Grooming
Allergy sufferers, rejoice! Silky Terriers are very low-shedding pups. But the price for a dog who sheds hardly at all is made up in the amount of time you’ll be spending brushing their long, flowing hair. For that reason, many pet parents keep their Silkies in a shorter, “puppy” cut where the hair is kept to one to two inches in length all over their compact little bodies. (Can you say “less brushing”?) Here are more grooming tips for your Silky:
Brushing: Regardless of what length you keep their coat, plan on brushing them two to three times a week with a pin brush followed by a comb to make sure they’re tangle-free. Give special attention to their bum area as fecal matter can get matted in long fur and cause potty time issues.
Dental care: Poor dental health seems to plague small dog breeds like the Silky Terrier (not enough room in their mouths to fit their teeth). Brush their teeth daily to help keep their teeth healthy and prevent dental disease. Schedule an annual cleaning with your vet to keep them in tip-top shape.
Bathing: Plan on giving your pup a bath at least once a month. If your pup is active, you may need to up the frequency.
Nail trimming: Bath time is a great time to trim their nails. (The water makes them softer and easier to clip.) Because Silky nails are black and you can’t see the quick (vein) inside, you may find it easier to trim them with a grinder, like the FURminator Nail Grinder. Not only will you be less likely to cut the quick and cause bleeding, but this one also has a guard, which prevents the hair from getting tangled around the spinning rod of the grinder. You’ll know it’s time for a grind when you can hear those nails tippy tapping on your hardwood floors.
Some pup parents prefer to take their pooch to the groomer for a spa day. Start taking your Silky Terrier puppy to the groomer while they’re young to help them get used to all the sights, sounds and smells of the groomer’s. One day soon, they’ll enjoy a spa day just as much as you do.
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Training
Silky Terriers are smart, independent dogs; and training is just as important for them as it is for a big dog, like an Australian Shepherd. Silkies are cute and will charm you with their good looks and spunky personalities, but don’t let them charm you into keeping bad habits. Rude is rude no matter how adorable you are.
Silkies learn quickly—they want to please you, and they’ll do just about anything for a treat—so you may find your pup quickly picks up the basics like sit, stay, come and how to walk nicely on a leash. Don’t let your training stop there! Training your pup more complicated tricks like play dead, roll over and shake are guaranteed crowd-pleasers and a great way to keep your dog’s mind engaged.
Like all people pleasers (you included), Silkies do well when you reward the good things they’ve done and re-direct their mistakes. These techniques, called positive reinforcement, use lots of praise, treats and playtime breaks with special toys to reward your dog for a job well done.
Your Silky Terrier puppy needs to be socialized from an early age, and puppy preschool is a great place to start. These preschools are ideal for puppies to learn how to play with each other and get used to being around adults. This will go a long way to help your pup be cool with new situations, people and dogs as they grow up.
Silkies are yappy. They’ll bark at you when they want to play, they’ll bark when they’re bored, they’ll bark when they’re mad, and they’ll bark at everyone who passes by. You will not be able to train the bark out of your dog—it’s in their DNA! (They often burrowed underground to find their quarry, and their bark told their people where to find them.) But you can teach your pup to be quiet after a short barking sesh. (They’ve just gotta get it out, man.)
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Diet
Silky Terrier dogs need a complete and balanced diet and often do well on a high-quality commercial dog food. Look for the statement on the package that says it meets the nutritional standards of the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) and be sure the formula matches your dog’s stage in life (puppy, adult, senior) and activity level.
Silkies are small dogs, so even an extra pound will make a big difference in your pup’s overall health. And don’t forget to count those treats! You’ll be doling them out left and right for all their tricks and just because you love them, but treats can pack on the pounds, too. Your vet can help you determine a good portion size and mealtime schedule for your dog. If you do notice your pup gaining extra weight, talk with your vet. They can help you put together a diet and exercise plan to help shed the weight and maintain your dog’s nutritional needs.
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Exercise
Silky Terriers may look like sweet little lapdogs, but that’s only after a day of play. And even though they’re small, they need a lot of daily exercise—at least an hour, maybe two.
Silkies love to use their noses (they’re born hunters), so walks with the opportunity to smell all the things will work both their brains and their bodies.
Do you like to jog? Guess what? So does your Silky (they’re surprisingly speedy)! But because they like to chase things, Silkies should never be allowed off-leash. They’re focused little hunters, and they won’t hear you call until they’ve ended the chase. Leashes also are a good way to keep your pup safe from birds of prey like falcons or owls. Silkies are small enough that one of these large birds may mistake your pet for dinner, and keeping your pup on a leash when out in open fields may help keep them safe.
Just be sure to attach that leash to a harness to protect their delicate necks. (Silkies will jerk if they see something they’d love to chase.)
If you’re looking for a few out-of-the-box ideas, your pet will enjoy hiking and swimming. Are you a bit competitive? You know your Silky is! Silkies do well at dog sports like agility, Earthdog (where dogs hunt vermin, but the critters are kept safe) and barn hunt. (They do love the winner’s circle.)
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Environment
The Silky Terrier breed is great for active single people or families, although they’re better suited for families with older children. Toddlers and babies don’t often know their own strength and could hurt this petite pup, or the dog could misinterpret a toddler’s actions and try to defend themselves. So, not only is it important to supervise play, but it’s also important to socialize and train your pup and to teach children how to properly interact with dogs.
Because Silkies love their people, it’s best if you can be with them for most of the day or can make arrangements for a puppy play date when you’ll be gone for a while. (The separation anxiety is real, people.)
They do well in houses with yards, but their diminutive size makes them ideal for apartments. However, you’ll need to make sure your pup gets their exercise needs met every day (including snowy and rainy ones), or you may become the most hated person in your building. (All. The. Barking.)
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