by Raven Lebeau

Created on: March 04, 2009   Last Updated: January 30, 2010

The beautiful Silky Terrier is designated by the American Kennel Club as a member of the Toy Group. Toy dogs are small breeds whose main purpose is providing companionship for their owners. Other popular toy dogs include Pugs, Toy Poodles, and the Silky Terrier's close relative, the Yorkshire Terrier.

The Silky Terrier breed originated in Australia in the late nineteenth century. Yorkshire Terriers were bred to Australian Terriers in order to improve the color of their coats. In 1906, the breed standard for the Silky Terrier was developed in Sydney, New South Wales. This is why the breed was originally known as the Sydney Silky Terrier. In 1959, Silky Terriers were recognized by the American Kennel Club and placed in the Toy Group.

In appearance, Silky Terriers closely resemble Yorkshire Terriers, having a wedge-shaped head, small eyes and nose, and pointed ears. Like other toy dogs, Silky Terriers are a small breed; the typical Silky Terrier weighs between eight and eleven pounds. The most distinctive feature of a Silky Terrier is, of course, his silky coat, which is long and very fine. The coat is usually a dark gray color on most of the body, but tan on the feet and head. The breed standard written by the American Kennel Club describes the color of a Silky terrier as "blue."

Despite its small size and gentle nature, the Silky Terrier is not a "lap dog." Silky Terriers are very high energy and love to play fetch and go on walks. They also make excellent guard dogs and will not hesitate to alert their owner to potential intruders. A Silky Terrier can be socialized to get along well with children, other dogs, and even cats. However, all terriers are rodent catchers by nature; Silky Terriers are not compatible with pets such as hamsters, rats, and guinea pigs.

While the Silky Terrier's beautiful coat is what makes the breed so eye-catching, it is also what makes them high-maintenance. A Silky Terrier's coat is very fine, which means it will become tangled and matted without regular grooming. For show, a Silky Terrier's coat is kept long and neatly parted. However, owners who don't plan to show their dogs can also have the coat cut short to save time on brushing.

If you have the time, energy, and love to care for a Silky Terrier, consider adopting one from a local shelter or through a rescue group. The popular website PetFinder.com allows you to search for dogs by breed. There are even breed-specific rescue groups devoted to finding homes for Silky Terriers.

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