Silkinese

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Dog Breeds
Silkinese

15-20 lbs

6-10"

United States

Pekingese

Silky Terrier

The Silkinese is a hybrid mix of the Pekingese and the Silky Terrier. This toy-sized canine will quickly become the little darling of your heart and life! She is the result of mixing two pure breeds of similar size, which were bred for very similar purposes. The Pekingese parent breed is known for being the favored and treasured companion for the imperial family in China, with a death penalty being levied for those not of the imperial family found in possession of one, while the Silky Terrier was bred strictly for purposes of companionship. Unlike many terriers bred in the 1700 and 1800's, she is the only true "toy" breed originating in Australia.

Purpose
Companion, Watchdog


Date of Origin
2000's


Ancestry
Pekingese, Silky Terrier

Silkinese Health

Average Size

Height: 6-10 inches Weight: 15-20 lbs

Height: 6-10 inches Weight: 15-20 lbs

Major Concerns

Patellar Luxation
Brachycephalic Syndrome
Mitral Valve Dysplasia

Minor Concerns

Cataracts
Eye Abnormalities
Hydrocephalus
Legg-Calve-Perthes Disease
Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA)
Keratoconjunctivitis Sicca (Dry Eye)
Leukodystrophies

Occasional Diagnoses

Fold Dermatitis
Intervertebral Disc Disease
Color Dilution Alopecia

Occasional Tests

Ear Examination
Internal Imaging (x-ray, CT scan, MRI, etc.)
Yearly Physical Examination
Physical and Neurologic Examination
Eye Examinations (both internal as well as external)
X-rays of various parts of the skeletal system
Dental and Oral Examinations
Various Blood Tests
Echocardiography (ultrasound)

Silkinese Breed History

The Silkinese is a hybrid mix of the Pekingese and the Silky Terrier. While there is some information about temperament and appearance available about the hybrid, there is no real information to be found about where and when it was developed. We can most likely safely assume that the hybrid was developed in the United States sometime in the late 1900's to early 2000's when interest in mixing pure breed canines for a number of reasons became more popular. That being said, let's take a very brief look at the background of the parent breeds to find out who and what your Silkinese hybrid can be. The Pekingese parent breed, getting its name from the then capital, comes from China (Beijing being the present capital) and can be traced back at least 2,000 years, making it among the oldest canine breeds on the planet. It was valued and treasured by the imperial families of China and it was illegal for a commoner to own one, as being found with one carried a death sentence! The breed seems to have been bred solely for the purpose of companionship and, at that time, was so small that the royal ladies were said to have carried them tucked into the sleeves of their garments. The breed continues to be valued for its companionship and loyalty, being recognized by the American Kennel club in 1906 and being the 93rd most popular breed in their registry. The Silky Terrier, a.k.a. the Sidney Silky and Australian Silky Terrier, obviously hails from Australia and is the only "toy" breed known to have originated there, being developed in the 1800's. It is believed that included in its ancestry are Yorkshire Terriers and native Australian Terriers. This breed, much like the Pekingese parent breed, was developed for companionship and was not routinely used for hunting of vermin as are most Terriers, but rest assured and don't let her delicate appearance fool you, she is a True terrier and is quite capable of doing so! After being brought to the United States by returning servicemen after WW II, the Silky Terrier was officially recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1959 and is the 100th most popular breed in their registry. The Silkinese hybrid is recognized by the American Canine Hybrid Club, Dog Breed Registry, Designer Dog Kennel Club, Dog Registry of America and the International Designer Canine Registry.

Silkinese Breed Appearance

Your Silkinese hybrid is a mix of the Pekingese and the Silky Terrier and, as such, can inherit the appearance characteristics of either or both parent breeds. Breeders and owners of the Silkinese hybrid describe them as standing 6 to 10 inches tall at the shoulders and weighing 15 to 20 pounds when fully matured. She is described as having a soft, fluffy, silky coat which can be longer or short in the most common colors of tan, black and brown. Her tail will be fluffy, varying in length and most likely will curl over the back. She is longer than she is tall and is quite energetic, her small size allowing her to live well in an apartment or condo. Her dark eyes resemble those of the Pekingese parent, she has a black nose and she'll likely have an under bite. Her ears can be small, V-shaped, set high and carried erect or they can be shaped like a heart, set more toward the front of the head and falling close to the head.

