Buying or Adopting a Silky Terrier

Should You Even Get a Dog? Are You Sure?
Important – I've been helping people choose and find dogs for nearly 40 years, and honestly, some people who decide to get a dog are making a big mistake... [read more]

The Truth About Purebred Dogs
Pros and cons... (most people don't know about the cons)

The Truth About Crossbred Dogs
Pros and cons... (don't get taken by breeder hype)

The Truth About Mixed Breed Dogs
Pros and cons... (are mixes inferior to purebreds and crosses?)

Is a Silky Terrier the right breed for you?

Silky Terrier Review
I'll tell you what's good about 'em, and what's bad about 'em... most honest review you'll ever find

Dog Breed Traits – Which Traits Are Right For You? In this brand new series, I'll help you decide which dog breed traits would best suit you and your family, your home and yard, and your lifestyle, so you can choose the best dog breed for your family.

Are YOU the right owner for a Silky Terrier?

Can you provide what this breed needs?

• Someone home most of the day
• Fenced yard (not an electronic/underground fence)
• No young children in the household
• No large dogs in the household (safety issue)
• Ample exercise after maturity – enough ongoing exercise that your Silky Terrier stays slim and is tired enough to sleep contentedly and not get into mischief
• "Mental exercise" – interesting activities that keep the mind stimulated, such as a challenging dog sport (agility, rally obedience, musical freestyle); challenging dog toys; a homemade obstacle course; tricks and games such as Musical Toys and Hide 'n Seek; instructions in my training book, Teach Your Dog 100 English Words
• Brushing – moderate (unless you keep the coat clipped short)
• Trimming/clipping – every few months
• An indoor lifestyle, except for exercise and bathroom breaks
• A meat-heavy diet, either homemade or commercial – meat is expensive, so people with less money should opt for a small dog
• An owner with enough money to treat the health problems Silky Terriers are prone to (pet health insurance can really help here!)
• An owner who is okay with housebreaking taking a long time
• Commitment to provide thorough socialization – introducing your Silky to lots of people and other animals, diligently correcting any signs of misbehavior
• Commitment to establish the right Leader-Follower relationship with your Silky Terrier, teaching him to listen to you and do what you say

Which sex? What age?

Male Dogs vs. Female Dogs
Which one makes a better pet?

Puppies vs. Adult Dogs
Should you get a young puppy, an older puppy, or an adult dog?

Where can you buy or adopt a Silky Terrier?

Silky Terriers are middle-of-the-road in popularity in the United States. Out of 189 breeds in the American Kennel Club, where 1 is most popular and 189 is least popular, Silky Terriers rank 100th.

Adopting From Dog Rescue Organizations
You might find a Silky Terrier available from a Dog Rescue group. Silkys may be turned over to Rescue because they're more active than the owner expected – more like an independent terrier than a cuddly lapdog. There might be housebreaking issues, or barking. You would need to provide these dogs with the exercise, training, and socialization that they are lacking.

Other Silky Terriers are given up simply because of changed family circumstances, and these dogs may have no behavior problems at all.

Adopting From Public Animal Shelters and Humane Societies
Silky Terriers are occasionally found here, although shelter personnel might not recognize the breed and label it as a "Yorkshire Terrier" or even a "terrier mix". But Silky Terrier rescue groups do keep their eyes peeled on shelters and humane societies across the country, and if a Silky turns up at a shelter, the rescue group does try to move the dog into their rescue network.

Buying From a Dog Breeder
You can buy a Silky Terrier from a show breeder, who breeds Silky Terriers to match a detailed standard of appearance for the dog show ring. You can also buy a Silky Terrier from people who "just breed pets" or "just had one litter." But should you? Be sure to read the article to learn more about these people.

Here's one difference between a responsible breeder and an irresponsible breeder – BOTH PARENTS of a Silky Terrier puppy should have:

• a certificate from the Orthopedic Foundation of America's CAER (Companion Animal Eye Registry) – dated within the past year – certifying the dog to be free of eye diseases
• a certificate from the Orthopedic Foundation of America (OFA) certifying the dog to have normal knees

If a seller can't show you those certificates, the puppies are higher risk for health problems. You might choose to accept that risk. But then you need to be willing (and able) to pay a couple thousand bucks for future surgeries and lifelong meds if your Silky Terrier ends up with cataracts and bad knee joints.

Pet Shop Puppies: Buying a Puppy From a Pet Store
Silky Terriers are sometimes found in pet shops. I have plenty to say about buying a puppy from a pet shop!

Which puppy?

Choosing the Right Silky Terrier Puppy
How to test the temperament and personality of Silky Terrier puppies and pick the best puppy in a litter.

AKC Registered Puppies: Are AKC Papers Important?
Should you buy only an AKC registered Silky Terrier puppy? Do AKC papers and pedigrees really matter?