Silky Terrier
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Is the Silky Terrier Right For You?
YES, if you are…
Apartment dwellers, seniors, and families with older (gentle) children. People with active lifestyles, runners, hikers, dog-sport enthusiasts, who can deliver daily, vigorous exercise. First-time and seasoned owners alike, provided they commit to consistent positive-reinforcement training. Adaptable enough for apartment living when daily exercise is non-negotiable. Above all, the ideal Silky Terrier owner understands the breed's toy-group heritage from Australia and is prepared to honor those instincts with appropriate outlets, structure, and the kind of patient, daily commitment this breed deserves.
NO, if you are…
Households where rough-and-tumble large dogs or very active toddlers might injure them. Sedentary households or owners who travel frequently without a plan for daily, vigorous exercise. Anyone who plans to skip foundational obedience entirely, even an "easy" breed needs structure to thrive. Apartment dwellers in noise-restrictive buildings, or owners who need long stretches of quiet for work-from-home calls. Anyone unwilling to research the specific health risks common in the Silky Terrier (notably patellar luxation and legg-calve-perthes) and budget for the preventive care that follows.
Fun Facts about the Silky Terrier
- Silky Terriers were developed in Australia by crossing Yorkies with Australian Terriers.
- The Silky Terrier originated in Australia, where the breed was developed for purposes that still influence their behavior today.
- As a Toy Group breed, the Silky Terrier shares structural and temperamental traits with other breeds developed for the same kind of work.
- The Silky Terrier is considered one of the lower-shedding breeds, which makes them a more workable choice for some allergy sufferers, though no dog is truly hypoallergenic.
- A typical Silky Terrier lifespan is 13-15 years, meaning families should plan for that full commitment when bringing one home.
Common Misconceptions about the Silky Terrier
Toy breeds are not fragile decorations. Treating them like accessories produces neurotic, anxious, snappy adults. They are real dogs and need socialization, training, and exercise like any other breed. A daily walk around the block is not "exercise" for a high-energy breed like the Silky Terrier. They need real, sustained activity that engages both body and brain. One specific point worth correcting about the Silky Terrier: their Australia origin and toy-group heritage shape behavior in ways the casual observer often misses, including their reaction to patellar luxation risks and the level of socialization they actually need from puppyhood onward.
Quick Facts
10 lbs
9-10 in
13-15 years
Long
Blue and Tan
Low
High
Moderate
Frequent
Yes
Silky Terrier Temperament
Friendly, Quick, Keenly Alert
Exercise & Grooming
Exercise Needs
30-45 minutes daily
Grooming
Daily brushing
Grooming Guide
Daily brushing. Coat care is centered on daily brushing. Long coats mat quickly without consistent attention; line-brushing weekly prevents painful tangles. Their long coat sheds very little, which suits owners who prefer a tidier home, though "low-shedding" never means "no maintenance." Trim nails every 3–4 weeks, check ears weekly for redness or odor, and brush teeth daily or use vet-approved dental chews.
Silky Terrier Health
Common Health Issues
Patellar luxation, Legg-Calve-Perthes, tracheal collapse
Diet & Nutrition
Feed a high-quality, AAFCO-certified diet appropriate for the Silky Terrier's life stage and small size. Active Silky Terriers burn meaningful calories, match portions to their actual workload, not generic feeding-chart numbers. Small breeds can be prone to hypoglycemia as puppies, multiple smaller meals per day during the first six months helps prevent it.
Health Care
The Silky Terrier has an average lifespan of 13-15 years, which is their long lifespan means a 12-to-16-year commitment is realistic, a meaningful chapter of any owner's life. Breed-specific concerns to discuss with your vet include: patellar luxation, legg-calve-perthes, tracheal collapse. Reputable breeders screen breeding stock for these conditions, so always ask to see health clearances before committing to a puppy. Beyond breed-specific issues, follow the standards of good preventative care: a core vaccine schedule, year-round parasite prevention, regular dental cleaning, and an annual senior workup once your dog passes the midpoint of their expected lifespan. Small breeds are particularly prone to dental disease; daily brushing or a vet-approved dental routine is one of the highest-impact things you can do for their long-term health.
