The ANKC official Standard for the Australian Silky Terrier.

I have owned and bred Australian Silky Terriers since 1972 and have studied the Standard and how it defines the Silky. Many breeders and judges have become removed from what the Standard requires and  breed and judge  more to their personal likes and dislikes.

I will endeavour to explain the Standard and hope breeders and judges will pay attention to the Standard and not what is winning at shows. Many times the top winners do not meet the Standard as written, which is now noticeably becoming more and more evident. 

Excuses range from, but he is so showy or I love the silver coat; and the long neck and legs make them look so elegant; or I like the tiny ones; and love the bouncy movement, he looks so happy; or I don't worry about the pug tail, none of them are perfect!

None of the above is in the Standard and in some cases are listed as unacceptable or "must nots".

This is the Australian National Kennel Council approved  Standard of the Australian Silky Terrier as revised in 2009. 

General Appearance

The dog is compact, moderately low set, of medium length with a refined structure but of sufficient substance to suggest the ability to hunt and kill domestic rodents. The parted, straight silky hair presents a well-groomed appearance.

Interpretation

The dog is compact

• this does not mean short backed or of a square appearance.

Moderately low set

• in comparison to height.

Medium length with a refined structure

• would depend on the age of the dog as puppies or immature dogs carry more muscle and fat than a mature dog of say 4 years and older.

At first observation, the dog should show characteristics and strength to be able to carry out the tasks for which it was bred.

Characteristics

It should display Terrier characteristics, embodying keen alertness, activity and soundness.

Interpretation

It should display Terrier characteristics:

• Does not mean snapping and snarling at other dogs or their handler. So often misunderstood as a Terrier characteristic, but is simply poor temperament.  

Head and Skull

Of moderate length, slightly shorter from the tip of the nose to between the eyes than from the same position to the occiput.   The head must be strong and of Terrier character, being moderately broad between the ears; the skull flat without fullness between the eyes, with fine silky topknot, not falling over the eyes, (a long fall of hair on the foreface or cheeks is very objectionable.)  Nose black.

Interpretation

Of moderate length

• needs to be a wedge shape (acute triangle - terrier,  rather than an equilateral triangle - Yorkshire Terrier).

The skull flat without fullness between the eyes

• slightly more than a thumb width apart.

Nose black

• although not mentioned in the Standard, eye rims and lips should also be black.

Eyes

Shall be small, oval and never round or prominent, dark as possible in colour with a keen intelligent expression.   

Interpretation

• The eyes should be set on the front of the face and not towards the side of the head.

Ears

Should be small, V-shaped with fine leather, set high on the skull, pricked and entirely free of long hair.

Interpretation

Should be small:

•  in comparison to the size of the dog.  

Mouth

Strong jaws, teeth even and not cramped, the upper incisors fitting closely over the lower (scissor bite). Lips tight and clean.

Neck

Medium length, refined and slightly crested, fitting gracefully into the shoulders. Well covered

with long silky hair.

Interpretation

Medium length

• means in the middle of short and long. A long neck is incorrect and takes away from the correct outline of the dog. This type of neck is usually associated with long legs making the dog high set.

                               

Refined and slightly crested, fitting gracefully into the shoulders

• the key phrase is "into the shoulders" not extending past the shoulders, which seems to be a fault disregarded by breeders, because judges seem to like it and they get a win.

Forequarters

Shoulders fine and well laid back, fitting with well angulated upper arms snugly to the ribs.

Elbows turned neither in nor out.   The forelegs have refined, round bone and are straight and set well under the body with no weakness in the pasterns.

Interpretation

No weakness in the pasterns:

• rarely looked at by judges or taken into consideration. Sadly, this fault continues to be bred and shown.

Body

Should be moderately long in proportion to the height of the dog. Level topline at all times (both standing and moving), well sprung ribs extending back to strong loins. Chest of moderate depth and breadth. A topline showing a roach or dip is a serious fault.

Interpretation

Moderately long in proportion to height of the dog

• not cobby or square.

Topline 

• THE TOPLINE BEGINS AT THE BASE OF THE NECK AND NOT FROM AFTER THE END OF THE SHOULDER BLADE.

