Australian Silky Terrier

Last updated

Australian Silky Terrier
Silky Terrier
Australian Silky Terrier Alana Of Silky's Dream.jpg
Silky Terrier
Other namesSilky Terrier
OriginAustralia
Traits
Height Males 23–26 cm (9–10 in)
Coat Flat, fine, glossy and silky
Color Blue, tan
Kennel club standards
ANKC standard
Fédération Cynologique Internationale standard
Dog ( domestic dog )

The Australian Silky Terrier or simply Silky Terrier (depending on the breed registry) is a small breed of dog of the terrier dog type. The breed was developed in Australia, although the ancestral types and breeds were from Great Britain. It is closely related to the Australian Terrier and the Yorkshire Terrier. The breed is called the Silky Terrier in North America, but is called the Australian Silky Terrier in its country of origin and in the rest of the world.

Contents

Appearance

Australian Silky Terriers Australian-Silky-Terrier-ofsilkysdream.JPG
Australian Silky Terriers

The Australian Silky Terrier is a small and compact short-legged terrier, 23 to 26 cm (9.1 to 10.2 in) at the withers, alert and active. The long silky grey and white or blue and tan coat is an identifying feature, hanging straight and parted along the back, and described as "flat, fine and glossy". [1] [2]

The Silky Terrier should be slightly longer than tall (about one fifth longer than the height at withers). This is a dog that was historically used for hunting and killing rodents and snakes, so its body should have enough substance to fit this role. The coat requires regular grooming to avoid tangled and retain its silkiness. [3]

The Silky Terrier has a strong, wedge-shaped head. The eyes are small and almond-shaped. According to the standards, light-colored eyes are considered a fault. The ears are small and carried erect. The Silky Terrier has a high-set tail and small, almost catlike, feet. The coat should be long, but not floor length. The hair on the face and ears is normally cut.

History

A Silky Terrier puppy. Silkyterrier125.jpg
A Silky Terrier puppy.

The ancestors of the Australian Silky Terrier include the Yorkshire Terrier and the Australian Terrier (which descends from the rough coated type terriers brought from Great Britain to Australia in the early 19th century); few records indicate whether early dogs were just Australian Terriers born with silky fur, or whether there was an attempt to create a separate breed. [4] According to the American Kennel Club, the breed was created at the end of the 19th century when Yorkshire Terriers were crossed with Australian Terriers. [5] At first the breed was known as the Sydney Silky, as it was found primarily in the city of Sydney, Australia. [1] Although most other Australian breeds were working dogs, the Silky Terrier was bred primarily to be an urban pet and companion, although it is also known for killing snakes in Australia. [4]

Up until 1929 the Australian Terrier, the Australian Silky Terrier, and the Yorkshire Terrier were not clearly defined. Dogs of three different breeds might be born in the same litter, to be separated by appearance into the different types once they were grown. [5] After 1932 in Australia, further crossbreeding was discouraged, and in 1955 the breed's name officially became the Australian Silky Terrier. The breed was recognised by the Australian National Kennel Council in 1958 in the Toy Group. [4]

During and after World War II American servicemen who had been stationed in Australia brought back to the United States a few Silky Terriers. Newspaper photographs of the breed in 1954 caused an upsurge of popularity and hundreds of Silkies were imported from Australia to the United States. [6] The American Kennel Club recognised the breed as the Silky Terrier in 1959, as did the United Kennel Club (US) in 1965 where it is shown as a Terrier; it is also recognised as the Silky Terrier by the Canadian Kennel Club. The breed is recognised by all the major kennel clubs in the English speaking world, and internationally by the Fédération Cynologique Internationale as breed number 236. [7]

The Australian Silky Terrier is a terrier, but is usually placed in the Toy Group rather than the Terrier Group due to its small size. The Fédération Cynologique Internationale has a special section of the Terrier Group that includes only the smallest dogs, while other kennel clubs place the breed in the Toy Group, but it is universally agreed that the breed's type is Terrier.

An adult male Silky Terrier. 02 Australian Silky Terrier, Zack, spring 2012.jpg
An adult male Silky Terrier.

