Yorkshire terriers vs silky terriers

[cchu]

What is the difference between a Yorkshire terrier and a silky terrier?

I checked out this website but the differences are not very distinctive.

http://www.akc.org/breeds/yorkshire_terrier/index.cfm

http://www.akc.org/breeds/silky_terrier/index.cfm

[Annadoodle]

Originally Posted by cchu

What is the difference between a Yorkshire terrier and a silky terrier?

I checked out this website but the differences are not very distinctive.

http://www.akc.org/breeds/yorkshire_terrier/index.cfm

http://www.akc.org/breeds/silky_terrier/index.cfm

I've always wondered about that myself...
I think the Silky Terrier's are a bit larger in size~

[mikey]

i wanna know this too. there is a woman who is CONVINCED that baxter is a silky terrier because he's over 7lbs. he's only 8lbs. but according to her, when yorkies get over 7lbs they're considered silky terriers.

[Oscar's Mummy]

They look really different in the pictures of those links you posted - the silky isn't necessarily bigger I don't think, it's built differently though - longer body, longer face. Yorkie is more compact I think. Breed characteristics are basically the same though....

[SissaYSU]

size matters but just because a dog is over a certain weight doesn't automatically make them a silky. tyke is 10 pounds (he's not fat...he's just a big dog all around...they knew when he was born he was going to be big. he's muscular and tall) and is 100% yorkie. he has papers and the vet listed him as that and everything.

-Melissa

[Kenzies Grandma]

I'm by no means an expert but I did have a Silky for 14 yrs. They and Yorkies have different standards even though they are similar, especially in colouring. Silky's originated from a cross between a Yorkshire terrier and an Australian terrier so it's not wonder they look quite similar. The main difference I've noticed between the Silky I had and Gypsy (purebred yorkie) is in the size of frame. Silkys are much sturdier. I hope this helps a little. Small silkys are still silkys (not yorkies) and large yorkies are not silkys.

[MyTrixie143]

Here is a website that explains the differences between a yorkie, silky, and australian terrier.
http://silkyterrierclubofamerica.org/comparison.htm
http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/R...ron-links.html

Here are 2 pics of silkies and then 2 of yorkies. As you can notice the most distinguished difference is the head (skull, ears, muzzle) and the body, silkies have well muscled and structered bodies and are longer then they are high unlike a yorkie who is as long as they are in height and bone and body structure is not heavy and sturdy but rather light and more fragile.

[cchu]

hmmm...I guess the head structure is a little differen't. My coworker has a silky terrier and she looks just like My Zoe which is a Yorkie so I thought it was strange.

[TeddyandTiffy]

Well I have one of both, Tiffy is our Silky and Teddy is our Yorkee, See I can tell the difference...Tiffy was 3 lbs @ 6 weeks where Teddy was 1.5 lbs @ 6 weeks, Tiffy looked like so different, she was silky where Teddy was curly, wavy...Tiffy now is bigger, much bigger on her size then Teddy. Hugs, Lee

[YorkieRose]

Silkies are very different to me...they are a coarser terrier and larger as a rule.

[megan_kat22]

Originally Posted by mikey

i wanna know this too. there is a woman who is CONVINCED that baxter is a silky terrier because he's over 7lbs. he's only 8lbs. but according to her, when yorkies get over 7lbs they're considered silky terriers.

pshhhhhhhh- lol. one of mine is full blood yorkie but a whopping 12 lbs.

[I love Lucy]

I also heard that Silky's are usually lighter or platinum colors..but that one in the picture looks like they can be also drk steele? Yeah and they have different faces, long nose and as pups they are not blk and tan but all blk? I am no expert just saying what I heard..etc..I hear also now Silkies are being bread smaller like a Yorkie..I even seen ads for Silky-Yorkie mix pups?? Not sure what to think about that?

[mommiesboy]

Originally Posted by megan_kat22

pshhhhhhhh- lol. one of mine is full blood yorkie but a whopping 12 lbs.

I was told by a lady that I had been duped into buying a Silky instead of a Yorkie.My Satch IS big but the reg papers,the vet ,the groomer and the breeder I just bought Sammi from all said he is pure blue & tan Yorkie, just BIG,lol!!

[silkies4u]

I just ran across this forum and even though it is old I thought I would answer anyway since this is the number one question I am always asked.

I am a breeder of Silkies and past breeder of Yorkies. I am not saying Silkies are better so please don't think I am slamming Yorkies. I love them but a Silky just happens to be a better fit for me and my family.

Also to answer a couple of the replys.
Silkies just like Yorkies are born black and tan. They gradually turn.
Silkies do not have coarse hair. It is just like their name implies, "Silky".

You can see tons of pictures of my Silkies and info about Silkies at my web site. http://silkies4u.com

Developed around the turn of the century in Australia from crossings of native Australian Terriers and imported Yorkshire Terriers, the Silky Terrier encompasses many of the best qualities of both breeds. The breed was formed when a number of Yorkshire Terriers from England were brought into the Australian states of Victoria and New South Wales at the end of the 1800s..
Originally known as the Sydney Silky, the Silky Terrier is a breed that was developed in the Sydney area of New South Wales, and was first shown in 1907. Some think he owes his existence also to the crossbreeding of Skye and Yorkshire terries, along with the Yorkshire and Australian terriers. His name was changed to the Australian Silky Terrier in the 1950s though today is usually just called Silky Terrier.

Yorkie puppies are prone to hypoglycemia (diagnosed by listless behavior and shakiness). Silkies aren't because they aren't as small.

