History of the Australian Silky Terrier Dog

Beginnings

• In the 1800s, many immigrants to Australia were from Yorkshire. The people also brought along their dogs, including the Yorkshire terrier, or "Yorkie." The terriers were invaluable mousers and rat catchers as well as dependable alarms and constant companions. By the late 1800s, male Yorkies were being crossed with females of another breed, the Australian terrier. At first, that was just to improve the color of the Australian terriers, but soon a whole new breed emerged, according to the American Kennel Club.

Standard

• In order for Silkies to compete in dog shows, they need to be judged against the breed standard, or the description of the ideal dog of that breed. In the early 1900s, the Australian silky terrier was called the Sydney Silky terrier. The first breed standard was written in 1906 in Sydney. Breeders in New South Wales were not impressed and wrote their own version in 1909. The country's breeders finally decided on a standard in 1926. The standard was amended in the 1970s.

Legal Issues

• Breeders of Yorkshire terriers and Australian terriers worried that all of the crossings between their breeds and with the Sydney Silky could permanently change the physical appearance and financial value of their breeds. Also, in the increasingly popular hobby of dog showing, it was unclear whether puppies from the same litter could be shown as Australian terriers, Yorkies or Sydney Silkies. All crossings of the three breeds were stopped in 1932 by the Kennel Control Council of Victoria, according to "Encyclopedia of Dog Breeds."

Moving to America

• American soldiers serving in Australia during World War II came into contact with the Sydney Silky. When they went home, they took some dogs with them. They became so popular in America that by 1955, the Silky Terrier Club of America was founded. The American Kennel Club officially recognized the breed in 1959, but they called it the Australian silky terrier, because the breed's name in Australia had changed.

Significance

• Prospective owners of an Australian silky terrier need to keep the breed's history in mind before taking one home. They have been bred to hunt rodents, so they will dig. They are not recommended for homes that already have pet rodents.

  Their fur can grow long and tangled very quickly, so an Australian silky terrier needs brushing or combing every day. In America, the breed's long, curling tail is docked for cosmetic purposes, but that practice is illegal in many countries, including Great Britain, and is banned in most Australian states.