Silky Terrier

Characteristics

Health & Longevity

Average Life Span: 11-14 years
The Silky Terrier is considered to be a healthy pup, but there are some health concerns and medical conditions that you need to know about. Some of those conditions include eye diseases, epilepsy, diabetes, elbow dysplasia, Legg-Calve-Perthe’s Disease, and intervertebral disc disease.

Eye diseases are a concern in your Silky Terrier, so you should have your pup’s eyes checked regularly by your veterinarian. Your pup can have a variety of eye complications from a simple eye infection to cataracts.

Epilepsy or seizures can occur in your pup. This neurological disorder can leave your dog disoriented, and he or she may even lose consciousness. Depending on the severity of this condition, you will find that your veterinarian may recommend medication or alternative treatment.

Diabetes can occur in your Silky Terrier, making it important for you to watch what you feed your pup to prevent it, along with preventing obesity. Diabetes will usually need to be monitored and treated with insulin to ensure that your pup remains healthy and happy.

Elbow dysplasia occurs in the front limbs of your pup and can lead to arthritis or even crippling of the affected limb. If your pup has this condition, you may notice that he or she has trouble walking around or standing up from a lounged position.

Legg-Calve-Perthe’s Disease is an inherited disease that occurs when the head of the femur bone starts to degenerate. This causes both joint and bone inflammation in your pup’s legs and can sometimes lead to lameness in the limbs.

Intervertebral disc disease or IVDD in dogs is a disease where the cushioning that is located between the discs in the spinal column begin to bulge or even herniate. This condition is extremely painful for your pup and can lead to paralysis.

The Silky Terrier has a life expectancy of 11 to 14 years.

Temperament & Train-ability

The Silky Terrier is a clever little pup and is often mischievous at times, which can lead to some trouble. You will find that your pup loves to run around and be aloof both inside and outside of your home. It is important that you keep an eye on your pup to ensure that he or she does not get into something he or she should not be in.

You will find that your Silky Terrier works hard to patrol your home and catch any small pests or rodents that may enter it. This breed was originally bred to do just that and sometimes his or her instincts will kick in.

You may notice that your pup likes to bark a lot, but this can be toned down with proper training and socialization. It is important to socialize your pup from an early age because he or she may be aggressive towards other pets in your home.

Your Silky Terrier is an affectionate pup and you will find that he or she loves to cuddle and provide you with all of the love that you can handle. When you sit down to relax on the couch, you will find your pup right there in your lap with his or her tongue out ready to give you a kiss.

Training is not too challenging because your Silky Terrier is intelligent, so he or she will listen well and pick up on commands easily. This breed may have a stubborn streak or two, but nothing that you cannot manage. You’ll want to make sure that you remain calm when you train your pup and not to use harsh methods, as they will not work.

The Silky Terrier needs a moderate amount of exercise, so your dog should be walked at least once per day. If you have a yard for your pup to roam, you will find that he or she really likes to go outside and take in some fresh air.

This breed does well with children, but you want to make sure that your children handle this breed correctly, since your pup is tiny. Young children have to be especially careful, as they may not realize they are hurting the pup. Adult supervision is a good idea.

Grooming

The Silky Terrier does have some moderate grooming requirements, but nothing that cannot be taken care of at home. You will find that your pup needs to have his or her coat brushed for at least 20 minutes per day. If you want your pup’s coat to remain soft and silky, and his or her skin to stay healthy, it needs to be done.

An occasional bath is required, and you do need to make sure that you rinse out all of the soap, dry your pup well, and comb his or her coat once the bath is over. You should trim up any hairs that hang on the lower limbs and also tie back the hair near his or her face.

If you are unsure of how to groom your pup or you do not want to spend the time doing it, you can take your pup to a groomer to have his or her coat trimmed up.

You will need to clean your pup’s ears at least once per week and trim his or her nails at least once per month.

Diet

Your Silky Terrier will consume anywhere between a 1/2 cup and 1 cup of food per day. You should feed your pup a high-quality brand that meets his or her nutritional needs. Avoid foods with fillers. Instead, opt for foods with whole ingredients. 

Find A Silky Terrier Breeder

Silky Terrier Puppies For Sale

Adopt A Silky Terrier

Cost

A Silky Terrier puppy will cost you somewhere between $600 and $800. You want to make sure you work with a responsible breeder and always determine what tests the breeder performs to ensure a healthy pup.

Paws ‘N’ Pups Ranking

Paws ‘N’ Pups ranks every breed out of 4 with 1 being easiest to integrate into your life and 4 being the toughest – The lower the ranking the better.

Ranking takes into account a few basic factors including cost, skill level needed, high vs low maintenance and how critical regular training is to success. The Silky Terrier is perfect for any home or apartment. You will find that this breed is quite happy and cheerful everywhere they go. You do not have to worry about any pests in your home because this small breed will attack them and get rid of them for you. You will notice that this breed does like to bark a lot, but that can be tamed with training. This breed will easily integrate into your home and you will only need to perform about 20 to 30 minutes of grooming per day. This breed ranks a 2.

 

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