In the world of small dog breeds, Silky Terriers and Yorkshire Terriers (Yorkies) stand out as adorable and popular choices among pet lovers. While they share some similarities, these two breeds possess distinct characteristics that set them apart.
In this article, we’ll take a closer look at the Silky Terrier versus the Yorkie, highlighting their unique traits, temperaments, and considerations for potential pet owners.
Silky terrier
Originating in Australia, Silky Terrier emerges as a captivating breed that captures hearts with its affectionate qualities. They are energetic, high-spirited, and loyal companions who want to be part of their owners day to day-to-day activities.
With a blue and tan coat, this petite canine requires regular brushing (2-3 times a week) to prevent its flowing silky coat from tangling. Silky terrier exhibit traits of a brave, intelligent, bossy, and friendly pets, standing about 9-10 inches tall and weighing up to 10 pounds.
Silky terriers require high-quality food formulated for small breeds specific to their stage of life. With good nutrition, you can protect your pet from some health issues that they are prone to. If taken good care of, silky can live up to 13-15 years offering companionship and joy to its fortunate owner.
As adorable as they are, silky terriers are not good with toddlers, other dogs, or small pets as they tend to be aggressive. However, you are sure to live in a rodent-free environment as they are very good at catching rodents. They are also mischievous and bark at any slight provocation. Training them at an early stage can help manage this negative trait which might not sit well with your neighbors.
Since silky terriers are energetic dogs, it is recommended to take them for walks at least once a day and engage them in agility training to keep their mind alert and relaxed.
Yorkshire terrier
Yorkshire terriers are purebred dogs originating from England. This breed is renowned for its striking appearance, with a lustrous coat blending shades of blue and golden tan.
While Yorkies may seem to require extensive care, they are low shedders as their coat is more like human hair and therefore require only regular grooming.
When fully grown, Yorkies stand at a height of 6-8 inches weighing approximately 7 pounds.
Beyond their captivating exterior, Yorkshire Terriers are loyal to their owners and can enjoy a lifespan of up to 11-16 years, ensuring a lasting companionship that endears them to many. Therefore, high-quality nutrition for yorkies is key if you want to be with them long enough as they are prone to health issues like laxation patela, diabetes, and obesity which are due to unnecessary weight gain.
Just like any other breed, yorkies need exercise too like walks 2-3 times a week and vigorous exercise to get rid of the pent-up energy. Also, for such an intelligent dog agility training is recommended to keep their mind active.
Yorkies are just a perfect family dog, especially for those who love family vacations as you can travel with them to most destinations due to their ease in portability. However, you need to be cautious when purchasing this pet as it does not co-exist well with babies or other small pets because of their ratting background and can easily attack them.
Silky terrier vs Yorkie difference
When it comes to the Silky Terrier and the Yorkshire Terrier, each of these delightful breeds boasts its own set of distinct characteristics.
Yorkies are a mix of skyes and the Dandie dinmonts beads while silky terriers are a crossbreed of Yorkshire terrier and Australian terrier. Silky Terriers are slightly larger, standing at a height of 9 to 10 inches and weighing around 10 pounds. In contrast, Yorkshire Terriers are slightly smaller growing up to 6-8 inches and weighing around 7 pounds
Silky Terriers present a narrow head with broad muzzles, almond-shaped eyes with dark rims, and slightly bigger pointy ears compared to Yorkies. On the other hand, Yorkshire Terriers feature a round-shaped head, dark shiny eyes, a shorter snout, and a captivating pair of erect ears.
Living up to their name, silky terriers have a silky and glossy coat with their head hair being slightly shorter. This contrasts with Yorkshire Terriers, whose coat showcases a unique blend of blue and golden tan, contributing to their iconic appearance. Although their coat length may seem similar, Yorkies coats grow to floor length while silkys tend to be shorter. Also, Yorkie’s head coat grow so long that it needs trimming to avoid getting in the bowl, while that of silky is shorter than the entire body.
Whether it’s the captivating almond-shaped eyes of the Silky Terrier or the striking coat hues of the Yorkshire Terrier, these differences only serve to make each breed all the more fascinating and captivating in its own right.
| Key differences | Silky terrier | Yorkshire terrier |
| Height | 9-10 inches | 6-8 inches |
| Weight | 10 pounds | 7 pounds |
| Coat color | Silver blue & tan, silver black & tan, grey & tan, | Blue and golden tan |
| Coat length | Above the floor (head coat shorter than the body coat) | Floor length coat (uniform coat length for both the head and body) |
| Appearance (head shape) | Narrow shaped head | Round shaped head |
| Lifespan | 13-15 years | 11-16 years |
| Origin | Australia | England |
FAQs
Is silky terrier hypoallergenic?
Yes. Silky terrier is a low shedder and suitable for people with allergies. The coat is more like human hair which shades less often making it hypoallergenic.
Is Yorkshire terrier fragile?
Yorkies are healthy breeds although they may look tiny and fragile. However, their bone structure can be fragile to rough games like jumping high places as they are prone to laxation patella. This shouldn’t be anything to worry about, as Yorkies are so energetic and can enjoy any other kind of game that does not strain their joints.
Why are Yorkies so annoying?
Due to their small structure, Yorkies tend to be defensive and bossy. All this comes with aggressiveness and uncontrollable barking especially when provoked. However, with consistent training from an early age(and patience), you can put it under control.
Do silky terriers make good guard dogs?
No. Silky terriers are more of watchdogs. Due to their small size, they are not able to guard you but will effectively watch over your property and alert you with barks in case of any approaching danger.
Can silky terriers stay alone for a long time in a day?
No. Silky terriers get anxious when left alone for a long time and become destructive. This breed is more of a companion dog and best suits owners who work from the house. If you are planning on getting one, you may need to adjust your schedule to accommodate them as they always want to be close to their owners or family members.