Temperament

The breed standard describe the ideal Australian Silky Terrier temperament as keenly alert and active. [7] While still an energetic breed, they are somewhat less active than other terriers. [3] In a survey administered by Dogs 101, ninety-one small breed dogs (16 inches tall and under 22 lbs) were ranked by ability to learn quickly - the Silky Terrier placed in the top twenty. However, training one can be difficult, as this breed is often stubborn and deliberately willful. [8]

They are more independent than other toy breeds, yet are affectionate and loyal to their owners. They bark readily, especially when greeting strangers. [8]

Health

A 2024 UK study found a life expectancy of 13.3 years from a sample of 45 deaths for the breed compared to an average of 12.7 for purebreeds and 12 for crossbreeds. [9]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bichon Frisé</span> Dog breed

The Bichon Frisé or Bichon à Poil Frisé is a Franco-Belgian breed of small toy dog of bichon type. It was recognised by the Société Centrale Canine in 1933 and by the Fédération Cynologique Internationale in 1959.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Terrier</span> Dog type

Terrier is a type of dog originally bred to hunt vermin. A terrier is a dog of any one of many breeds or landraces of the terrier type, which are typically small, wiry, game, and fearless. There are five different groups of terrier, with each group having different shapes and sizes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Affenpinscher</span> German breed of dog

The Affenpinscher is a German breed of small toy dog of Pinscher type. Originally developed as a mouser, the Affenpinscher is now commonly found as a companion worldwide.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yorkshire Terrier</span> Dog breed

The Yorkshire Terrier, also known as a Yorkie, is a British breed of toy dog of terrier type. It is among the smallest of the terriers and indeed of all dog breeds, with a weight of no more than 3.2 kg (7 lb). It originated in the nineteenth century in the English county of Yorkshire, after which it is named. The coat is tan on the head and dark steel-grey on the body; no other colour is accepted by either The Kennel Club or the Fédération Cynologique Internationale.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Miniature Schnauzer</span> Dog breed

The Miniature Schnauzer is a breed of small dog of the Schnauzer type that originated in Germany in the mid-to-late 19th century. Miniature Schnauzers may have been developed from the smallest specimens of the Standard Schnauzer, or crosses between the standard and one or more smaller breeds such as the Affenpinscher, Miniature Pinscher, and Poodles, as farmers bred a small dog that was an efficient ratting dog. They are described as "spunky" but aloof dogs, with good guarding tendencies without some guard dogs' predisposition to bite. Miniature Schnauzers are recognized in four colors internationally: solid black, black and silver, salt and pepper, and white.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Australian Terrier</span> Dog breed

The Australian Terrier is a small breed of dog of the terrier type. The breed was developed in Australia, although the ancestral types of dogs from which the breed descends were from Great Britain.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Parson Russell Terrier</span> Dog breed

The Parson Russell Terrier is a breed of small white terrier that was the original Fox Terrier of the 18th century. The breed is named after the Reverend Jack Russell, credited with the creation of this type of dog. It is the recognised conformation show variety of the Jack Russell Terrier and was first recognised in 1990 in the United Kingdom as the Parson Jack Russell Terrier. In America, it was first recognised as the Jack Russell Terrier in 1997. The name was changed to its current form in 1999 in the UK and by 2008 all international kennel clubs recognised it under the new name.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Toy Manchester Terrier</span> Dog breed

The Toy Manchester Terrier is a breed of dog, categorized as a terrier. The breed was bred down in size in North America from the Manchester Terrier, and is placed in the Toy Group by the American Kennel Club and the Canadian Kennel Club. Neither the Fédération Cynologique Internationale nor The Kennel Club recognize a Toy variety of the Manchester Terrier.

Toy dog traditionally refers to a very small dog or a grouping of small and very small breeds of dog. A toy dog may be of any of various dog types. Types of dogs referred to as toy dogs may include spaniels, pinschers and terriers that have been bred down in size. Not all toy dogs are lap dogs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lhasa Apso</span> Tibetan breed of dog

The Lhasa Apso is a non-sporting dog breed originating in Tibet. Traditionally the breed has been used as an interior watchdog.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Black Russian Terrier</span> Dog breed

The Black Russian Terrier, also known as the Chornyi Terrier, is a breed of dog from the USSR. It was originally bred in the Red Star Kennel during the late 1940s and the early 1950s for use as a military/working dog. The Black Russian Terrier is a breed recognized by the FCI, AKC, CKC, KC, ANKC, NZKC and other cynological organizations. The contemporary Black Russian Terrier is a working dog, guarding dog, sporting and companion dog.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Coton de Tulear</span> Dog breed

The Coton de Tuléar is a breed of small dog named for the city of Tuléar in Madagascar. This breed is thought to have originated from a group of small white dogs that swam across the Malagasy channel following a shipwreck. Known for its cotton-like coat, the Coton de Tuléar typically grows to no more than 18 pounds (8.2 kg), and are white, sometimes with grey, tan, black, or tri-colored markings. The Coton de Tuléar Day is celebrated on November 26.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lancashire Heeler</span> Dog breed

The Lancashire Heeler is a small breed of dog developed for use as a drover and herder of cattle. The Lancashire Heeler is listed by the Kennel Club (UK) as an endangered breed. The breed was recognized by the American Kennel Club in 2024.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Japanese Spitz</span> Dog breed

