Small
15 Years
23 Kg
Terrier Dogs
Alert, Friendly, Lively, Responsive
The Australian Silky Terrier is a small-sized dog breed belonging to the Toy breed group of the Kennel Club. It is a low-set dog that is slightly longer than tall in measurement. It is lightly built but with strong fine bones. The wedge-shape head has small, dark and almond-shaped eyes accentuated by dark eye rims, small triangular shaped ears that are carried erect, black nose, scissors bite teeth and a muzzle with a short stop. The front legs are small and cat-like with thick padding while the back legs have strong and muscled thighs but don’t appear heavy when viewed at any angle. It has well-angulated stifles and low set hocks. The tail is customarily docked and set high. It has a long, straight, silky double coat that naturally parts down the centre of the back from the stop to the tail. A newborn puppy will have a black colour but a mature dog will typically have either a grey and white or blue and tan coat falling below the body but not long enough to touch the floor. Silky Terriers stands between 23 cm. to 26 cm. from withers.
IntelligenceAll dog breeds have different levels of intellect. Some dog breeds; working dogs in particular, are very independent thinkers and have been evolved to be very intelligent. Typically, a highly intelligent dog does well in obedience training and other activities. A highly intelligent dog can be very demanding and do require lots of physical and mental stimulation. If you’re looking for a relatively laid-back dog, that doesn’t require lots of mental and physical stimulation, then you must fully understand the level of intelligence of your dog breed of choice.
Before committing to a certain dog breed, you must fully understand their intellect levels and their specific levels of energy. To keep your dog well-balanced and happy, their needs must be met and maintained.
Exercise NeedsAll dog breeds have different needs when it comes to the level of exercise they require. For the high energy dogs; which are your typical working dogs, they have a lot of energy and require lots of daily exercise along with plenty of mental stimulation. A highly energetic dog breed would suit an individual or family that is equally as active and loves the outdoors. There are also breeds that have relatively low exercise needs, such as toy dog breeds. Although they require daily exercise and mental stimulation, they’re just as happy chilling at home with their loved ones. This type of dog breed would suit an individual or family that prefers the peace and quiet and relaxation.
Before deciding on your chosen dog breed, Mypetzilla recommends that you research the exercise needs and whether you’re well equipped before committing to buying or adopting a particular dog breed.
Dogs HealthThere are several dog breeds that are known and potentially predisposed to developing health related conditions. Sensible breeding can help prevent the onset of health related conditions and this should always be taken into condition when researching your dog breed of choice. Before committing to a dog, you should speak to the breeder about any health related conditions that may affect the dog you’re looking to buy or adopt. You can also request to see any test results from genetic testing.
Child FriendlyThere are many dog breeds that tolerate children really well and are not affected by the constant noise and need for play-time. However, there are some dog breeds that don’t do very well with children and can become frustrated and snappy. That being said, all children should be shown how to handle and care for a dog in their home and should always be supervised when playing. As much as a dog can become annoyed and snappy with a younger child, the child can also become less tolerant and misbehaved towards the dog.
Mypetzilla recommends that you always supervise play-time between your children and dog. Children need to respect the boundaries and feeding time for the dog and likewise for the child. We also strongly advise that play-time doesn’t get out of control and too rough which can cause injury to both child and dog.
ApartmentThere are lots of dog breeds that are well suited to living in an apartment. It’s worthwhile noting that you need to check that you’re allowed dogs in your building before committing to bringing one home. If you do decide to own a dog and are living in an apartment, then you must make sure that they have plenty of room to roam around and frequent walks outside to prevent them from becoming bored and depressed.
Mypetzilla recommends that you check as to whether you’re allowed dogs in your apartment building and to fully ensure your apartment is dog proof before committing fully to bringing a dog home.
SheddingAll dog breeds shed to some extent, some more than others. With this, all potential dog owners should be aware of this, as it will be a matter of putting up with some hair or lots of hair being left around the house. Depending on the dog breed, there are certain times during the year where some dog breeds shed the most and this is typically around spring and autumn. However, there are some dog breeds that shed all year round.
If you’re very house-proud, they you may want to choose a dog breed that sheds very little. Mypetzilla strongly recommends that you fully research your dog breed of choice and their shedding levels before committing.
Grooming NeedsAll dog breeds require different levels of grooming. Some dog breeds are easier to maintain than others and only require a weekly brush to help keep their coat in good condition. There are some dog breeds that require regular trips to the grooming parlour and this can come at a huge cost. Either way, all dog breeds require their coat and nails to be maintained and cared for.
Mypetzilla strongly advices that potential owners research the grooming needs and associated costs with their desired dog breed before fully committing.
BarkingBarking is a necessity for your dog to communicate. However, it can also be a nuisance to yourself and fellow neighbours if it’s not kept under control. If you live in an apartment, then you’re better off choosing a dog breed that doesn’t bark as much. If you live further out and far from civilisation, then it’s worthwhile looking into a dog breed that does bark and will bark to alert you of any other company on your property.
Mypetzilla advices that you research the behaviours of your dog breed of choice and whether this would work for you and your family. It’s worth noting that dogs can be trained to bark less and this will take a lot of effort and training from the owner.
