Silky Terrier characteristics
| Trait | Rating | How common |
|---|---|---|
| Size | Small | 24% of breeds |
| Energy level | High | — |
| Trainability | Medium | 48% of breeds |
| Friendliness | High | 35% of breeds |
| Good with children | Medium | — |
| Grooming needs | High | 20% of breeds |
| Shedding | Low | 26% of breeds |
| Barking | High | 17% of breeds |
| Protectiveness | High | 22% of breeds |
| Adaptability | High | 31% of breeds |
| Typical lifespan | 14 years | — |
| Hypoallergenic | Yes | — |
“How common” is the share of the 321 breeds we score that sit in the same band. Ratings describe the breed, not any individual dog.
Is the Silky Terrier right for you?
The Silky Terrier is a compact little dog that fits small homes easily and never crowds a room. In terms of temperament, it gets on with children when raised around them and is naturally alert and defends its people. Day to day, the Silky Terrier needs real exercise every single day to stay balanced, which is the single biggest factor in whether it will suit your routine.
Exercise and daily routine
The Silky Terrier needs real exercise every single day to stay balanced. With high energy and medium athleticism, a consistent daily routine keeps this breed physically and mentally satisfied. Skipping exercise is the most common cause of problem behaviour, so match the Silky Terrier to a lifestyle you can realistically maintain.
Grooming, shedding and upkeep
The Silky Terrier needs plenty of coat work, including trips to a groomer and sheds only lightly. It is considered hypoallergenic, which — combined with its low shedding — makes it one of the easier breeds to live with for allergy sufferers.
Temperament and training
The Silky Terrier picks things up at a fair pace with steady practice and is a vocal breed that sounds the alarm readily. It copes with a standard working day alone once it has been eased into it, so plan for company or gradual alone-time training if you work away from home. Early socialization and positive, reward-based training bring out the best in this breed.
What stands out about the Silky Terrier
Most breed descriptions call everything “loyal and intelligent”. These are the ratings where the Silky Terrier genuinely differs from the rest of the catalogue — the things worth knowing before you commit.
- Barking: High — the Silky Terrier is more vocal than most breeds. Only 17% of breeds we score share this rating.
- Grooming needs: High — the Silky Terrier needs more grooming than most breeds. Only 20% of breeds we score share this rating.
What a week with a Silky Terrier actually costs you
| Exercise | Around an hour to ninety minutes of daily exercise, and it will notice when a day is skipped. |
|---|---|
| Coat | Brushing several times a week, with professional grooming at intervals. |
| Time alone | Manages a normal working day if it is properly exercised and left something to do. |
| Noise | More vocal than most; worth factoring into flat living. |
Where the Silky Terrier fits — and where it does not
Each verdict below comes from the ratings in the table above, so you can check the reasoning rather than take it on trust.
| Household | Verdict | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Apartment living | Depends | Workable on space, but the barking needs managing where walls are shared. |
| Families with young children | Depends | Medium child tolerance: fine with supervision and older children, less so with toddlers. |
| First-time owners | Depends | Manageable for a committed beginner who takes training seriously from week one. |
| Homes with cats | Depends | High prey drive. Introductions need managing, and a bolting cat triggers exactly the instinct this breed was selected for. |
| Long working days | Depends | Medium independence, so time alone is less of a problem than for many breeds. |
| Allergy households | Depends | Recorded as a low-allergen coat. No dog is truly hypoallergenic — meet the individual dog before deciding. |
| Wanting a watchful dog | Good fit | High protectiveness. Socialisation decides whether that reads as steady or reactive. |
Perfect for
- Apartment dwellers
- Those wanting toy terriers
- Experienced terrier owners
- Australian breed enthusiasts
Things to consider
- Regular grooming needed
- Can be yappy
- Fragile due to size
- Strong personality
Not sure which breed is right for you?
Take the free DoggyQ quiz and get a personalized match from 321 breeds based on your lifestyle, home and preferences — plus a full report on what living with that breed actually costs.
Find your perfect matchFrequently asked questions
- Is the Silky Terrier good with children?
- The Silky Terrier can be good with children when properly socialized and supervised.
- Does the Silky Terrier shed a lot?
- The Silky Terrier has low shedding and is considered hypoallergenic.
- How much exercise does the Silky Terrier need?
- With high energy, the Silky Terrier needs plenty of daily exercise and mental stimulation — long walks, runs or active play.
- How long does the Silky Terrier live?
- The Silky Terrier typically lives around 14 years.
- Can the Silky Terrier live in an apartment?
- The Silky Terrier can live in an apartment provided it gets enough daily exercise and mental stimulation.
- Is the Silky Terrier easy to train?
- The Silky Terrier picks things up at a fair pace with steady practice. Consistency, early socialization and reward-based methods work best.
- Can the Silky Terrier be left alone during the day?
- The Silky Terrier copes with a standard working day alone once it has been eased into it. Build up alone time gradually and provide enrichment to prevent boredom.