These dogs mean class, royalty, and loyalty. Australian Silky Terriers are a fancy, small dog breed that provides you with love, and companionship. Plus, they are adorable as heck!
Were you planning to get one of these? But you are confused if these toy group of dogs will fit into your lifestyle or not?
Worry not! As this article will tell you everything that you need to know about the beautiful Silky Terrier!
Overview
| Height | 9-10 inches |
| Weight | 6-10 lbs |
| Life span | 13-15 years |
| Exercise needs | 90 minutes daily |
| Temperament | Energetic, Social, Loyal, Prideful |
| Grooming | High maintenance |
| Hypoallergenic | Yes |
| Origin | Australia |
Origin of the Australian Silky Terrier
Silky Terriers can often be mistaken for an Australian Terrier or a Yorkshire or at first glance. Yorkies (Yorkshire Terriers) and Aussies (Australian Terriers) were the main breeds used by breeders when creating the Silky in the early 20th century.
Other breeds that might have partaken in Silky Terrier’s development include Cairn, Dandie Dinmont, and Skye terriers. These three were several of the British terriers brought to Australia by European settlers.
Silky terriers are generally larger than Yorkshire Terriers but smaller than Australian Terriers. These are from the toy group of dogs. And are the best companions for small dog lovers.
These dogs have an elegant and royal form, but these dogs are still tough enough to hunt down rodents—a job they were bred to perform.
Appearance of the Australian Silky Terrier
Australian Silky Terriers are a small breed of dogs. These fancy pups are one of the most favorite household pets. Their appearance goes like this:
1. Body Structure and Shape
Silky Terriers have slightly longer bodies but are not tall, just like sausage doge dogs. They have moderately wide chests that extend to their elbows. Their thighs are muscular and strong and feet look compact and resemble feline-like features. Their tails are just as bushy as their entire body and lie low.
2. Head and facial features
Silky terriers have flat skulls that are slightly longer than their snout. Their ears are small and set high on their heads. The eyes of an Australian Silky Terrier are small, dark, and almond-shaped.
3. Coat looks
Just as their name suggests, the Australian Silky Terriers have a long and shiny coat. It is glossy, lies straight downwards, and behaves almost like human hair.
There are four recognized coat colors in Silky terriers:
- Black and tan
- Blue and tan
- Blue, silver, and tan
- Gray and tan
Personality and Temperament
These dogs are bougee and take pride in their looks.
If they were to star in the movie, they could be the Regina George of the dog world.
Their personalities are quite matching with their looks.
1. Alert and intelligent
They are highly wary of their surroundings and can easily make the tiniest movements. Their witty nature helps them learn new tricks quickly, which makes them great companions. Even though they are tiny, do not just think they are useless. Their alertness helps them detect threats and they will bark to alert their owners.
2. Loyal and affectionate
Silky Terriers are known for their affectionate attitude towards their handlers, as they form strong bonds with them. They love being the center of attention (as they should because they are so pretty!). They are pretty sociable as well. New faces might intimidate them a bit but once socialized, they are friendliest and very playful.
3. Curious
They have a curious nature and love exploring their surroundings. New scents, objects or sounds can intrigue them a lot. Silky Terriers are always quite enthusiastic about going on adventures or playing with new toys, new people, etc.
4. Good with kids
Now most small dogs are not necessarily great with very young kids, but older kids who know how to handle them can become their favorites.
Beige Flags of the Australian Silky Terrier
Just like most dogs, Australian Silky Terriers have some traits that cannot be labeled as positive or negative.
1. Independent Thinkers
These dogs love their independence. While they are smart and intelligent, yet, they can be a bit stubborn. Only proper obedience training is the way to go.
2. Highly curious
Since they are always brimming with curiosity, they might wander off very often. Proper leash training can help ensure that this does not happen.
3. Barking Tendency
Silky terriers bark a lot! This makes them great watchdogs but might be a problem if they bark a lot, even at non-threats.
Exercise and Training Needs
These dogs are fitness freaks. They need a minimum of 90 minutes of daily exercise. You can divide the sessions into shorter periods to suit your needs. Besides this, they also need:
1. Regular walks
Regular walks to doggy parks are important for physical and mental stimulation, as they love exploring and investigating new scents and sounds. And Silky terriers also happen to enjoy being near other dogs.
2. Exciting play time
Their playtime has to be rigorous (not similar to big dogs, though). You can use rubber balls, soft toys, squeaky toys, and dog toys designed for small dogs.
3. Obedience training
Obedience training, leash training, and paw-sitive reinforcement are a few of the most crucial parts of their training stage. Or else they can start having behavioral problems and can become too stubborn to follow commands. Set clear boundaries with them.
Grooming Needs of the Australian Silky Terrier
Grooming is an essential step for pet owners. Especially for the Australian Silky terriers, their long, glossy coat can make these dogs quite high maintenance. Here are a few steps you might want to keep in mind:
1. Bathe them
Their coats are long and flowy. But it can get tangled up pretty easily and eventually lead to matting. Brushing their coat several times a week will ensure you can maintain the condition of it.
You should bathe them almost every 4 to 6 weeks or when they are too dirty or smelly. Or have been unable to groom themselves for an extended period. Please keep in mind frequent bathing may wear their skin out of the natural oils. Also, carefully wash their body and do not miss out on any of the soap that you use.
2. Brush their coat
After bath times, dry their coats thoroughly, and if possible use a low-heat blow dryer. Do not forget to brush the coat while running the blow dryer all over the body. Keep their ears clean and look for dirt or foreign particles, ear wax build-up, or infections. Use damp wipes to clean both their ears and eye areas.
3. Manicure Sessions!
The majestic and gorgeous pup needs a pretty manicure, just like you. Trim their nails regularly. Long and sharp claws can make them uneasy and can affect their movement. Moisturize their paw pads. Keep them free of foreign particles to prevent irritations and infections. If possible, go to a professional groomer.
4. Clean their teefies
Dental and good oral hygiene for such small doggies can be a hassle. Moreover, they can frequently face dental issues. The process of oral hygiene maintenance includes regular brushing of their teeth and frequent dental check-ups. Make sure to use dog-friendly toothpaste and toothbrushes suitable for small dogs (article).
Are Australian Silky Terriers Hypoallergenic?
Luckily yes! Australian Silky terriers are considered among few of the hypoallergenic dog breeds. They have a fine, silky coat and rather than fur, which helps in reducing the amount of fur and dander they produce.
However, a human needs to have allergic reactions to them as allergies can vary from person to person.
If you are considering getting one of these, you might want to spend some time with this breed or similar breed in order to identify your allergies.
Final Thoughts
Australian Silky terriers serve as amazing companion dogs and they also do not need large spaces to exist. They are adaptable and will fit in a suburban living area perfectly. As a responsible pet paw-rent, you need to take care of their coat very well, or else it will be damaged over time and can be severely matted.
They are great for houses with slightly older kids and thrive well when you engage in their play time. But as these are small dogs, they can be tough to take care of at times. So, be mindful of how you train them and there you go—A HAPPY DOGGO!
Frequently Asked Questions
Australian Silky terriers might love being the center of attention. And they are extremely affectionate. So. they love cuddling from time to time. But you must also respect their boundaries and do not try to force them to interact that is distressing to them.
For most dogs, if they would like swimming or water, it depends on how you train them. Some dogs can be okay being in water if you have introduced them to water from an early age. For others, the reactions might vary.
Yes, silky terriers are bigger than Yorkshire terriers. They weigh around 9-10 pounds whereas Yorkies weigh around 7 pounds. There is also a slight height difference.
