Australian Silky Terrier - Dog Breed Profile

Author: Dooziedog.com

Key Facts:

Size: Small

Height: About 23 cm (9 inches)

Weight: 3.6 - 4.5 kg (8 - 10 lb)

Life Span: 14 years

Grooming: Medium

Exercise: Medium

Feeding: Undemanding

Temperament: Friendly & alert

Country of Origin: Australia

AKC Group: Toy

Other Names: Australian Silky Terrier, Sidney Silky

Temperament:

The Silky Terrier is friendly, affectionate, intelligent and alert. Silky Terriers are ideally suited as household pets for both children and the elderly. They thrive on praise, but can become possessive of the family. Silky Terriers are full of character and can produce a lot of noise for their small size.

Grooming:

The longer coat of the Silky Terrier does require regular grooming and occasional trimming to keep it looking at it's best. The Silky Terrier has the advantage of not shedding seasonally like many other breeds and also tend to be odourless.

Exercise:

These small dogs adapt themselves to their family's circumstances to fulfill their exercise needs.

History:

Originally known as the Sydney Silky. The name was changed to Silky Terrier in 1955. It is believed the breed evolved from a combination of the Australian Terrier and the Yorkshire Terrier. At the 1907 Sydney Royal Easter Show there were 31 Silky Terriers entered and from that time on, the popularity of this breed remained fairly constant.

Physical Characteristics:

General Appearance: Sharp-featured, silky and compact.

Color: Rich blue or grey blue. Tan on the muzzle, ears and legs. The topknot is silver blue or fawn. Under 18 months the coat is usually darker.

Coat: Adult length is 13-15cm (5-6 inches). The hair is short on the muzzle and legs. The coat is fine, glossy and silky.

Tail: Customarily docked and stands erect.

Ears: Pointed and V-shaped.

Body: Moderately deep and broad chest. Moderately long and level back, that is slightly longer than the height.

Additional Comments:

A great household companion, that is the perfect size for indoors and doesn't demand too much exercise or food.

About the author: This article provided courtesy of http://www.dooziedog.com/dog_breeds/silky_terrier/