| The Australian Silky Terrier is thought to have been | | | | breeds. |
| bred from crossing the Yorkshire Terrier with the | | | | The coat care is simple enough, he requires a daily |
| Australian Terrier. This mix of the two breeds was | | | | brushing and an occasional bath. Of course as always |
| meant to produce a toy dog with the gentle qualities | | | | nails should be trimmed on a regular basis. The ears |
| of a small house pet and the inquisitive character and | | | | are erect and need only an occasional cleaning as |
| hunting skill of a terrier. Families who have Silkies will | | | | they are not prone to ear infections. The hair on the |
| attest to the effectiveness of the cross. | | | | face presents a bearded look and there is always |
| It is obvious from the coloring of the Australian Silky | | | | more care on this type of muzzle as far as keeping |
| that a Yorkshire Terrier had a part in its | | | | the whiskers free of bits of food. Trimming can be |
| development, for it carries the gun metal blue coloring | | | | done if necessary but his coat is easy to comb since |
| with rich tan points and silvery blue topknot quite | | | | it is exactly what it is called : "silky" and there is no |
| similar to the Yorky. When the dog is born he is | | | | undercoat. It lies flat to the body and does not |
| much darker and as he grows the tan markings fade | | | | tangle in the manner of a double coat. |
| to a lighter fawn shade and the gun metal blue | | | | The little dog is highly intelligent and is definitely a one |
| becomes quite silvery. The " Silky Terrier" is called | | | | family dog. It is wary of strangers and makes a good |
| the Australian Silky Terrier in Great Britain and in | | | | watch dog. When properly introduced it will accept |
| Australia, but is called the "Silky Terrier" elsewhere. In | | | | strangers into the household but still will not be overly |
| any case, the dog is definitely a terrier and meant to | | | | friendly. He is a very clean house pet and will get |
| have the attributes of a terrier as far as its ratting | | | | along with other animals in the household if he is |
| and rodent killing abilities and in the case of the | | | | raised with them. Of course the terrier temperament |
| country of Australia, the little terrier is adept at killing | | | | will come out if he is confronted and he can certainly |
| snakes. The Silky is smaller than an Australian Terrier | | | | do a good job of defending himself when necessary. |
| but larger than a Yorkie and the skull and muzzle are | | | | Obedience competitors have found that the Silky is |
| not as broad nor heavy as the Australian Terriers', | | | | competitive in the Obedience ring and he is a favorite |
| nor as long as the Yorky. In short this little dog has | | | | in the Conformation ring in most of the European |
| an almost equal mix of the qualities of the two | | | | countries, more so than in the United States. |