Silky Terriers and Yorshire Terriers.. a little explanation by Carmen in nj

[carmen in nj]

I breed silkie terriers, they are very close to the yorkshire terrier.. here's a summary of the breed..I love Yorkies and my girl Prada is a yorkie, but my passion is the silkie.. My pair is from champion lines and I am very proud of all he work i have done, and i am still learning and is much about the breed yet to be discussed..When I took my girl for her DNA test I was told that many breeders are using Silky girls to breed with Yorkshire Terrier studs so their litters are bigger, that is why is VERY important to buy your yorkie or silky from a reputable and honest breeder.
hugs,
Carmen in nj

The Silkie Terrier..
AKC writing.

Although a toy in size, the Silky Terrier has a true terrier personality – he is of sufficient substance to be able to hunt and kill domestic rodents. The general public occasionally confuses this breed with the Yorkie, but in reality, the Silky is larger and more closely related to the Australian Terrier. A friendly, joyful temperament and the lovely blue and tan coat make him an ideal companion.
A Look Back
Developed at the end of the 1800s in Australia, the Silky Terrier was created when a number of Yorkshire Terriers from England were brought into parts of Australia and bred to Australian Terrier bitches in an attempt to improve coat color in the blue and tan Australian Terrier. The resulting litters produced individuals shown as these three different breeds. The Silkys were then bred together until a recognized type was fixed.

The Silky Terrier is a true "toy terrier". He is moderately low set, slightly longer than tall, of refined bone structure, but of sufficient substance to suggest the ability to hunt and kill domestic rodents. His coat is silky in texture, parted from the stop to the tail and presents a well groomed but not sculptured appearance. His inquisitive nature and joy of life make him an ideal companion.
Size, Proportion, Substance
Size – Shoulder height from nine to ten inches. Deviation in either direction is undesirable. Proportion – The body is about one fifth longer than the dog's height at the withers. Substance – Lightly built with strong but rather fine bone.
Head
The head is strong, wedge-shaped, and moderately long. Expression piercingly keen, eyes small, dark, almond shaped with dark rims. Light eyes are a serious fault. Ears are small, V-shaped, set high and carried erect without any tendency to flare obliquely off the skull. Skull flat, and not too wide between the ears. The skull is slightly longer than the muzzle. Stop shallow. The nose is black. Teeth strong and well aligned, scissors bite. An undershot or overshot bite is a serious fault.
Neck, Topline and Body
The neck fits gracefully into sloping shoulders. It is medium long, fine, and to some degree crested. The topline is level. A topline showing a roach or dip is a serious fault. Chest medium wide and deep enough to extend down to the elbows. The body is moderately low set and about one fifth longer than the dog's height at the withers. The body is measured from the point of the shoulder (or forechest) to the rearmost projection of the upper thigh (or point of the buttocks). A body which is too short is a fault, as is a body which is too long. The tail is docked, set high and carried at twelve to two o'clock position.
Forequarters
Well laid back shoulders, together with proper angulation at the upper arm, set the forelegs nicely under the body. Forelegs are strong, straight and rather fine-boned. Feet small, catlike, round, compact. Pads are thick and springy while nails are strong and dark colored. White or flesh-colored nails are a fault. The feet point straight ahead, with no turning in or out. Dewclaws, if any, are removed.
Hindquarters
Thighs well muscled and strong, but not so developed as to appear heavy. Well angulated stifles with low hocks which are parallel when viewed from behind. Feet as in front.
Coat
Straight, single, glossy, silky in texture. On matured specimens the coat falls below and follows the body outline. It should not approach floor length. On the top of the head, the hair is so profuse as to form a topknot, but long hair on the face and ears is objectionable. The hair is parted on the head and down over the back to the root of the tail. The tail is well coated but devoid of plume. Legs should have short hair from the pastern and hock joints to the feet. The feet should not be obscured by the leg furnishings.
Color
Blue and tan. The blue may be silver blue, pigeon blue or slate blue, the tan deep and rich. The blue extends from the base of the skull to the tip of the tail, down the forelegs to the elbows, and half way down the outside of the thighs. On the tail the blue should be very dark. Tan appears on muzzle and cheeks, around the base of the ears, on the legs and feet and around the vent. The topknot should be silver or fawn which is lighter than the tan points.
Gait
Should be free, light-footed, lively and straightforward. Hindquarters should have strong propelling power. Toeing in or out is to be faulted.
Temperament
The keenly alert air of the terrier is characteristic, with shyness or excessive nervousness to be faulted. The manner is quick, friendly, responsive.

