We’ve all walked down the street and complemented someone’s small, silver-coated dog as a Silky Terrier, only to be told, “This is a Yorkshire!” Then trying to be politically correct, we call the next one we see we call a Yorkie only to be told –“Can’t you tell the difference? This is a Silky!”

So – what is the difference?

First a bit of history for both breeds. The famous 19th century dog writer Ash mentions “bonnie wee Skyes with long silky hair.” The idea is that in the early 1800s, enterprising Skye breeders produced a miniature and soft-coated version of their 50 to 60 lb. breed. Denied recognition by the parent club, they went on to produce the now extinct Paisleys and Clydesdales, which looked like miniature Skyes.

In the 1840’s and 50’s, the northern English pub owners latched on to these “mini Skyes”. They needed small scrappy terriers for their rat pits (where dogs would be thrown into a pit full of rats and bets laid as to how fast they could kill). The smaller the dog, the greater the betting. Perhaps these small but tough dogs were bred together with the equally scrappy but slightly bigger Black and Tans (progenitor of the Manchester Terrier), to produce the blue, tan and fawn of the Silky Terrier and the blue and tan coloring of the Yorkshire we see today.

The father of the Yorkshire Terrier is Huddersfield Ben who lived in the 1860’s. The Yorkshire then developed from Ben, but what about the Silky? Ben’s granddam, Katie immigrated with her owners to Australia, where the Silky Terrier (also known as the Australian Silky Terrier) was developed.

The facts as we know them are these. Yorkshire Terriers and Silky Terriers are genetically just about the same.

But the Yorkie developed in an industrialized society — northern England — where tiny size, long flowing coats and the ability to hide in milady’s sleeve were prized. Silkys were also developed as companion dogs, but their owners were mostly pioneers who prized the Silkys’ joy of life, independent thinking and scrappy, terrier qualities, resulting in a somewhat larger, hardier breed.

Silkys tend to be a larger dog than the Yorkie – Yorkies up to 7 lbs and Silkys roughly 8 to 12 lbs. Silkys have a longer muzzle and a longer back. Both breeds can have a distinctly terrier temperaments and can take over their owners households – so both breeds require owners who can be very kind, but very firm.

But there is one difference between the two breeds that is perhaps the most helpful to the casual passerby. Yorkies are the second most popular breed in the US, according to the AKC. Silkys rank 75th. So if you see a small silver-coated dog walking down the street, chances are – it’s a Yorkie.

THis is interesting. So is th dog in the pic a yorkie or a silky because it looks just like Ciara?

I think I am a little confused now...

The dog in the pic is a Silky Terrier and one would have never guessed!

I have seen a lot of Yorkies that fit more the description of a Silky and have often wondered?

OMW...that means I actually have a silky!!!! Are the yorkies hair more ourse and curly then?

The Australian Silky Terrier is a small and compact short legged terrier, 23 to 26 cms at the withers, alert and active.

The long silky blue and tan coat is an identifying feature, hanging straight and parted along the back, and described as "flat, fine and glossy".

The coats in both breeds standards are are same, so I do not think that we will ever be 100% sure what we have.

It seems so because the way you describe the coat and the way the hair hangs is exactly like my "yorkie" or should I say silky now, but none the less. I love her to bits!!!!

Does KUSA have a silky breed on their list? I wonder?

I suppose its important for shows and when you are into breeding?

We do have Australian Silky Terrier breeder(s) in SA, but I have never seen one in real life as far as I know.