The Japanese Spitz is a small to medium breed of dog of the Spitz type. There are varying standards around the world as to the ideal size of the breed, but they are always larger than their smaller cousins, the Pomeranian. They were developed in Japan in the 1920s and 1930s by breeding a number of other Spitz type dog breeds together. They are recognized by the vast majority of the major kennel clubs, except the American Kennel Club due to it being of similar appearance to the white Pomeranian, American Eskimo Dog and Samoyed. While they are a relatively new breed, they are becoming widely popular due to their favorable temperament and other features.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Andalusian Terrier</span> Dog breed

The Andalusian Terrier or Sherry Terrier is a Spanish breed of dog of the terrier type. Its Spanish name reflects its main occupation: hunting rats and mice hidden between barrels in the wineries of Andalusia in Spain. It was recognised as an indigenous Spanish breed in 2000 by the Spanish Ministry of Agriculture and by the Spanish Kennel Club, the Real Sociedad Canina de España.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Austrian Pinscher</span> Dog breed

The Austrian Pinscher is a medium-sized breed of pinscher-type dog from Austria, where dogs of the type were originally farm dogs, keeping barns free of rats and acting as home guards, livestock guardians, and drovers. The name originally given to the breed in 1928 was the Österreichischer Kurzhaarpinscher to differentiate it from similarly named breeds, but today in its country of origin the breed is officially called the Österreichischer Pinscher, or Austrian Pinscher in English.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Braque Français</span> Dog breed

The Braques Français are hunting dogs, from a very old type of gun dog used for pointing the location of game birds for a hunter. There are two breeds of Braque Français, both from the south of France, the Braque français, type Gascogne and the Braque français, type Pyrénées They are popular hunting dogs in France, but are seldom seen elsewhere.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Russian Toy</span> Dog breed

The Russian Toy is a very small breed of dog originally bred in Russia from the English Toy Terrier. There are two types of coats in the breed: smooth coat and long coat. The smooth-coated variety was previously known as the Russian Toy Terrier and long-coated as the Moscow Long-Haired Toy Terrier. Both were brought together under the same Russian Toy Terrier name in 1988 and the "Terrier" was dropped from the name when the breed was added in 2006 to the official list of breeds registered with the Fédération Cynologique Internationale. The breed has been registered in the Foundation Stock Service of the American Kennel Club (AKC) since 2008, and has been allowed to compete in AKC companion events since 2010. The first official breed standard of the two varieties was written in 1966 in Russia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Westphalian Dachsbracke</span> Dog breed

The Westphalian Dachsbracke is a small, short-legged scenthound, a breed of dog originating in Westphalia, a region of Germany. The Westphalian Dachsbracke was used in Sweden to develop the Drever.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paisley Terrier</span> Dog breed

The Paisley Terrier was a breed of terrier-type dog that is now extinct. Originating in Scotland, the Paisley Terrier was bred primarily as a pet and showdog version of the Skye Terrier, and was the progenitor of today's Yorkshire Terrier. The breed was called the Paisley Terrier since most of the dogs came from that location, but it was also called the Clydesdale Terrier, for another location in the Clyde Valley where the dogs were bred.

References

  1. 1 2 New Zealand Kennel Club, Australian Silky Terrier Archived 27 April 2005 at the Wayback Machine
  2. Australian National Kennel Council, Australian Silky Terrier Archived 22 December 2008 at the Wayback Machine
  3. 1 2 Palika, Liz (27 August 2007). The Howell Book of Dogs: The Definitive Reference to 300 Breeds and Varieties. Wiley. pp. 360–361. ISBN   978-0-470-00921-5.
  4. 1 2 3 Clark, Anne Rogers; Andrew H. Brace (1995). The International Encyclopedia of Dogs. Howell Book House. p. 419. ISBN   0-87605-624-9.
  5. 1 2 Silky Terrier, American Kennel Club
  6. History of the Silky Terrier, Australian Silky Terrier Club of Great Britain Archived 6 October 2011 at the Wayback Machine
  7. 1 2 Fédération Cynologique International Australian Silky Terrier breed standard
  8. 1 2 "Australian Silky Terrier Breed Information: History, Health, Pictures, and more". www.easypetmd.com. Archived from the original on 15 July 2020. Retrieved 19 January 2020.
  9. McMillan, Kirsten M.; Bielby, Jon; Williams, Carys L.; Upjohn, Melissa M.; Casey, Rachel A.; Christley, Robert M. (1 February 2024). "Longevity of companion dog breeds: those at risk from early death". Scientific Reports. 14 (1). Springer Science and Business Media LLC. doi:10.1038/s41598-023-50458-w. ISSN   2045-2322. PMC   10834484 .

Further reading