Silkies tend to be easier to house train and not as yippy but, still make excellent watchdogs and alert you when visitors arrive.

Silkies do not shed and do not mat as easily as a Yorkie. Regular grooming with a brush and comb is required a couple of times a week.

Yorkies do not shed but, they do mat much easier than the Silky Terrier. The Yorkshire Terrier requires intensive brushing and combing on a daily basis.

The Yorkshire Terrier has a very long, straight, silky coat which is golden-brown at the head, chest, and legs and a distinctive steele grey from the base of the neck to the tip of the tail. The Yorkie is only supposed to be a 'slate' color of blue and the coat is usually heavier and floor length (when kept in show condition).

The Silky Terrier has a long, smooth, silky, and shiny coat. The coat can be any shade of blue from a light steele blue, to pigeon blue, to a darker slate blue, and many shades in between. The tans should be rich and vibrant. Steele blue is the most prized color. The most common color is light silver to dark blue-grey with brown.

The Silky Terrier body has strength and muscle and weighs between 7-10 pounds. They seem smaller than their weight sounds because they are of a sturdier build and are great for children (their bones are stronger than Yorkshire Terriers').

The Yorkie has an approximate weight of 4 -7 pounds (not to exceed 7 lbs though). The Yorkshire Terrier is tolerant of older children, provided they respect its personal space. Due to its small size and bold temperament the Yorkshire Terrier is not recommended for young children unless carefully supervised.

The Silky Terrier has a wedge shape to the head (longer muzzle and flater skull) with ears that stand erect on top of the head. They are a bit longer in body than tall at the shoulders.

Yorkshire Terriers have a small, flat head, with ‘V’-shaped ears. The ears are erect but may tend to sit on the side a bit. They usually have a larger base than the Silky ear. The Yorkie is a square dog meaning that it is as long as it is tall.

The weights listed are show standards only. Yorkies and Silkies both can be larger or smaller.

[Dara311]

Yorkie:
The ultra long, fine, silky coat parts along the spine and falls straight down on either side. It is steal blue on the body and tail, and tan elsewhere. Puppies are usually black & tan. The tail is usually docked to half its length. If the dogs are not for showing, the owners usually go for the shaggy look. The Yorkie has a flat head, medium-sized length muzzle, a black nose, and regular teeth. The eyes are extremely vivacious and the ears are v-shaped, erect or semi-erect. The tail is docked to medium-length and is carried level with its back. Its limbs are straight with round feet and black nails. The hair on the head is so abundant that it is almost always necessary to gather it in a band to keep from going into the dog's food bowl and to give the animal maximum visibility. Some owners choose to trim the hair on top of the head.

The breed is only 100 years old or so, but its origins are not entirely certain - probably because the working men of north England, who developed the Yorkshire Terrier for catching the terrible rats that infested the mine shafts and as a hunting dog that could penetrate into badger and fox burrows, avoided divulging the secret of their success to those who might have cashed in on a lucrative side line. However, it seems likely that Scotsmen seeking work in the woolen mills of Yorkshire brought with them various types of terrier, including the Skye and the now extinct Clydesdale. These were then crossed with local types, such as the long- haired Leeds Terrier. The Maltese, Black & Tan Manchester, and Dandie Dinmont Terriers may also have contributed blood lines. At first, the Yorkie was a much bigger animal than the one we see today, but by selectively breeding the smallest individuals, the dog was gradually miniaturized over the years. They were made into a fashion dog. Women carried these little dogs in their bags and under their arms. The first Yorkshire, with the characteristics demanded by its standard today, appeared in a dog show in 1870.
In 1984 a piebald Yorkie was born as a result of a genetic recessive gene occurrence from 2 Yorkshire Terriers. Today the piebald dogs are considered a different breed; which is named the Biewer or Biewer Yorkie.

Height: 6-7 inches (15-17½cm.)
Weight: 7 pounds (3.2kg.)



Silky:
The Silky Terrier, also called the Sidney Terrier, is a fine-boned, moderately low-set, long-haired terrier. It is compact but lightly built. It has erect, v-shaped ears and a docked tail. (Docking is illegal in some European Countries.) The head is flat and wide between the ears, with a shallow stop. The nose is black and the eyes are round and dark with a piercing expression. The teeth should form a scissors bite with a sturdy jaw. The body is slightly longer than tall with a level topline. The round, catlike feet are small and well-padded. Dewclaws should be removed. The coat is long, about 5-6 inches (12-15 cm). The fine, silky, shiny hair has no undercoat. It is very prone to tangles and mats unless frequently groomed. The coat should not reach the floor. The hair is parted down the center of the back. The coat comes in blue & fire red, or blue with tan markings. Many shades of blue are permitted. The topknot should be lighter in color than the tan points. Silky Terriers are born black.

The Silky Terrier was originally developed in 19th century Australia from other terrier breeds such as the Skye and Cairn but primarily the Australian Terrier and the Yorkshire Terrier. American servicemen stationed in Australia during World War II brought Silky Terriers home with them after the war. The breed was recognized by the AKC in 1959 and its standard was established in 1962 (and later updated in 1967). Though the Silky Terrier has always been primarily a companion dog, this swift little dog can catch domestic rodents.

Height: 9-10 inches (23-25 cm.)
Females are generally smaller than the males.
Weight: 8-11 pounds (4-5 kg.)
Source(s):

http://dogbreedinfo.com/yorkshireterrier...
http://dogbreedinfo.com/silkyterrier.htm