The Australian Silky Terrier is believed to have been bred from crossing the Yorkshire Terrier with the Australian Terrier. This mix of the two breeds was intended to produce a toy dog with the gentle qualities of a small domestic pet and the inquisitive character and hunting ability of a terrier. Families that have Silkies will attest to the effectiveness of the cross.
It is obvious from the coloration of the Australian Silky that a Yorkshire Terrier had a part in its development, as it bears the metallic blue coloration with rich tan points and a silvery-blue topknot quite similar to the Yorky. When the dog is born it is much darker and as it grows the tan markings fade to a lighter fawn shade and the metallic blue becomes quite silvery. The “Silky Terrier” is called the Australian Silky Terrier in Britain and Australia, but is called the “Silky Terrier” elsewhere. In any case, the dog is definitely a terrier and is bound to have the attributes of a terrier in terms of its rat and rodent killing abilities and in the case of the country of Australia, the little terrier is adept at killing snakes. The Silky is smaller than an Australian Terrier but larger than a Yorkie and the skull and muzzle are not as wide or heavy as those of the Australian Terrier, nor as long as those of the Yorky. In short, this little dog has an almost equal mix of the qualities of the two breeds.
Coat care is fairly simple, requiring daily brushing and an occasional bath. Of course, as always, the nails should be cut regularly. The ears are upright and only need occasional cleaning as they are not prone to ear infections. The hair on the face has a bearded appearance and there is always more care in this type of muzzle in terms of keeping the whiskers free of food debris. It can be trimmed if necessary, but its coat is easy to style as it is exactly what is called: “silky” and does not have an undercoat. It lays flat to the body and doesn’t tangle like a double coat.
The little dog is very intelligent and is definitely a one-family dog. He is wary of strangers and makes a good watchdog. When he introduces himself correctly, he will accept strangers into the home, but still he won’t be overly friendly. He is a very clean house pet and will get along with other animals in the house if raised with them. Of course, the terrier’s temperament will come out if confronted and he can certainly do a good job of defending himself when necessary. Obedience competitors have found that Silky is competitive in the Obedience ring and is a favorite in the Conformation ring in most European countries, rather than the United States.