Top Activities For Silky Terriers

Introduction

The Silky Terrier is a pure-bred dog developed in Australia in the 1800s, and although this breed is tiny with a slight frame and silky hair (hence the name), they are true Terriers who need more exercise than the average dog. Terriers are little bundles of energy that need at least one hour, but preferably two hours, of vigorous physical activity every day. They may look like little foo-foo dogs, but they are athletic and like to hunt just like most terriers.

Conformation Showing

Popular

0 Votes

Any Day

Expensive

Normal

30 - 45 min

Items needed

collar

leash

treats

Activity description

Training your dog for conformation showing is to train your dog to compete in dog shows to become best in their breed, best in their group, and best in the show. Your pooch has to be at least six months old, but you can start training at about three months. In these competitions, your fur buddy is pranced around the ring, studied by the judges, and even cheered on by the crowd. They are judging your dog on how well they conform to their breed standard. For example, your Silky Terrier should be no taller than 10 inches, lightly built, dark eyes, erect ears, a black nose, and a silky coat.

Step

1

Looking good

The main thing your dog has to do for this sport is to look pretty so you have to keep your pooch in good shape and checked out by a veterinary professional regularly. Your fur baby also has to follow your commands and be able to walk well on a leash.

Step

2

Attend a show

Take your dog to a dog show to get the feel of the place. See how well your dog responds in the show atmosphere. There are always loud and boisterous crowds and lots of dogs, so your dog cannot be shy or antisocial. You may need to attend several shows to get your buddy at ease in the ring.

Step

3

Try a match show

There are match shows, which are kind of like practice runs for your dog to get the idea of how it is in the ring. These shows are specifically for newcomers and help with tips and recommendations to help you and your Silky Terrier be the best you can be when you do hit the show. It is also good to meet other owners for tips that can help a lot.

Fast CAT

Popular

0 Votes

Any Day

Free

Easy

45 min

Items needed

treats

Activity description

Is your pooch fast? All dogs can run pretty fast when they want to but some dogs are extremely fast, and there are races for these dogs. One such race is called the Fast CAT (Coursing Ability Test), and the fasted dog in this sport is Usain Bolt, and his fastest time was 28 miles per hour. Fast CAT is a timed 100-yard dash where dogs chase a lure one at a time, and they are clocked by judges. The dog who runs the fastest wins the race, of course, but there are other groups that separate the sport by breed and size because, let’s face it, a dog with tiny legs is not going to be able to cover as much ground as a Greyhound or Whippet with their long legs.

Step

1

Got to be fast

The fastest time for a Silky Terrier in the Fast CAT in 2018 was Karisma, who was clocked at 17.6 miles per hour. So, you have to teach your Silky to be super-fast when chasing that decoy. How can you do this? Lots and lots of practice. Set up a course outside or go to the park and have your pup chase a decoy, giving them a treat every time.

Step

2

Judging

There is really nothing too major to worry about with this kind of sport, but your Silky Terrier will be judged by overall ability, following, speed, agility, and endurance. Have your dog do short runs at first and then increase the length to get the best result. They have to be able to stay in place until the huntmaster calls for them to start. Then they just need to run as fast as they can.

Agility Coursing

Popular

0 Votes

Any Day

Moderate

Normal

1 hr

Items needed

treats

Activity description

Agility coursing is one of the most enjoyable sports as far as your dog is concerned because they love to run, jump, and perform the agility obstacles. It is like a trip to doggy Disney Land for your pooch to play on an agility course. In fact, many dog parks have added agility equipment into their park space for dogs because they love it so much and it is good for them. Performing an agility course trial is done by completing a group of 10 to 20 obstacles such as tire jumps, pause tables, dog walks, see-saws, tunnels, hurdles, A-frames, and weave poles. Your dog is judged for speed as well as accuracy.

Step

1

The basics

First, be sure that your dog can follow your vocal commands and hand signals. This is an important step and should always come first because if your pooch cannot listen to you, they cannot perform the obstacles. Some of the essential calls are heel, stay, sit, and down. Make sure you give your dog a reward for listening each time.

Step

2

Run the course

Take your dog to a park that has some agility equipment, or you can buy or make your own. Be careful to make sure the equipment is safe prior to letting your dog use it. Train your dog on one obstacle at a time, spending at least an hour on each one for several days.

Step

3

Go to the show

Take your pup to a show before you try to enter an agility course because you need to know how your dog is going to react. It is much different to run the course with a large crowd of people and dogs than when you ran them at the park or in your backyard.

More Fun Ideas...

Earthdog Trials

As a terrier, your pooch has a high prey drive and is little enough to dig into the ground to get to those critters. Earthdog trials are performed by having your dog hunt and find a rat in an underground den. The rat is kept in a safe spot where your dog cannot hurt it, but they can see each other. They have to find the rat and bark until you come to praise them.

Swimming

Many dogs really love swimming, and if you enjoy it too, maybe you should start taking Fido to a pool or a dog fur-iendly beach. Swimming is a fantastic exercise for both of you and can be a wonderful bonding session for you. Bring some toys and a ball so that you can play catch in the water, but; make sure the toys float.

Conclusion

Being fit and getting enough exercise is an essential part of staying healthy for both your dog and you, so you should try to spend at least an hour every day doing some kind of physical activity. If you did not like any of the above suggestions, try talking to other dog owners or ask your vet what kind of activities they would suggest for your pooch.