Appearance

The Silky Terrier is a small, fine-boned terrier with long, flowing hair that grows five to six inches long. The head is flat between the ears and there is a shallow stop. The nose is black and the dark eyes are almond-shaped and piercing. The small ears are set high on the head, stand erect and are V-shaped. A Silky's topline should be level, and the dog should be longer than he is tall. The tail is customarily docked. The coat is blue with tan markings, and many shades are permitted. The topknot, however, should always be lighter than the tan points on the body.

Size and Weight

Adult Silkies stand nine to ten inches at the shoulder. Show dog's shouldn't deviate from these heights. They are longer than they are tall, and should be lightly built and fine-boned. There is no weight standard for the breed, but Silky Terriers typically weigh around ten pounds.

Coat and Color

The Silky Terrier's name sums up the coat: silky, long and beautiful to look at. It is parted down the center of the dog's back and is generally five to six inches long. The Silky coat comes in blue and tan. The blue may be a silvery blue, slate blue or pigeon blue, and the tan should always be a deep, rich shade. Blue grows from the base of the skull to the top of the tail, down the forelegs and halfway down the thighs. Tan grows on the muzzle, cheeks, the base of the ears and on the feet. The topknot should be either silver or fawn.

Grooming Needs

The coat may appear to be high maintenance, but the coat is single so brushing and combing two to three times per week keeps the coat free from tangles. Silkies need a bath once per month, and can easily be bathed at home.

Check the ears on a weekly basis for signs of infection, irritation, or wax build up. Cleanse regularly with a veterinarian-approved cleanser and cotton ball. Brush the teeth at least once per week to prevent tartar buildup and fight gum disease. Additionally, nails should be trimmed once per month if the dog does not wear the toenails down naturally.