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Thistle Creek Kennel
Silky Terrier
Breed
Standard
Toy
Group
General Appearance
The Silky Terrier is a true "toy terrier". He is moderately low set,
slightly longer than tall, of refined bone structure, but of sufficient
substance to suggest the ability to hunt and kill domestic rodents. His
coat is silky in texture, parted from the stop to the tail and presents
a well groomed but not sculptured appearance. His inquisitive nature and
joy of life make him an ideal companion.
Size, Proportion, Substance
Size Shoulder height from nine to ten inches. Deviation in either
direction is undesirable. Proportion The body is about one fifth
longer than the dog's height at the withers. Substance Lightly
built with strong but rather fine bone.
Head
The head is strong, wedge-shaped, and moderately long. Expression
piercingly keen, eyes small, dark, almond shaped with dark rims.
Light eyes are a serious fault. Ears are small, V-shaped, set
high and carried erect without any tendency to flare obliquely off the
skull. Skull flat, and not too wide between the ears. The skull
is slightly longer than the muzzle. Stop shallow. The nose
is black. Teeth strong and well aligned, scissors bite. An
undershot or overshot bite is a serious fault.
Neck, Topline and Body
The neck fits gracefully into sloping shoulders. It is medium
long, fine, and to some degree crested. The topline is level. A
topline showing a roach or dip is a serious fault. Chest medium
wide and deep enough to extend down to the elbows. The body is
moderately low set and about one fifth longer than the dog's height at
the withers. The body is measured from the point of the shoulder (or
forechest) to the rearmost projection of the upper thigh (or point of
the buttocks). A body which is too short is a fault, as is a body which
is too long. The tail is docked, set high and carried at twelve to two
o'clock position.
Forequarters
Well laid back shoulders, together with proper angulation at the upper
arm, set the forelegs nicely under the body. Forelegs are strong,
straight and rather fine-boned. Feet small, catlike, round,
compact. Pads are thick and springy while nails are strong and dark
colored. White or flesh-colored nails are a fault. The feet point
straight ahead, with no turning in or out. Dewclaws, if any, are
removed.
Hindquarters
Thighs well muscled and strong, but not so developed as to appear heavy.
Well angulated stifles with low hocks which are parallel when viewed
from behind. Feet as in front.
Coat
Straight, single, glossy, silky in texture. On matured specimens the
coat falls below and follows the body outline. It should not approach
floor length. On the top of the head, the hair is so profuse as to form
a topknot, but long hair on the face and ears is objectionable. The hair
is parted on the head and down over the back to the root of the tail.
The tail is well coated but devoid of plume. Legs should have short hair
from the pastern and hock joints to the feet. The feet should not be
obscured by the leg furnishings.
Color
Blue and tan. The blue may be silver blue, pigeon blue or slate blue,
the tan deep and rich. The blue extends from the base of the skull to
the tip of the tail, down the forelegs to the elbows, and half way down
the outside of the thighs. On the tail the blue should be very dark. Tan
appears on muzzle and cheeks, around the base of the ears, on the legs
and feet and around the vent. The topknot should be silver or fawn which
is lighter than the tan points.
Gait
Should be free, light-footed, lively and straightforward. Hindquarters
should have strong propelling power. Toeing in or out is to be faulted.
Temperament
The keenly alert air of the terrier is characteristic, with shyness or
excessive nervousness to be faulted. The manner is quick, friendly,
responsive.
Approved October 10, 1989
Effective November 30, 1989
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