[Britster]

Thank you. I tend to think my guy is a Silky/Yorkie mix. What do you think? You can see pictures in my album!

[rbelland]

Thanks, that was very informative!

[Mardelin]

I've read the standard before.

But, you made reference to your silkies being 8 oz at 8 weeks.....and when comparing the yorkie to the silkie (standard) and those I've seen in the ring. They tend to be a bit more larger in stature than a yorkie. A longer muzzle, bigger heads, more bone density and longer backed. My yorkies at about 8 weeks of age are close to the 2 pound range....even those that weigh a mere 2 oz at birth. If they haven't doubled their weight by the first week, I panic (most are born between 3 at 5 oz).

[Cerise]

Originally Posted by carmen in nj

I breed silkie terriers, they are very close to the yorkshire terrier.. here's a summary of the breed..I love Yorkies and my girl Prada is a yorkie, but my passion is the silkie.. My pair is from champion lines and I am very proud of all he work i have done, and i am still learning and is much about the breed yet to be discussed..When I took my girl for her DNA test I was told that many breeders are using Silky girls to breed with Yorkshire Terrier studs so their litters are bigger, that is why is VERY important to buy your yorkie or silky from a reputable and honest breeder.
hugs,
Carmen in nj

I believe it and have been thinking this was happening for a while. Scandalous people! This is why I see so many long faces in some Yorkies and longer, taller bodies. They look more like a Silky to me, though cute, but not a Yorkie.

[Mardelin]

Originally Posted by Cerise

I believe it and have been thinking this was happening for a while. Scandalous people! This is why I see so many long faces in some Yorkies and longer, taller bodies. They look more like a Silky to me, though cute, but not a Yorkie.

I do board a boy that was sold to his owners as a yorkie (pet store)....the first time I saw him I knew he wasn't a pure bred yorkie, but a silkie or silkie yorkie mix.

Now there are breeders that breed for the more leggie yorkie, which of course makes them taller. And their are those that are longer muzzled, since only during the last few years breeding has taken a turn for the shorter smooshy muzzle.

[JeanieK]

Originally Posted by Mardelin

I've read the standard before.

But, you made reference to your silkies being 8 oz at 8 weeks.....and when comparing the yorkie to the silkie (standard) and those I've seen in the ring. They tend to be a bit more larger in stature than a yorkie. A longer muzzle, bigger heads, more bone density and longer backed. My yorkies at about 8 weeks of age are close to the 2 pound range....even those that weigh a mere 2 oz at birth. If they haven't doubled their weight by the first week, I panic (most are born between 3 at 5 oz).

Yes mine too. they gain about a half ounce a day until the second week then about an ounce a day for the next week, then it slows down.

I can't imagine selling one at 8 ounces.

[carmen in nj]

Originally Posted by Mardelin

I've read the standard before.

But, you made reference to your silkies being 8 oz at 8 weeks.....and when comparing the yorkie to the silkie (standard) and those I've seen in the ring. They tend to be a bit more larger in stature than a yorkie. A longer muzzle, bigger heads, more bone density and longer backed. My yorkies at about 8 weeks of age are close to the 2 pound range....even those that weigh a mere 2 oz at birth. If they haven't doubled their weight by the first week, I panic (most are born between 3 at 5 oz).

yes that would be the standard, but lately we been seeing a lot of smaller silkies in the ranks so we are trying to keep the silky from shrinking, my first boy was VERY small for silky standards so I did not breed him I am hoping that this litter would be between range they should be born at the 3 to 4 onz range. but I also noticed that silkies grow a lot slower than yorkies, they tend to get bigger after 6 weeks.
I met a breeder that had a girl that was barely 10 onz at 10 weeks, that is WHY now the responsible breeders are doing DNA test to make sure we
are on the right lines.. once more..my girl was 1 pound 8 onz at 12 weeks.. now she is 11 pounds pre pregnancy weight..

