Instructions
Look at the general appearance of the Silky Terrier. This is a low-set, rectangular-looking breed that has enough substance to hunt and kill rodents. Males and females are 9 to 10 inches at the shoulders. The height of the dog is about one-fifth longer than the height measurement. The bone structure is fine, but strong.
Check that the head is strong and wedge-shaped. It is a moderately long head, giving the Silky Terrier a keen expression. The small, dark eyes are almond-shaped and have dark rims. The small ears are v-shaped and should be carried straight up. The black nose is fully pigmented.
Make sure the medium-length neck is a bit crested and flows smoothly into the well-angulated shoulders and deep chest. The fine-boned front legs are strong and straight, leading to small cat-like feet. The thick pads are springy and protect the compact feet, which point forward. The well muscled thighs are strong, but should not look heavy. The rear feet are also small and cat-like and point straight forward. The docked tail rides high on the rump and is carried straight up.
Pet the glossy single coat. The coat is silky to the touch. It is long enough to fall below the body outline, but not long enough to touch the floor. The coat is blue and tan. The blue may be a silvery blue, pigeon blue or slate blue. The topknot is fawn or silver, and is lighter than the tan points.
How to Identify a Silky Terrier
The Silky Terrier has a lively and light-footed gait, but do not underestimate its driving power. It has the typical alertness of the terrier group and is not a shy dog. The Silky Terrier makes a good companion, but as with all terriers, the pet needs to have a job. A job can be something as simple as a good walk every day or a game of catch in the backyard.