meet the...Australian Silky Terrier
Breed Summary
Breed Group Group 6: Terrier Breeds
Sub-group 6-C: Small Terriers
Origin Country Australia
Weight Males: 8-10 pounds. Females: 8-10 pounds.
Height Males: 9-10 inches. Females: 8-10 inches.
Other Name(s) Australian Silky Terrier, Silky Toy Terrier, Sydney Silky
Breed Type Pure
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Origins
It was said that the Australian Silky Terrier is the result of a culmination of Dandie Dinmont, Skye, Cairn, and Broken-Coated Terrier crosses, with even heavier influences of Australian and Yorkshire Terrier. It is claimed that around the 1830s, an English gentleman by the name of MacArthur Little obtained some puppies that were half Dandie Dinmont Terrier and half Australian Broken-Coated Terrier. He then bred these puppies to a Yorkshire Terrier and perhaps other silky-coated small dogs to produce offspring with a much softer coat. When Little moved to Australia, he again bred in Yorkshire Terrier, along with Australian Terrier, which proved to be a popular mix.
The little dog’s feisty, true-terrier nature produced a small dog with a big bite. While they were adept at killing rodents and other pests, they were unsurpassed at their original purpose: serving as hardy yet elegant companions. Their numbers soon grew and spread throughout much of inhabited Australia. Eventually, the little dogs developed a devoted following of aficionados. Not long after, the first breed standard was written in the early 1900s.
The first Silky Terriers were brought to the United States after World War II and were known by a number of names, including the Sydney Silky and Silky Toy Terrier.Breed Characteristics
Head: The mesaticephalic skull type is moderate in size, somewhat elongated, yet wedge-shaped. Always in proportion to the rest of the body. The skull is relatively broad between the ears and should appear flat when viewed in profile or from the front. The head is clean-cut and without excess skin or wrinkles. It exhibits sufficient substance, bone, and muscle to denote terrier strength and capability. It is never refined or chiseled.
Eyes: Somewhat small to moderate in size, oval to almond in shape, and medium to dark brown in color. The eye rims are well-fitted and well-pigmented. The eyes are never bulging. There should be sufficient bone in the surrounding orbital sockets to protect the eyes.
Ears: Somewhat small to moderate in size, set high and somewhat wide on the skull. They are triangular or V-shaped and held firmly erect. They should never appear small, like that of the Yorkshire Terrier, or overly long, large, broken, or drop.
Muzzle: The muzzle is full, deep, and broad. The plane, or bridge of the muzzle, is straight. The upper and lower jaws are well-developed, approximately equal in length, and have good bone substance, never snipey or weak.
Nose: The nose is well-pigmented and black. The nostrils are well-opened.
Neck: Moderate length allows for proud head carriage. The neck is strongly muscled with a slight arch. It tapers smoothly from the deeper and broader body toward the head. The neck is clean-cut and without excess skin, throatiness, or dewlap.
Chest: Deep and broad but never wider than deep. The brisket extends to the point of the elbows.
Body: Low-set and rectangular, compact, solid, and of good substance. The body is never squared, racy, or overly refined. The width at the forequarters is approximately equal to the width at the hindquarters.
Feet: Oval to round and compact, with well-arched toes and tough pads.
Tail: Set high on the croup. The tail is thick at the base and tapering toward the tip. It is carried in accordance with the dog’s mood and energy level, ranging from gay to the 2 o’clock position when alert or moving or downward when in repose, but never tucked. The tail may be left natural (preferred) or docked short. Natural tails are of a medium length, with the tip of the last vertebrae extending to the hock joints when held down. Natural tails may be straight or gently curved. Docked tails are cut to 1/3 the original length.
Movement: Efficient, effortless, energetic, lively, and spritely, the characteristics of a healthy structure are evident. When moving away, the forelegs and rear pasterns should remain parallel to one another. When viewing movement from the front, the forelegs should remain parallel, with elbows and paws moving neither in nor out. From the rear, the back pads should be visible when the rear legs are extended. As speed increases, the forelimbs and hindlimbs will converge to the centerline of gravity. From the side, the topline should remain firm and level. Good reach of movement in the front allows the forepaw to extend out in line with the nose. When extended, the width between the forefeet should be approximately equal to the width between the hindfeet when extended, indicating balance, good reach, and good drive. Dogs that exhibit any sign of breathing or locomotive difficulty shall be disqualified from the show ring.