[Mardelin]

Originally Posted by carmen in nj

yes that would be the standard, but lately we been seeing a lot of smaller silkies in the ranks so we are trying to keep the silky from shrinking, my first boy was VERY small for silky standards so I did not breed him I am hoping that this litter would be between range they should be born at the 3 to 4 onz range. but I also noticed that silkies grow a lot slower than yorkies, they tend to get bigger after 6 weeks.
I met a breeder that had a girl that was barely 10 onz at 10 weeks, that is WHY now the responsible breeders are doing DNA test to make sure we
are on the right lines.. once more..my girl was 1 pound 8 onz at 12 weeks.. now she is 11 pounds pre pregnancy weight..

Ah so there is a difference in the growth curve......where silkies grow after a certain age and yorkies will on the average be born anywhere between 3 and 5 oz.....grow up front and then slow down.......I have a boy here that at birth he weighed 2 oz.....scarey......he's now 10 weeks and 2 pounds 5 oz......

[carmen in nj]

Originally Posted by Mardelin

Ah so there is a difference in the growth curve......where silkies grow after a certain age and yorkies will on the average be born anywhere between 3 and 5 oz.....grow up front and then slow down.......I have a boy here that at birth he weighed 2 oz.....scarey......he's now 10 weeks and 2 pounds 5 oz......

Wow, 2 onz, very scary, glad he is well.. ah also our litters are bigger while yorkies usually have 2 to 5 pups, silkies can have 2 to 8 pups is a normal number. with singletons being very rare..

[Mardelin]

Originally Posted by carmen in nj

Wow, 2 onz, very scary, glad he is well..

Absolutely, very scarey, I'd never had one that small......usually in the 4 to 5 oz range. But, the lil guy once cleaned, given his dose of Benebac and couple of NutriDrops.....he grabbed on to his mother's nipple and never turned loose....gained steadily and such a lively lil bugger. He's out of my Charmer the boy in my Avitar and Tahlulah (her first litter)

[carmen in nj]

Originally Posted by Britster

Thank you. I tend to think my guy is a Silky/Yorkie mix. What do you think? You can see pictures in my album!

Let me start by saying that you boy is absolutely GORGEOUS... he does have qualities of both breeds, but without a DNA test is really hard to know for sure... he is a very handsome baby, how big is he?
hugs,
CArmen in nj

[Britster]

Originally Posted by carmen in nj

Let me start by saying that you boy is absolutely GORGEOUS... he does have qualities of both breeds, but without a DNA test is really hard to know for sure... he is a very handsome baby, how big is he?
hugs,
CArmen in nj

Thank you He's 12.5lbs! lol. I've been told by soo many people that they think he's a Silky. I know there are bigger Yorkies out there but he does have a few traits of a Silky, and a few of a Yorkie so I'm thinking that might have happened w/ him... used a Silky mother with Yorkie father. I didn't get him from a reputable breeder.

[carmen in nj]

Originally Posted by Britster

Thank you He's 12.5lbs! lol. I've been told by soo many people that they think he's a Silky. I know there are bigger Yorkies out there but he does have a few traits of a Silky, and a few of a Yorkie so I'm thinking that might have happened w/ him... used a Silky mother with Yorkie father. I didn't get him from a reputable breeder.

you welcome, I showed my hubby his pictures and he also think he could be a silkshire.
all 12.5 pounds of him.. super cute.. congrats..
hugs,
CArmen in nj

[Britster]

Originally Posted by carmen in nj

you welcome, I showed my hubby his pictures and he also think he could be a silkshire.
all 12.5 pounds of him.. super cute.. congrats..
hugs,
CArmen in nj

I'm thinking so, too! My aunt got a "Silkshire" terrier from a pet store and he looked identical to Jackson as a pup.

I think I'm just gonna start telling people he's Silky/Yorkie, LOL. It's so annoying everytime we're out. "He's a yorkie?!? "