expensive side when it comes to dog prices, and when it comes to Silkies, the breed quality also comes with a price tag. A puppy Silky terrier can cost you anywhere from $1000 to 2000$.
Where to Buy/Adopt Silky Terrier Dog?
There are plenty of pet shops on the internet and around the world where you can buy your Silky terrier dog, but it is out of utmost importance to look for a Silky terrier from a good dog breeder.
If you wanted to adopt one, they could be found in local shelters, but the person at the shelter might not recognize the dog, and they might label it as a terrier mix or Yorkshire terrier.
But, when choosing to opt with buying the Silky terrier from a breeder, you need to look into certain aspects, like do they have the Canine Eye Registry Foundation (CERF) certificate that says that the dog is free of any eye diseases and the Orthopedic Foundation of America (OFA) certificate, where it is stated that the dog has normal knees.
How to Find Out Which Silky Terrier Is the Best from The Litter?
It depends on what you are looking for. But, if you are looking for a calm and polite puppy, then defiantly don’t listen to your friends who will tell you to let the puppy choose you.
This is because the most energetic and playful puppies will run-up to the buyer first, and if this is not what you are looking for, we suggest looking at the shy puppies that usually get left behind.
When buying a Silky terrier, something to look after is if you see that the puppy you have your eye on has his tail hidden and is too shy and doesn’t want to have any interaction with you, it is not the right choice.
This rule should be especially be followed by the people who have kids. Also, the gender of your puppy plays a big role when it comes to choosing the perfect puppy.