Eye Color Possibilities

Brown

Nose Color Possibilities

Black

Coat Color Possibilities

Black

Brown

Fawn

Coat Length

Short Medium Long

Coat Density

Sparse Normal Dense

Coat Texture

Straight Wiry Wavy Curly Corded

Silkinese Breed Maintenance

Your Silkinese hybrid falls into the moderate category of maintenance as well as for shedding, making it necessary to brush her several times a week based upon the length of her coat. Her coat may or may not be hypoallergenic depending on which parent breed has the most influence in the bio mix, with only the Silky parent contributing the hypoallergenic coat trait. She will need to have her ears checked weekly and cleaned when needed with a cotton ball and an approved canine ear wash. While you've got her on your lap (a place she will be most of the time) check her ears, take a look at her toenails. Trim them when needed, most likely once a month, unless she is able to keep them worn down with her normal exercise activities (one of which is not sitting in your lap...). She is an active little family companion who will love her daily walks, though not necessarily long ones because she is so small. She is considered to be in the low category for drooling and doggy smell. It is recommended that her teeth be brushed at least two to three times a week to avoid development of periodontal disease and tooth loss.

Brushes for Silkinese

Pin Brush

Dematter

Deshedder

Nail Clipper

Brushing Frequency

Daily Weekly Monthly

Silkinese Temperament

Your Silkinese hybrid is a mix of the Pekingese and the Silky Terrier and can inherit the personality and temperament traits of one or both parent breeds. Breeders and owners of the Silkinese hybrid describe her as lovable, playful, cheerful, affectionate, intelligent and sometimes independent. She is further described as energetic, courageous and loyal, being counted upon to alert you at the approach of anyone, whether friend or foe. It is important to begin socialization at as young an age as possible to ensure that she will get along with kids, the family cat, other dogs and strangers. She is eager to please and intelligent, making her fairly easy to train. Her high energy levels will require daily management.

Silkinese Activity Requirements

Your Silkinese hybrid is an active toy canine. She'll need at least an hour or two a day of exercise, which can be in the form of those aforementioned walks, playtime in the dog park or fenced yard, interactive games of fetch, Frisbee and agility, and obedience training. She has a high hunting drive and a moderate tendency to wander, making it imperative that you keep her on leash when she's outside to avoid the dangers of having to chase her down the street, around the block or through the woods as she follows her nose after that interesting scent or a small animal which has attracted her attention. Her small size enables her to be perfect for apartment or condo living, as long as she is appropriately exercised daily. She can also live quite well in a family home with or without a fenced yard, in an urban or rural setting. She is best suited to a temperate climate, with extra protection and precautions being necessary in the temperature extremes.

Activity Level

Low
Medium
High
Rec. Walk Mileage Per Week
8 miles

Minutes of Activity Per Day
90 minutes

Similar Maintenance Breeds to Silkinese

Similarly Sized Breeds to Silkinese

Silkinese Food Consumption

Cups Per Day
1 cups
Daily Cost
$0.80 - $1.00
Monthly Cost
$20.00 - $30.00

Silkinese Height & Weight

6 Months

Height: 6.5 inches
Weight: 13.0 lbs

Height: 6.5 inches
Weight: 13.0 lbs
12 Months

Height: 8.0 inches
Weight: 17.5 lbs

Height: 8.0 inches
Weight: 17.5 lbs
18 Months

Height: 8.0 inches
Weight: 17.5 lbs

Height: 8.0 inches
Weight: 17.5 lbs

author-img

Written by a Yorkshire Terrier lover Vicki Fassler

Published: 12/08/2017, edited: 02/24/2021

More articles by Vicki Fassler

Silkinese Owner Experiences

Sailor

9 Years

3 People

House & Yard

Health

Grooming

Friendliness

Energy

Trainability

Pastimes

Chase

chewing

Fetch

Walk

Eating Snacks

Tug-of-war

Sailor is very food motivated but really he isn’t the brightest bulb on the tree. He has a good heart, and loves his family but I think he would sell us for a steak, if the chance came up. His favorite games are when he gets a guy, mom throws it, and the he makes her chase him to get it back. It’s his own version of “fetch”. He is never angry or ill tempered, even with babies. Mostly he’s afraid of them so he runs and hides. He really is sweet and knows when someone needs a cuddle. His emotional intelligence is way higher than anything else. He knows about 3 phrases, but he knows the times when those happen and if you forget, he’s wonderful about bullying you into remembering: “Go to work” - Sailor gets a treat; “Puppy dog bedtime” - Sailor gets a treat and finally when our friend beeps her car, locking it as she arrives, and enters saying “Hello!” - Sailor gets a treat.There is a definite theme. Regardless of his being kind of not bright, and also being stubborn, we do love him because of his sweet temper. He is a lover for sure.

2 years, 4 months ago

Book me a walkiee?

Pweeeze!

Sketch of smiling australian shepherd