Temperament: The Australian Silky Terrier breed has a typical terrier temperament: alert, watchful, courageous, quick to act, and reactive. They are friendly with their people and family and tolerant of well-intentioned strangers. However, true to terrier temperament, they can be rather predatory with other small animals and may develop aggression toward other dogs. These unwanted behaviors can be curbed with early socialization and obedience training. Silky Terriers are intelligent, affectionate, and wonderful companions. Any unprovoked aggressive or fearful behavior toward people is incorrect for this breed.
Breed Standard
BREED GROUP 6: Terrier Breeds
Proportions: Rectangular in proportion and low-set, with the length of the body measured from the point of the forechest to the point of the rump, being greater than the height at the withers. The ideal body length is 20% greater than the height. The body is well put together, with sturdy substance and medium bone. The weight of males or females is always in proportion to height. The weight of males or females is always in proportion to height.
Head
General Appearance: The mesaticephalic skull type is moderate in size, somewhat elongated, yet wedge-shaped. Always in proportion to the rest of the body. The skull is relatively broad between the ears and should appear flat when viewed in profile or from the front. The head is clean-cut and without excess skin or wrinkles. It exhibits sufficient substance, bone, and muscle to denote terrier strength and capability. It is never refined or chiseled.
Expression: Intelligent, lively, alert, watchful, and keen.
Stop: The stop may range from shallow to defined.
Skull: The ideal muzzle-to-skull ratio is between 1:1 and 4:3, with the topskull being equal to, or just longer than, the muzzle.
The ideal muzzle-to-skull axis is parallel.
Muzzle: The muzzle is full, deep, and broad. The plane, or bridge of the muzzle, is straight. The upper and lower jaws are well-developed, approximately equal in length, and have good bone substance, never snipey or weak.
Lips or Flews: The lips are clean and fit tightly over the teeth and jaws.
Nose: The nose is well-pigmented and black. The nostrils are well-opened.
Cheeks: The cheeks are smoothly muscled, never chiseled or coarse.
Dentition and Bite: Forty-two strong, clean, and white teeth. The bite may be level, scissor, or reverse-scissor. Contact must be made between the top and bottom incisors. Missing or broken teeth due to routine work are not to be penalized.
Eyes: Somewhat small to moderate in size, oval to almond in shape, and medium to dark brown in color. The eye rims are well-fitted and well-pigmented. The eyes are never bulging. There should be sufficient bone in the surrounding orbital sockets to protect the eyes.
Ears: Somewhat small to moderate in size, set high and somewhat wide on the skull. They are triangular or V-shaped and held firmly erect. They should never appear small, like that of the Yorkshire Terrier, or overly long, large, broken, or drop.
Body and Tail
General Description: Low-set and rectangular, compact, solid, and of good substance. The body is never squared, racy, or overly refined. The width at the forequarters is approximately equal to the width at the hindquarters.
Neck: Moderate length allows for proud head carriage. The neck is strongly muscled with a slight arch. It tapers smoothly from the deeper and broader body toward the head. The neck is clean-cut and without excess skin, throatiness, or dewlap.
Chest: Deep and broad but never wider than deep. The brisket extends to the point of the elbows.
Topline: Level from slightly prominent withers to croup. The back is long, broad, strongly muscled, straight, and supple. The loin is taut, flat, level, or slightly arched, yet supportive. The back is never swayed or roached.
Croup: Flat and level with the back.
Underline: A slight tuck-up is present. The underline is taut and firm, without any indication of sagging or excess weight.
Ribs: Long, well-sprung, well-laid-back, and oval-shaped, never barrel-chested or slab-sided.
Tail: Set high on the croup. The tail is thick at the base and tapering toward the tip. It is carried in accordance with the dog’s mood and energy level, ranging from gay to the 2 o’clock position when alert or moving or downward when in repose, but never tucked. The tail may be left natural (preferred) or docked short. Natural tails are of a medium length, with the tip of the last vertebrae extending to the hock joints when held down. Natural tails may be straight or gently curved. Docked tails are cut to 1/3 the original length.
