Origin: Australia

Description: The Australian Silky Terrier was developed in Australia and named for its luxurious coat.

The dog is compact, moderately low set, of medium length with a refined structure but of sufficient substance to suggest the ability to hunt and kill domestic rodents.    The parted, straight silky hair presents a well-groomed appearance.

The Silky Terrier was originally developed in 19th century Australia from other terrier breeds such as the Skye and Cairn but primarily the Australian Terrier and the Yorkshire Terrier. American servicemen stationed in Australia during World War II brought Silky Terriers home with them after the war. Though the Silky Terrier has always been primarily a companion dog, this swift little dog can catch domestic rodents.

The Silky Terrier, also called the Sidney Terrier, is a fine-boned, moderately low-set, long-haired terrier. It is compact but lightly built. It has erect, v-shaped ears and a docked tail. (Docking is illegal in some European Countries.) The head is flat and wide between the ears, with a shallow stop. The nose is black and the eyes are round and dark with a piercing expression. The teeth should form a scissors bite with a sturdy jaw. The body is slightly longer than tall with a level topline. The round, catlike feet are small and well-padded. Dewclaws should be removed. The coat is long, about 5-6 inches (12-15 cm). The fine, silky, shiny hair has no undercoat. It is very prone to tangles and mats unless frequently groomed. The coat should not reach the floor. The hair is parted down the center of the back. The coat comes in blue & fire red, or blue with tan markings. Many shades of blue are permitted. The topknot should be lighter in color than the tan points. Silky Terriers are born black.

Behavior/Temperament:

This dog is energetic and does well in homes with older children. The breed does well with other pets if raised around them.The Australian Silky Terrier makes for a good watch dog and will bark when strangers approach. It should display Terrier characteristics, embodying keen alertness, activity and soundness.

This loving, little terrier is very intelligent, courageous and alert. Affectionate, spunky cheerful and sociable, they like to be close to their master, but do not accept them to be a "mellow" lap dog. They are full of energy. Curious about everything, it is an enthusiastic digger. Active, keen and demanding. Smart and quick, though a bit willful as with most terriers. Despite its size, this docile dog is watchful and protective. Normally these dogs are very loving with children if they are raised with them, but they can be snappish if peeved and should not be rough-handled or teased. A hardy little fellow, it is a good dog to travel with. It makes an excellent watchdog, but can become a barker if not controlled. They are reserved with strangers and not generally trustworthy with other pets. Socialize them well with cats when they are still a puppy or they will chase them when they get older. Can get jealous and pick fights with other dogs. Training these dogs is very straight- forward because it is very eager to learn.

Coat: This breeds coat is long, straight and silky. The coat comes in shades of blue and tan.Must be flat, fine and glossy and of a silky texture.  The length of coat must not be so long as to impede the dog’s action and should allows daylight to be seen under the dog.  The front and rear feet to be free from long hair. 

Colour: All shades of blue and tan are acceptable, the richer these colours and more clearly defined the better.  Silver and white not acceptable.  Blue on the tail to be very dark.  Silver blue or fawn top-knot desirable.  Distribution of blue and tan as follows : tan around the base of the ears, muzzle and on the sides of the cheeks; blue from the base of the skull to tip of tail, running down the forelegs to near the wrists and down the thighs to the hocks; tan line showing down the stifles and from the wrists and hocks to the toes and around the vent.  The blue body colour must be free from tan or bronzing. Tan markings must be free from smuttiness. Black colouring is permissible in puppies, blue colour must be established by 18 months of age.

Height: Dogs : 23 to 26  cm (9 to 10 ins) at the withers. Bitches can be slightly less 9-10 inches (23-25cm.) Females are generally smaller than the males.
Weight: Weight in proportion to height. 8-11 pounds (4-5 kg.)

Health: Breed-related health concerns include: tracheal collapse, intervertebral disk disease,elbow dysplasia, patellar luxation, legg-calves-perthes disease, and epilepsy.Generally healthy. Minor concerns are intervertebral disc disease, elbow dysplasia, patellar luxation and Legg-Perthes. This breed sometimes is afflicted with diabetes, epilepsy, tracheal collapse.

Life Expectancy: About 12-15 years

Grooming: Daily grooming is needed to prevent mats and tangles. The Silky Terrier is very prone to tangles and mats and needs daily combing and brushing. It should be bathed regularly to keep the hair in top condition. It takes quite a commitment from its owner, requiring about 15 minutes a day. After bathing, make sure the dog is thoroughly dry and warm. The coat must be trimmed occasionally, and the hair on the legs from the knees down is often trimmed short. The hair that falls over the eyes is tied up in a topknot so the dog will be able to see easier. The Silky Terrier sheds little to no hair.