The Silky breed was derived by crossing the Australian Terrier with the Yorkshire Terrier (and the Australian Terrier already had the Yorkie in them!). But upon closer inspection, the Silky has a broader body type...built a little more solidly. They have a bigger head, longer nose and their coat is not supposed to grow more than 4" (whereas the Yorkies' coat flows right down to the floor and beyond). They too, do not shed. They are fiercely protective of their owners; moreso than the usual Yorkie. They absolutely love kids and other puppies and therefore make great additions to any family. Their fur is extremely silky to the touch (hence the name) and does need regular grooming. There are no specific health problems common to this breed. |