AloneMajority dog breeds form very close relationships with their owners and as a result can become very stressed when left alone for a period of time. If a dog is suffering with separation anxiety then they’re very likely to become destructive around the home as a way of dealing with their anxieties. Dog breeds that do form strong bonds with their owners are better accustomed to a household where one member of the family remains home, whilst the others are out, this is to help avoid further anxieties and destructive behaviours.
Mypetzilla recommends that all potential owners research their dog breed of choice on their bonding abilities and how well-adjusted they are to being left alone at home. It’s also worth noting that you should never leave your dog for longer than 4 hours alone at home.
TrainabilityThere are certain dogs breeds that have very high intellect and therefore easier to train than other dog breeds. There is also a downside to this; as fast as they learn the new trick or command, they can easily pick up bad habits just as quick. Other dog breeds that don’t rank as high on the intellect scale require patience and plenty of reward treats from their owners during training.
Before committing to a certain dog breed, Mypetzilla advices you to fully research your dog breed of choice and their level of training needs.
Energy LevelsAll dog breeds have different energy levels. The working dog breed has one of the highest energy levels in comparison to the low-energy dog’s breeds such as the Toy dog breed group. To keep a dog truly happy, healthy and well-balanced, their energy levels must be met.
High-energy dog breeds need lots of exercise and mental stimulation. High energy dog breeds would suit an active family or person. Dog breeds that are considered as low-energy, love to spend the majority of their time relaxing and sleeping in their favourite, comfy spot. A low-energy dog breed would suit an individual that equally loves the quiet life and relaxing lifestyle. Of course, low-energy dogs still need their daily walks and mental stimulation, just not as much as a high-energy dog breed.
Mypetzilla recommends that potential owner research fully on the type of dog breed that would suit their existing lifestyle and to also take into consideration the dog breeds energy levels and exercise requirements.
Dog friendlyBefore you decide on what dog breed would be suitable for you and your family, you must consider whether they’re a friendly dog breed and if you already have other pets within the household. For homes that already have dogs and other domestic pets, then it’s wise to choose a dog breed that has a friendly personality and temperament.
There are some dog breeds that mix well with other dog breeds and there are others that don’t suit one another and this could potentially cause issues later on down the line.
Another important point to consider is whether the dog breed of choice is friendly towards people and children.
Mypetzilla recommends to research fully on the right dog breed for your family and to also consider their temperament and characteristics.
The Australian Silky Terrier’s true origin is somewhat clouded because there are no true written records that exist prior to the late 19th century when the breed first appeared in Australia. It was commonly called the “Sydney Terrier” during those periods because it was primarily found in Sydney.
During the colonial periods, various small breeds of terrier dogs from England were brought to Australia via ships and were interbred over the years to produce a broken-coated terrier type dog. From this early type, broken-coated blue and tan coloured dogs appeared in Tasmania during the early 1800s, used as watchdogs to alert the owners of any approaching strangers. During the same period, some of these early broken-coated dogs were exported back to England and crossed with the Dandy Dinmont Terrier. Some of these offspring were eventually brought back to Australia by breeder McArthur Little in the later part of the 19th century and were further crossed with the Yorkshire Terrier to produce a dog with a longer, softer and smoother coat which we see in today’s Australian Silky Terrier.
The keenly alert, friendly and responsive Australian Silky Terrier is a loveable breed that enjoys playing ball. It is a quick learner and is consistently ranked high in learning abilities. As a toy dog, the Silky Terrier is a true lap dog that loves to sit on laps and always by his/her master’s side. It has a curious personality which makes it a wonderful companion but it can also be an enthusiastic digger when left alone with nothing to do, but despite its sociable character, this otherwise passive breed is also a good watchdog. It is fairly inactive indoors and will do good in an apartment setting or in a rural home.
Training and exposing the Australian Silky Terrier to other animals, especially non-canine pets at an early age is important for it to co-exist peacefully with them. The Silky Terrier was originally bred to hunt and flush out rodents so it has a high tendency to chase other small animals in the house particularly rabbits, hamsters, cats, guinea pigs and other non-canine pets. Training should be calm with positive reinforcements from a firm owner which is not difficult because this breed is very eager to learn new things. Train the dog to be obedient to every member of the family including children so that it knows its place in the pack. An untrained Silky Terrier will have a tendency to become protective, snappish, demanding and prolific barker.
The long, shiny, straight, silky coat of the Australian Silky Terrier requires an enormous amount of grooming time in order to stay beautiful and healthy. It must be brushed and combed on a daily basis because it is susceptible to tangling and matting. Bathe on a regular basis with a mild dog shampoo to keep the coat wonderful and shiny and the skin moisturized to prevent itching and allergies. It is a hypoallergenic dog that sheds little to no hair which makes it a good pet for people suffering from allergies.
This feisty breed is generally healthy with a few minor health issues, including:
It is also susceptible to diabetes, epilepsy, and tracheal disorder although very uncommon.
The Australian Silky Terrier is an active breed that likes to run and play in an open space, particularly a fenced yard or in a house with an adequate open space. A thirty-minute walk on a daily basis is enough for this lively breed. Do not expose the dog to extreme heat. Give plenty of water when the climate is hot and humid.
Being affectionate, cheerful and sociable, it makes for a wonderful companion to children and other dogs in the household, but the same may not be true with non-canine pets such as cats, rabbits, hamsters, canaries and other home animals because of its hunting instincts. However, early socialization will other animals will correct this issue.
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