3/20/2024 0 Comments Are silverback yorkies rareAccording to Baugh, the shape of the ears is different than that of the Yorkie. In addition, the ears can help distinguish the Silky. Plus, the teeth are larger, originally intended for catching larger prey. The Silky has a wedge-shaped head versus the more rounded skull of the Yorkie. According to Lyon, a smaller, highly-refined Silky and a larger, unrefined Yorkie may look nearly identical to the untrained eye.Īnother key difference in appearance is found in each breed’s head. They range from 10-11 pounds, while the Yorkie weighs no more than seven. But, the body of a Silky is much more substantial, with more bone and muscle. To add to the confusion, the breeds are of similar size, as well. “In the show ring, Yorkies often have a bow in a topknot, while the Silky is topped by profuse hair parted down the middle,” says Lyon. And the hair on their head is different too, with the Silky’s being shorter. However, when it comes to the conformation ring, the Yorkie’s coat is trimmed to reach the floor while the Silky’s body coat should not approach that length. When their coats are trimmed as household pets, they can look very much alike. Both have a straight, silky-feeling coat reminiscent of the texture of human hair. Baugh believes that the coat and colors are most often the source of mix-ups. Physical Appearanceīoth the Yorkie and Silky are blue- and tan-colored toy terriers. “Therefore, these three breeds, Yorkshire Terrier, Silky Terrier, and Australian Terrier, are closely related but were developed for different purposes,” says Baugh. Of course, crosses with Yorkies would have gone into the development of what was to become today’s Silky. The purpose of this new breed was to be both varmint killers and pretty household pets. According to Baugh, these long, silky coated pups were taken into several different areas of Australia and developed to be a sturdier-built long-coated dog with large teeth. However, due to the breed’s ancestry, puppies with long coats would pop up in Australian Terrier litters. “The Australian Terrier became more developed in Australia to be stout, with medium bone and strong teeth to catch larger varmints. “As time went by, the Yorkie was bred in England to be a smaller, long-coated dog to catch mice,” she states. But, there is more to the story than that. Baugh explains that it has become common to say Silkys are a cross of Yorkie and Australian Terrier in Australia. Australians wanted a stouter dog for the home, so they looked to cross the Yorkie with the Australian Terrier. It wasn’t until after Yorkies arrived in Australia that the Silky was born. Later, the elegant little dog became fashionable with the upper class of Victorian society.” “Some had duties as sod-house guardians and others earned their keep in saloons by entertaining clients and chasing rats. “The breed was originally a workingman’s dog,” says Lyon. Although these breeds no longer exist, the combination resulted in the breeding of the founding father of today’s Yorkies, a dog named Huddersfield Ben, in 1865. Several small, broken-haired British terriers went into the mix, such as the Paisley or Clydesdale. Lyon explains that the Yorkie was developed in the north of England in the 1800s. Lyon, who has been breeding and showing Yorkies with his wife Gloria for 44 years, believes the mix-up is understandable since the Yorkie was a prominent breed used in the development of the Silky. Robbe Lyon, vice president of The Yorkshire Terrier Club of America, agrees about the confusion, confirming that the breed question most asked by the public concerns Yorkies vs. But, unless you know the physical differences in head shape, the breeds can be hard to tell apart. Many times, the dog in question is an oversize Yorkie. She says the club often receives calls from people asking if they have a Yorkie or a Silky. “Most Silky owners are thrilled when someone comes up and knows we are walking a Silky and not a Yorkie,” states Norma Baugh, breeder of Silkys for 40 years and past president of the Silky Terrier Club of America. Along with their similar appearances, these two members of the Toy Group have history in common, which might explain why these tiny Earthdogs are often confused for one another. These affectionate little dogs with the silky coats actually have a doppelganger in their lesser-known cousin, the Silky Terrier or “Silky”. That’s probably why they are one of the most popular breeds in America, ranking 10th out of the 193 breeds recognized by the American Kennel Club. Yorkshire Terriers or “Yorkies” may look dainty, but in their hearts, they are true terriers – feisty, brave, and packed with personality.
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