Hindquarters

The thighs must be well developed and the stifles should be well turned and the hocks well bent. When viewed from the behind the hocks should be well let down and parallel with each other.

Feet

Small, well padded, cat-like with closely knit toes, the toenails must be black or very dark.

Interpretation

• Since Judges rarely look at the feet, breeders tend not to either. However, the feet should be exactly as written in the Standard. When running and chasing prey, the feet need to be able to negotiate different surfaces and be strong enough to endure over lengthy chases. Hare feet or flat feet with spread toes are  very weak feet. The front feet should be under the shoulder and not under the ears.

Tail

Docked: Set on high and carried erect, but note over-gay. Should be free from feathering.

Undocked: The first three vertebrae to be carried erect. the balance to be carried erect or slightly curved, but not over-gay. Must not be curled. The length to give an overall balanced appearance. In accordance with the docked description the undocked tail to be free of feathering.

Interpretation

• Over-gay is backwards over the back and not erect (vertical). 

MUST NOT BE CURLED

• this is the most ignored feature of the tail since docking was banned. The Australian Silky Terrier is a Terrier not a PUG!!  One of my pet peeves.

Feathering

• means no long hair (no longer than 1/2 an inch or 2 cms).

Gait/Movement

The movement should be free and true without slackness at shoulders or elbows, there should be no turning in nor out of the feet and pasterns. The hindquarters should have strong propelling power with ample flexibility at the stifles and hocks. Viewed from behind the movement should be neither too close nor too wide.

Interpretation

• The movement should be smooth, strong and even without bouncing, rocking  or any up and down type of action. The neck and head should be forward of the shoulders. If the head is vertical to the front feet in movement, would indicate straight upper arms, creating a flat chest with front legs not set well under the body, which is another serious fault that is being  rewarded in the show ring and not looked on as a problem with breeders. Viewed from the front, the legs should never cross over nor extend to a centre point in movement. They should stay parallel in movement. Sadly, this incorrect movement and structure is also being rewarded by judges and ignored by breeders.  

Coat

Must be flat, fine and glossy and of a silky texture. The length of coat must not be so long as

to impede the dog's action and should allow daylight to be seen under the dog. The front and 

rear feet to be free from long hair.

Interpretation

• The Silky coat is a single coat with no undercoat (double coat).
• Grooming of the feet to the knee and hock is sadly missing on most silkys. It is difficult to see feet movement if covered in long hair and also more difficult  for the dog to move well with bushy feet, especially in longer grass.

Colour

All shades of blue and tan are acceptable, the richer these colours and more clearly defined the better.  Silver and white not acceptable. Blue on the tail to be very dark. Silver blue or fawn top-knot desirable. Distribution of the blue and tan as follows: tan around the base of the ears, muzzle and on the sides of the cheeks; blue from the base of the skull to tip of tail, running down the forelegs to near the knees and down the thighs to the hocks; tan line showing down the stifles and from the knees and hocks to the toes and around the vent. The blue body colour should be free from tan or bronzing. Tan markings must be free from smuttiness. Black colouring is permissible in puppies, blue colour must be established by 18 months of age.

Interpretation

• Here the Standard is remiss in that it doesn't mention that the ears should be tan. Many silkys do not have tan ears and that may be the reason it is left out, but the ears should definitely be tan.
• SILVER AND WHITE ARE NOT ACCEPTABLE COLOURS !!! RICHER THESE COLOURS AND MORE CLEARLY DEFINED THE BETTER!!!

Size

Height: Dogs- 23 to 26 cms (9-10 ins) at the withers. Bitches can be slightly less.   

Weight: in proportion to height.

Interpretation

• Where is says "Bitches can be slightly less" does not mean an inch or two less. Possibly a half of one centimeter less. In fact bitches should preferably be close to 10 inches (26 cms) as they carry and whelp litters more efficiently at that size and have more stamina in the hunt. Whether you hunt your silkys or not they should look as though they are of a size to be able to do that which they have been originally bred.   

Faults

Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree and its effect upon the health and welfare of the dog.

Interpretation

• This includes COLOUR AND SIZE especially.    

Notes

Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum

Here are some nice images of silkys.

                                                    

                                                     Aus. Ch Nantiki Mr. Darcy 

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