Silky Terrier vs Yorkshire Terrier
The two published breed profiles side by side: size, energy, grooming, lifespan, temperament ratings and health.
| Silky Terrier | Yorkshire Terrier | |
|---|---|---|
| Size class | Toy | Toy |
| Adult weight | 4.5 kg | 3.2 kg |
| In pounds | 10 lb | 7 lb |
| Adult height | 23 to 25 cm | 18 to 20 cm |
| Energy | Moderate | High |
| Grooming | Moderate | High |
| Coat | Long silky | Long silky |
| Shedding | Low | Low |
| Lifespan | 13 to 15 years | 11 to 15 years |
| Good with children | Fine with supervision | Reliably good |
| Good with other dogs | Fine with supervision | Fine with supervision |
| Country of origin | Australia | Great Britain |
The main differences
- The Silky Terrier is the bigger dog: 4.5 kg against 3.2 kg for the Yorkshire Terrier.
- The Yorkshire Terrier needs more exercise: high energy against moderate for the Silky Terrier.
- The Yorkshire Terrier takes more grooming (high) than the Silky Terrier (moderate).
- The Silky Terrier usually lives longer: 13 to 15 years against 11 to 15 years.
- With children, the Yorkshire Terrier is rated reliably good and the Silky Terrier fine with supervision.
Temperament
Silky Terrier: Playful, charming and gentle, the Australian Silky Terrier was developed by crossing the Australian Terrier with the Yorkshire Terrier and keeps a terrier character in a toy frame. The fine silky coat needs daily brushing.
Yorkshire Terrier: Affectionate and sprightly, the Yorkshire Terrier is tenacious, feisty and brave, showing all the traits of a true terrier in a toy size frame.
Health worth asking about
Conditions each breed is reported to be predisposed to. Predisposed does not mean inevitable: it means ask the breeder for the parents' test results.
Silky Terrier
- Patellar luxation, graded by a veterinary orthopaedic exam
- Legg Calve Perthes disease, a malformation of the hip joint in young dogs
- Cataracts and progressive retinal atrophy, screened by an ophthalmologist evaluation
- Portosystemic liver shunt, diagnosed on blood tests and imaging
- Periodontal disease, kept down by regular tooth brushing
Yorkshire Terrier
- Patellar luxation, with a patella evaluation recommended by the national breed club
- Eye disease, with an ophthalmologist evaluation recommended by the national breed club
Common questions
Which is bigger, the Silky Terrier or the Yorkshire Terrier?
The Silky Terrier. Adults weigh 4.5 kg, against 3.2 kg for the Yorkshire Terrier, going by the published breed profiles.
Which lives longer, the Silky Terrier or the Yorkshire Terrier?
The published life expectancy is 13 to 15 years for the Silky Terrier and 11 to 15 years for the Yorkshire Terrier. These are typical ranges across the breed, not a promise about one dog.
Is the Silky Terrier or the Yorkshire Terrier better with children?
The Yorkshire Terrier scores higher for children (3 against 5 out of 5). Any dog needs supervising around young children, whatever their breed rating.
Related comparisons
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Not veterinary advice. Breed information is general. Your own dog, and your own vet, always win.
Sources
Every figure on this page comes from the two breed guides, which cite:
- akc.org for adult weight and height, life expectancy, energy, grooming, shedding and the temperament ratings, coat type and health notes
- fci.be for country of origin
- akc.org for adult weight and height, life expectancy, energy, grooming, shedding and the temperament ratings, coat type and health notes
- fci.be for country of origin