How to Identify a Silky Terrier

Silky Terriers are small terriers bred from Yorkshire Terriers and Australian Terriers, among other breeds, and are part of the toy group.[1] Also called Silkies, they were first bred in Australia after several terrier breeds from other parts of the world were imported.[2] Silkys share many traits with other toy and terrier breeds, but they do have a few unique traits of their own. This wikiHow will help you identify a Silky Terrier by recognizing these traits.

Method 1
Method 1 of 3:

Observing the Structure

  1. Step 1 Consider the dog's size.
    As members of the toy group, Silky Terriers are small dogs. They stand at 9–10 inches (23–25 cm) with an average weight of about 10 pounds (4.5 kg).[3]

    Did you know? The Yorkshire Terrier and Australian Terrier were two main breeds that made up the Silky Terrier, and Silkys are in between these two breeds in size, being larger than Yorkies but smaller than Aussies. Some other breeds thought to be included in their genetic mix are the Cairn Terrier, Skye Terrier, and Dandie Dinmont Terrier, all of which also likely contributed to the breed's size.[4]

  2. Step 2 Look at the head.
    A Silky's head is wedge-shaped and moderately long. Overall, the head is strong and flat with a shallow stop.[5]
  3. Step 3 View the eyes.
    The eyes of a Silky Terrier are small and almond-shaped. The irises are dark in color, as are the rims.[6]
  4. Step 4 Inspect the ears.
    Silkys have high-set ears that are carried erect. In shape, the ears are small and resemble the letter v.[7]
  5. Step 5 Spot the muzzle.
    A Silky Terrier's muzzle is slightly shorter than the dog's skull. The dog's nose is black in color, and the strong teeth meet in a scissors bite.[8]
  6. Step 6 Examine the paws.
    The paws of a Silky are small, rounded, and catlike. They are compact and face straight ahead, with springy, thick pads and dark, strong nails. Any dewclaws are typically removed.[9]
  7. Step 7 Check the tail.
    Silky Terriers usually have docked tails. The tails are carried at a position between twelve and two o'clock and are high-set.[10]
  8. Step 8 Take the dog's overall build into account.
    Silkys are slightly longer than they are tall, moderately low-set, lightly built, and finely boned. They have a fine neck, sloping shoulders, a chest of medium width, straight forelegs, a level topline, and parallel hind legs. They walk with a light-footed, lively, straight gait with strong power in the back.[11]
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Method 2
Method 2 of 3:

Noticing the Coat

  1. Step 1 Check the quality of the coat.
    Silky Terriers have a single coat that is straight, glossy, and as the name suggests, silky.[12] Such a coat requires brushing at least twice a week.[13]
  2. Step 2 Take note of the coat's length.
    If the dog is fully matured, the coat should fall below, following the dog's outline without approaching the floor in length. The hair on the head is long and profuse enough to form a topknot, while the rest is typically parted on the head and down the dog's back all the way to the tail's root. While the tail is well-coated, it should not seem plumed, and the hair on the legs should be shorter.[14]
  3. Step 3 Look at the coat color.
    A Silky's coat is blue and tan. The blue color covers the dog's body from the skull's base to the tail tip, including on the forelegs to the elbows and halfway down the thighs, with the hair on the tail being very dark in color. The tan color appears on the dog's cheeks, muzzle, ears, legs, feet, and around the vent, while the topknot is silver or fawn and lighter in color than the tan points.[15]
    • The blue on a Silky Terrier may be silver blue, pigeon blue, or slate blue, and the tan is rich and deep in color.[16]
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Method 3
Method 3 of 3:

Analyzing Temperament

  1. Step 1 Watch for friendliness.
    Silky Terriers are friendly by nature. They are known to love their people and form close bonds with them.[17]
  2. Step 2 See if the dog enjoys the company of people.
    Because of their people-oriented personalities, Silkys are happiest and do best when around their families. Due to this, they are prone to separation anxiety if left alone for too long.[18]
  3. Step 3 Check for stubbornness.
    Though more amenable than many other terriers, Silky Terriers can still exhibit stubbornness and toughness. They need to be trained from an early age to not be so willful.[19]
  4. Step 4 Take note of energy.
    Silkys are energetic, high-spirited dogs that enjoy adventures and play. This also gives them a high prey drive, so though they can get along well with other dogs if properly socialized, they may desire to chase cats or other smaller animals.[20]
  5. Step 5 Look for attentiveness.
    Silky Terriers are a keen, alert breed and can make excellent watchdogs. They will bark if something seems wrong, though training is required to prevent excessive barking or suspiciousness toward strangers.[21]
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Tips

  • If you wish to identify the breed of your own dog, consider using a DNA test. This will confirm if your dog is a Silky Terrier.
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References

  1. ↑ https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/silky-terrier/
  2. ↑ https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/silky-terrier/
  3. ↑ https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/silky-terrier/
  4. ↑ https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/silky-terrier/
  5. ↑ https://images.akc.org/pdf/breeds/standards/SilkyTerrier.pdf
  6. ↑ https://images.akc.org/pdf/breeds/standards/SilkyTerrier.pdf
  7. ↑ https://images.akc.org/pdf/breeds/standards/SilkyTerrier.pdf
  8. ↑ https://images.akc.org/pdf/breeds/standards/SilkyTerrier.pdf
  9. ↑ https://images.akc.org/pdf/breeds/standards/SilkyTerrier.pdf
  1. ↑ https://images.akc.org/pdf/breeds/standards/SilkyTerrier.pdf
  2. ↑ https://images.akc.org/pdf/breeds/standards/SilkyTerrier.pdf
  3. ↑ https://images.akc.org/pdf/breeds/standards/SilkyTerrier.pdf
  4. ↑ https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/silky-terrier/
  5. ↑ https://images.akc.org/pdf/breeds/standards/SilkyTerrier.pdf
  6. ↑ https://images.akc.org/pdf/breeds/standards/SilkyTerrier.pdf
  7. ↑ https://images.akc.org/pdf/breeds/standards/SilkyTerrier.pdf
  8. ↑ https://www.dogtemperament.com/silky-terrier-temperament/
  9. ↑ https://www.dogtemperament.com/silky-terrier-temperament/
  10. ↑ https://www.yourpurebredpuppy.com/reviews/silkyterriers.html
  11. ↑ https://www.dogtemperament.com/silky-terrier-temperament/
  12. ↑ https://www.yourpurebredpuppy.com/reviews/silkyterriers.html

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wikiHow is a “wiki,” similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. To create this article, volunteer authors worked to edit and improve it over time. This article has been viewed 3,468 times.
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Updated: June 20, 2021
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