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SILKY TERRIERS IN THE BEGINNING |
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More than 200 years ago, in the "land down under," experimental pairings
of different breeds aimed at improving
one breed of dog resulted in the
creation of something new-a breed
so wonderful, yet different from it
previous ancestors-known today as the Silky Terrier.
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A Silky History
The Silky Terrier has a fascinating history that spans several centuries. To fully understand the origin of this unique toy dog, it is important to take a glimpse of several other terrier breeds and their histories.
Australian Origins
The Australian Terrier's history is rich with the bloodlines of other terrier ancestors, including some breeds that are no longer in existence. Breeds such as the now extinct Rough Coated Terrier were instrumental in establishing the trademark harsh coat of the Australian Terrier, while other breeds more commonly seen today, such as the Norwich, Cairn, and Scottish Terriers may have played a role in creating the compact size of the Australian Terrier. In the late 1800s, fanciers of the Australian Terrier began a quest to improve the blue and tan coat color of their breed. Serious breeders of the era imported Yorkshire Terriers from England and bred them to their prized Australian Terriers, hoping to intensify and further improve the unique blue and tan color.
Many of these litters produced puppies with mixed coat types and variations in the size of the offspring.
Some of the pups closely resembled their Australian Terrier parent. Others were smaller in size, finer in bone, and had longer coats due to the Yorkshire Terrier influence. There was also a third group of puppies, whose size was more moderate than that of the Australian Terrier, yet had the soft, longer coat more characteristic of the Yorkshire Terrier. These puppies were the blueprint for today's Silky Terrier.
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It is no secret that a well-behaved Silky Terrier makes a great family pet. It is unfortunate that all too often Silky Terrier owners see behaviors that they do not like, yet they do very little to change them. Making excuses or complaining about your Silky's bad habits will not change those behaviors. You must learn to recognize your Silky's bad behaviors early, and have a training plan that will allow you to turn them into good behaviors. Training your Silky to have manners will make her more relaxed both at home and as she explores the world around her.