Also known as the Silky, the Australian Silkie, the Sydney Silky Terrier, the Sydney Silky, the Silky Terrier, the Silkie Terrier or the Silky Toy Terrier, this diminutive terrier was developed purely as a companion breed a household pet from its larger, working cousin, the Australian Terrier.
In a country where most dogs must work hard to earn their living, this is Australia’s only ‘toy’ breed, developed purely as a pet. During the 19th century, the larger Australian Terrier had established itself as the country’s champion vermin-killer and had become a national favourite. By crossing it with tiny Yorkshire Terriers it was possible to reduce its size while retaining its personality. It is thought that the Skye Terrier may also have been involved in a minor way, which would explain the Silky’s prominent, pricked ears.
The result of this mixing was an intelligent, lively, fiin-loving, high-spirited companion with fine, silky hair, weighing no more than 10 lb (5 kg) and ideal for urban living. As a bonus, it is an excellent watchdog, noisily announcing the arrival of any stranger. Its coat does not shed and it lacks the dog odour common in many breeds.
In the Australian show-ring, this breed made its debut in the early years of the 20th century. There was great rivalry between Silky breed clubs in Victoria and New South Wales, each putting out its own version of the breed standard. The Sydney faction tried to claim the breed as its own by calling it the Sydney Silkie, and it was not until 1959 that a national standard was finally established. In this same year the breed was recognized by the American Kennel Club, under the name Silky Terrier. The Silky has been slower to catch on in Britain, probably because of the enormous popularity of the Yorkshire Terrier, and a British breed club was not formed until 1979.
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