About the Silky Terrier
History
The Silky Terrier's lineage traces back to Australia, where the breed was developed for serving as devoted companion animals to royalty, merchants, and city dwellers alike. Centuries of selective work shaped the temperament, structure, and instincts you see in the breed today, and many of those original drives remain, even in dogs that will spend their lives as family companions. As a member of the Toy Group, bred specifically as devoted human companions and lap dogs, the Silky Terrier carries hallmark traits of the group, visible in everything from how they move to how they read situations. The Silky Terrier is one of the rarer breeds on the AKC roster, which means finding a responsible breeder takes more patience and travel, but also that the breed has avoided much of the damage done by mass-market puppy production. An often-cited piece of breed history: Silky Terriers were developed in Australia by crossing Yorkies with Australian Terriers.
Personality
Owners who live with the Silky Terrier consistently describe them as friendly, quick and keenly alert, a personality shaped by generations of purposeful breeding. In daily life this shows up as strong daily energy that needs consistent, vigorous activity, paired with a temperament that is trainable with patience, consistency, and motivating rewards. With family they are friendly with children when properly socialized, friendly with other dogs when properly socialized, and friendly with new people when properly socialized; they're vocal and quick to alert you to anything new. They can adapt to apartment living when their daily activity needs are met, but a tired dog is the real prerequisite, not square footage. Their compact size makes them easy to transport and accommodate, though it also means they can be fragile around very young children or large, rough-playing dogs. Above all, the Silky Terrier thrives when their physical and mental needs are taken seriously, under-stimulated, even the gentlest individuals can develop frustrating habits, while a well-exercised, mentally engaged Silky Terrier is genuinely one of the best companions you can ask for.
Living With a Silky Terrier
Plan on 60+ minutes of meaningful daily activity, broken into multiple sessions if possible. They can adapt to apartment living when their daily activity needs are met, but a tired dog is the real prerequisite, not square footage. Within the household, expect a dog who is friendly with kids when properly socialized and friendly with cats when properly socialized. On the noise front, they're vocal and quick to alert you to anything new, important to factor in if you have close neighbors or work-from-home calls. Their long lifespan means a 12-to-16-year commitment is realistic, a meaningful chapter of any owner's life.
Training
Silky Terriers are trainable with patience, consistency, and motivating rewards. Positive-reinforcement methods, food, play, and genuine praise, work far better than corrections; this breed in particular shuts down or grows resistant under harsh handling. Because of their high energy, training sessions are most productive after exercise, not before, a tired Silky Terrier learns faster than a fresh one. Early, frequent, and varied socialization between 8 and 16 weeks is critical, especially given their more reserved disposition toward strangers. Specifically work on a "quiet" cue from puppyhood, left untrained, this breed's vocal nature can become a real lifestyle issue.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Silky Terrier
Is the Silky Terrier a good family dog?
The Silky Terrier can work in the right family, but they are friendly with children when properly socialized. Households with very young or unsupervised children should look at a more universally child-tolerant breed. As with any breed, success depends on early socialization, supervised interactions, and teaching children how to respect the dog's space.
How much exercise does a Silky Terrier need?
Plan on 60+ minutes of meaningful daily activity, broken into multiple sessions if possible. Plan for daily, structured activity rather than relying on backyard time alone, under-exercised Silky Terriers commonly develop boredom-driven habits like chewing, digging, or excessive vocalization.
Are Silky Terriers easy to train?
Silky Terriers are trainable with patience, consistency, and motivating rewards. Positive-reinforcement methods, food, play, and genuine praise, work far better than corrections. Start training in puppyhood and keep sessions short and frequent.
How much do Silky Terriers shed?
Their long coat sheds very little, which suits owners who prefer a tidier home, though "low-shedding" never means "no maintenance." The Silky Terrier is considered a lower-shedding breed, which can make them a more workable choice for some allergy sufferers, though no dog is truly hypoallergenic.
What is the lifespan of a Silky Terrier?
The typical Silky Terrier lifespan is 13-15 years. Their long lifespan means a 12-to-16-year commitment is realistic, a meaningful chapter of any owner's life. Common breed-specific health concerns to discuss with your vet include: patellar luxation, legg-calve-perthes, tracheal collapse.
Can Silky Terriers live in an apartment?
They can adapt to apartment living when their daily activity needs are met, but a tired dog is the real prerequisite, not square footage.
Is the Silky Terrier good with other dogs?
The Silky Terrier is friendly with other dogs when properly socialized. Early, ongoing socialization between 8 and 16 weeks is critical, and adult introductions should always be on neutral ground with both dogs on loose leashes.
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