Silky Terrier

True to their name, the Silky Terrier can be quickly identified by their long silky coat of tan and blue. While these coats appear to be a nightmare to take care of, Silkies actually only require brushing 2-3 times a week to keep them tangle-free.

This feisty little pup was originally bred in the 1890s in Australia. At first, the Silky was a combination of the Yorkshire Terrier and the Australian Terrier. It was when certain pups from the litter of this mix were resulting in dogs with these unique silky coats that breeders decided to breed them solely with each other. The Silky turned out to be a highly intelligent dog and has become quite popular among dog lovers.

While these dogs may appear tiny and harmless, weighing only between 8-10 pounds, they certainly fit the characteristic of “small dog big personality”. The Silkies are true Terriers, and like all of their Terrier cousins, digging, barking, and chasing animals is what they do best. If these traits are not something that you can live with, do not bring this dog home because these are characteristics that can simply not be trained out of them. These dogs will sometimes forget how tiny they are and will have no issue getting right up in the face of a Great Dane and barking relentlessly. It is important to keep a close eye on your confident furry friend so that they don’t get themselves into trouble!

Besides their tough exterior, the Silky makes a wonderful companion. They tend to be attached at the hip of their owners and will display tons of affection. They are not your typical lap dog and do great with active owners. The Silky has tons of energy and will always be ready for a game of fetch. They will also perform remarkably well on long hikes considering their small size. The Silky will always be on alert and will make a great watchdog. That being said, their definition of danger is pretty broad, so don’t be surprised if you get some noise complaints from the neighbors because of their incessant barking!

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