Forequarters and Hindquarters
Forequarters: The forequarters are always balanced with the hindquarters and well-angulated with well-laid-back shoulder blades. Shoulder blades are approximately equal in length to the upper arm and forearm.
Elbows: The elbows are close to the body. The distance from the withers to the brisket may be equal to, or just greater than, the distance from the elbows to the ground.
Forelegs: Frontal View: Straight, of good muscle, of moderate bone, and parallel to one another.
Side View: The forelimbs appear straight with strong pasterns.
Pasterns: Never weak or broken.
Hindquarters: The upper and lower thighs are equal in length, strong, sturdy, of moderate bone, and well-muscled.
Rear View: When viewed from the rear, the rear pasterns are parallel to one another.
Side View: Good angulation will allow the rear toes to align with the point of the rump or within one to two paw-lengths behind the point of the rump, with the rear pasterns remaining perpendicular to the ground and parallel to one another.
Stifle Joint: Well-angulated with a good bend to well-let-down rear pasterns.
Angulations: The angulation of the hindquarters is always in balance with the angulation of the forequarters.
Feet: Oval to round and compact, with well-arched toes and tough pads.
Coat
Skin: Well-fitted, yet supple. The skin should never obstruct the outline of the dog.
Coat Type: Straight, flat, fine, glossy, long (5-6 inches), and silky single coat, never reaching the ground. The hair on the skull should form a medium-length fall but should never obstruct the vision. Mature coats should not reach the ground, nor should legs and feet be completely obscured by coat as in the Yorkshire Terrier.
Coat Color or Pattern: CKC recognizes two color varieties of the Silky Terrier breed: the standard and nonstandard.
Standard coat color variety: Puppies are born black with tan markings, with the black diluting to blue and receding as they mature. Mature individuals (over 18 months of age) may be any shade of blue (any shade of blue, including diluted black, silver blue, pigeon blue, to slate blue), and tan is acceptable; however, preference should be given to rich colors that are clearly defined. Blue should be accompanied by a creeping or running tan pattern. Blue must start at the base of the head and run to the base of the tail. It must extend down the body and legs, and it may range from the elbows to the wrist on the forequarters and between the stifle and hock joints of the hindlimbs. Tan must be present on the base of the ears, muzzle, face, cheeks, forefeet, hindfeet, and around the vent. The topknot should be a silvery blue to silvery fawn (lighter than the tan markings).
Nonstandard coat color variety: Silver, silvery fawn, or black, all with or without creeping or running tan, or any of the standard or nonstandard blue base colors, or black/black variations with tan points.
Movement
Efficient, effortless, energetic, lively, and spritely, the characteristics of a healthy structure are evident. When moving away, the forelegs and rear pasterns should remain parallel to one another. When viewing movement from the front, the forelegs should remain parallel, with elbows and paws moving neither in nor out. From the rear, the back pads should be visible when the rear legs are extended. As speed increases, the forelimbs and hindlimbs will converge to the centerline of gravity. From the side, the topline should remain firm and level. Good reach of movement in the front allows the forepaw to extend out in line with the nose. When extended, the width between the forefeet should be approximately equal to the width between the hindfeet when extended, indicating balance, good reach, and good drive. Dogs that exhibit any sign of breathing or locomotive difficulty shall be disqualified from the show ring.
Temperament
The Australian Silky Terrier breed has a typical terrier temperament: alert, watchful, courageous, quick to act, and reactive. They are friendly with their people and family and tolerant of well-intentioned strangers. However, true to terrier temperament, they can be rather predatory with other small animals and may develop aggression toward other dogs. These unwanted behaviors can be curbed with early socialization and obedience training. Silky Terriers are intelligent, affectionate, and wonderful companions. Any unprovoked aggressive or fearful behavior toward people is incorrect for this breed.
Faults
All dogs should be in proper healthy condition, free from disease or defect. Any departure from this description is considered a fault. Unless altered, all male dogs should have two fully descended testicles.
