He is from the Land of Oz!
The Silky Terrier, better called as the Australian Silky Terrier, suffers from what psychologists commonly refer to as the Napoleon Complex.
The Napoleon Complex
…Is defined by Wikipedia as, “a theorized complex occurring in people of short stature. It is characterized by overly-aggressive or domineering social behavior, and carries the implication that such behavior is compensatory for the subject’s stature. The term is also used more generally to describe people who are driven by a perceived handicap to overcompensate in other aspects of their lives.”
You see…
The Australian Silky Terrier is hardly 9 to 10 inches tall and weighs 8 to 10 pounds yet he thinks he is a Great Dane or German Shepherd! He is funny that way, and can be compared to other little Terriers such as the Australian Terrier and the Yorkshire Terrier.
Now…
We have to say that he is actually bigger than Yorkshire Terriers or Yorkies – just a little bigger(So he’s not the smallest Terrier out there); and smaller than Australian Terriers – just a little smaller.
And while…
These guys do have a ton of “spunk”, probably the first thing that you’ll actually notice about these little gys is their gloriously silky coat. He is quite a charmer, a bit of a jester, and has you in splits with some of the cute little things he does. He is also an intelligent dog and if you’re not careful enough, he can manipulate you into giving him what he wants.
We should also point out that…
These guys are also commonly referred to the Sydney Silky Terrier, as he was bred in Sydney, one of the biggest cities in the world. So, it your looking to adopt one of these little guys, you may also want to search for them under this name as well.
Which is…
A pretty good name for them when you think about it, because the Silky Terrier is very much a Sydney dog, and is perfectly suited to living in one of those expensive apartments in the city.
But will a Silky Terrier be the right dog for you?
That’s the real question and one that we hope to help you answer for yourself after reading the following article. You see, here at IndulgeYourPet, the last thing that we would want to see happen is for one of these awesome little guys end up being adopted by the “wrong” owner.
Now…
That’s not to say that you wouldn’t be a good owner for a Silky Terrier, it’s just that there may be a “better” dog breed out there that is better suited to your lifestyle.
So, without further ado, let’s dive right in.
Australian Silky Terrier Fast Facts
Country of Origin: Australia
Original Purpose: Companion animal, vermin hunter
Height: 9 to 10 inches
Weight: 8 to 10 pounds
Dog Breed Classification: Toy Group
Life Span: 12 to 15 years
Origin of the Silky Terrier Dog Breed
The Silky Terrier is from Australia, of course. He was bred in the 1890s by Australian breeders by crossing the local Australian Terriers with the Yorkshire Terriers from England. There is still a strong similarity between the Yorkies or Yorkshire Terriers, Australian Terriers and the Silky Terrier.
Breed Standard
A breed standard for the Silky Terrier was developed in 1906 and another in 1909. There were many differences between the two breed standards. Finally, the Australian breeders reached an agreement and came out with a new breed standard for the Silky in 1926 which everyone agreed to.
The Silky is officially called as
The Silky Terrier in the United States, Australian Silky Terrier in Australia. And sometimes referred as the Sydney Silky Terrier, which was his original name.
This toy dog from Sydney was recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1959.
Physical Characteristics
The Silky is between 9 to 10 inches in height. He is a small, short-legged dog. He is long, rather than tall. He has a distinctive wedge-shaped head, V-shaped ears, almond-shaped eyes, black nose and docked tail. He moves with a lot of grace and is nimble footed.
His coat
…Is absolutely gorgeous. It’s sleek, shiny, glossy and colorful, and about 5 to 6 inches long. It’s low enough to reach the floor without actually touching the floor. His coat can be of the color red or blue with tan markings.
As you can imagine
The Silky is a high maintenance dog. You have to brush his coat for at least 15 minutes every day to get rid of the dead hair and to prevent matting and tangling of the coat hair.
Temperament and Personality
Like all small dogs or dogs belonging to the Toy Group, the Sydney Silky is an excellent watchdog. He stays alert throughout the day and wakes you up at the slightest hint of trouble with his loud barking. So he does have his uses and is not just a cute and adorable little puppy. There’s more to this little guy!
He is actually a good hunter
Don’t get fooled by his adorable looks. This little guy is a seriously good hunter of small game. You have to see him chase small animals such as cats, squirrels and rabbits. He can be relentless in pursuit.
The Silkies
…Are perfect companion dogs. They are demanding and even cunning at times, but they are also loving and affectionate little creatures. They are loyal to their owners and always curious about the world around them.
Full of energy
The Silkies may be tiny, but they are highly active dogs, full of energy and want to play all the time. They make for good playmates for well-behaved older children (not toddlers).
The only thing
They are given to barking. You’d be surprised at how much they bark. Their barking is often incessant. Hard to stop when they get started. ‘
And yes
House training the Silky puppies isn’t easy. With the right combination of firmness and love and food rewards, you can get them to behave.
Health Problems
Like all small breeds, the Silky Terrier is blessed with excellent health and has a high life expectancy of 12 to 15 years. But like all dog breeds even the Silkies are vulnerable to certain health problems such as…
- Legg-Calve-Perthes Disease,
- Patellar Luxation,
- Diabetes Mellitus,
- Epilepsy,
- Tracheal Collapse.
Fortunately…
None of these medical conditions are considered to be life threatening, they can certainly become quite expensive to deal with particularly if they become recurring issues.
This is why…
We here at IndulgeYourPet also recommend that any new pet owner take a moment and see what it might cost for you to purchase a pet insurance policy for your new animal.
Now will a pet insurance policy be right for everyone?
No, probably not. But until you fully understand what these policies “will” and “won’t” cover and how much these pet insurance policies cost, how will you know if one might be right for you?
For more information on who we feel currently offers the “best” pet insurance policies out there, we would encourage you to check out our Best Pet Insurance Policies article.
