Silky Terrier
絲毛㹴
Updated 2026-09-09
At a glance
The Silky Terrier is an Australian creation of the early 1900s — Yorkshire and Australian Terrier blended into a 25 cm dynamo with a glossy blue-and-tan coat that feels like human hair, larger than a Yorkie, smaller than an Aussie, and still capable of dispatching a rat. Silkys are friendly, quick and keenly alert: small but not fragile, feisty but not yappy, more a terrier than a lapdog, curious, high-spirited and unwilling to be ignored. They need more exercise than most toy breeds, rules that are stuck to, a lead outdoors because of their prey drive, and brushing at least twice a week.
Facts
| Size | Toy |
|---|---|
| Height | 23–25cm |
| Weight | 3.5–4.5kg |
| Life expectancy | 13–15years |
| Breed group | AKC: toy FCI: 3 |
| Role | Toy |
| Coat | Long coat |
| Shedding | 2/ 5 |
| Exercise | 20–90min/day |
| Can be left alone | up to 4 hours |
| Companionship need | 4/ 5 |
| Trainability | 4/ 5 |
| Barking | 4/ 5 |
| Good with children | 3/ 5 |
| Good with other dogs | 3/ 5 |
| Heat tolerance | 3/ 5 |
| Cold tolerance | 3/ 5 |
Health
This page is general information compiled from published sources. It is not veterinary, legal or purchase advice. Dogs vary within a breed — talk to a vet or a reputable breeder about the dog in front of you.
Health notes are not veterinary advice. Conditions listed are those reported for the breed, not a diagnosis of any dog. Always consult a veterinarian.
Inherited eye conditions
Various inherited eye conditions are reported in the breed; annual eye examinations by a veterinary ophthalmologist are recommended for breeding stock. Ask your vet about eye screening.
Patellar luxation
Patellar luxation (slipping kneecaps) is commonly reported in small breeds; breeders screen for it. Ask your vet if your dog skips or holds up a hind leg.
Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease
The parent club lists Legg-Perthes disease among conditions that can occur in the breed, while calling Silkys very healthy dogs overall with an average lifespan of 14 to 17 years. Ask your vet if a young dog shows hind-leg lameness.
Epilepsy
Idiopathic epilepsy is reported in the breed. Ask your vet promptly if your dog has a seizure.
Diabetes
The parent club lists diabetes and pancreatic disease among conditions that can occur in the breed. Ask your vet if your dog drinks or urinates more than usual, or vomits after fatty food.
Behaviour
A terrier first, a lapdog second
The AKC calls Silkys 10-inch dynamos animated by curiosity and high spirits — small but not fragile, feisty but not yappy — that should still look and behave like a true earthdog; they adapt to any living situation but do not like to be ignored, prefer fetch and walks with their family, and owners charmed by them should still make rules and stick to them, while a strong prey drive makes a leash essential outdoors; its trait chart scores protective nature 5/5. The CKC describes a quick, friendly, inquisitive and responsive dog with the keenly alert air of the terrier whose joy of life suits any size of home.
A happy medium
The AKC says that, being more terrier than lapdog, the Silky needs more exercise than most Toy breeds — intelligent, bold and energetic, it needs partners who channel that energy into daily exercise and training for sports and work, and it has done well in agility. The CKC calls it a happy medium — neither as active as a terrier nor needing as much care as the more diminutive toys — with exercise needs that are easily met; the Royal Kennel Club suggests up to 30 minutes a day and daily grooming.
Energy and exercise
Energy level is rated 3/5 (moderate) on the AKC breed-trait chart. The Royal Kennel Club puts its exercise need at "up to 30 minutes per day".
Training and barking
AKC trait chart: trainability 4/5, barking level 4/5. Individual dogs vary; early socialisation and reward-based training are recommended for every breed.
Official guidance
Summaries of official documents are ours; the source is linked. Breed standards, laws and licensing rules change — check the issuing body for the current version.
American Kennel Club — Silky Terrier
Breed overview, breed-trait chart, history, official standard summary and health notes from the AKC and the national parent club.
Read the sourceAccessed 2026-09-09
Canadian Kennel Club — Silky Terrier (Toy Dogs)
Origin, temperament, activity level, height/weight, coat and grooming as described by the Canadian Kennel Club.
Read the sourceAccessed 2026-09-09
The Royal Kennel Club — Australian Silky Terrier
Breed characteristics (size small, exercise up to 30 minutes per day, lifespan over 12 years).
Read the sourceAccessed 2026-09-09
FCI nomenclature — Australian Silky Terrier (standard no. 236, group 3)
FCI breed nomenclature entry with the official breed standard PDF in English, French, German and Spanish.
Read the sourceAccessed 2026-09-09
What owners say
Owner advice is quoted from public community posts and reflects those owners' opinions, not PocketPaw's position. It is unverified and not a substitute for professional advice. Each item links to where it was said.
“The parent club's breed guide describes Silkys as very smart, brave, loving, energetic, curious, tenacious and stubborn at times — very good alarm dogs that need an owner who establishes leadership. It says they make wonderful pets for children who are good with animals, but that not all Silkys are good around small children because the breed can be a bit robust, and young puppies are not recommended for homes with very small children or elderly people; they need a securely fenced yard and should not be left outside alone for long, excel at agility and fast-paced events though formal obedience may be too structured for their personality, are food-motivated and respond to positive training but can resist it, and house-training demands consistency. It warns that in an apartment they may become a barking problem because they alert to noises, says daily brushing keeps mats away, and calls them very healthy dogs living 14 to 17 years on average. The club's grooming article adds a bath and brush once a week, never brushing a completely dry or a soaking-wet coat.”
— Silky Terrier Club of America — Silky Terrier Dog Breed: How to Guide via breed clubWorldwide2026-09-09
Sources
- [1]Silky Terrier — Dog Breed Information — American Kennel Club (Accessed 2026-09-09)
- [2]Silky Terrier — Choosing a Breed — Canadian Kennel Club (Accessed 2026-09-09)
- [3]Australian Silky Terrier — Breeds A to Z — The Royal Kennel Club (Accessed 2026-09-09)
- [4]Australian Silky Terrier — FCI standard no. 236 — Fédération Cynologique Internationale (Accessed 2026-09-09)
- [5]How do I help my dog adjust to spending time alone? — The Royal Kennel Club (Accessed 2026-09-09)
- [6]Incidence and risk factors for heat-related illness (heatstroke) in UK dogs under primary veterinary care in 2016 (Hall, Carter & O'Neill, Scientific Reports 10:9128) — Nature / Scientific Reports (Accessed 2026-09-09)
- [7]Silky Terrier Dog Breed — How to Guide — Silky Terrier Club of America — Silky Terrier Club of America (public breed information) (Accessed 2026-09-09)
- [8]Silky Terrier Grooming — Silky Terrier Club of America — Silky Terrier Club of America (public breed information) (Accessed 2026-09-09)
Still have questions?
Ask owners on the PawMunity forum — every breed has its own board.
Breed data compiled by PocketPaw from the sources credited on each entry. Text and layout © 2026 NextPath Solutions Limited. Please link to a page rather than copying it.