Australian Silky Terrier Information
History
The Australian Silky Terrier is said to have originated in Sydney and dates date to the late 19thcentury. These dogs are an example of a truly Australian toy breed and are a cross between a Yorkshire terrier and kin breed from Australia.
They were only officially named the Australian Silky Terrier as recently as 1956.
Characteristics
- Intelligent
- Loyal
- Happy
Australian Silky Terrier Temperament & Size
They are petite, light boned, energetic dogs with a silky, flowing and smooth coat on the back and sides of the body which can grow up to six inches in length. Also known as simply the Silky Terrier, these dogs have distinctive coat colouring including grey and white and blue and tan.
These are indoor, low maintenance dogs only requiring a small amount of exercise and grooming each day.
As with most toy breeds they require correct, firm training and early socialisation to avoid behavioural problems.
Australian Silky Terrier Life Span & Health Problems
Average lifespan is 12- 15 years.
Common Illnesses include;
- Periodontal Disease – Toy breeds are prone to bad breath, tartar accumulation, inflamed gums and tooth loss.
- Cataracts – Clouding of the lens causing blurred vision to blindness.
- Patellar Luxation – Partial to full dislocation of one or both kneecaps.
- Legg Calves Perthes Disease – Altered blood supply to the head of the thigh bone causes disintegration of bone and lameness.
- Transient Juvenile Hypoglycaemia – When puppies are not fed every 3 to 4 hours their blood sugar goes dangerously low and they can become comatose and die.
- Cushings (Overactive adrenal glands) – Resulting in skin problems, excessive drinking and pot-bellied appearance.
- Tracheal Collapse – The cartilage rings that normally keep the windpipe open, begin to deteriorate and the airway narrows causing wheezing and coughing.
- Port Systemic Shunt (Liver Shunt) – Blood from the intestines goes only partly through the liver and the rest mixes into general circulation as a result toxins that are normally cleared by the liver accumulate in the blood and cause illness.