Silky Terrier vs Boston Terrier - Breed Comparison

Silky Terrier vs Boston Terrier - Breed ComparisonSilky Terrier is originated from Australia but Boston Terrier is originated from United States. Silky Terrier may grow 17 cm / 6 inches shorter than Boston Terrier. Silky Terrier may weigh 6 kg / 13 pounds lesser than Boston Terrier. Both Silky Terrier and Boston Terrier has almost same life span. Both Silky Terrier and Boston Terrier has almost same litter size. Silky Terrier requires Moderate maintenance. But Boston Terrier requires Low maintenance

History

silky terrier - historyIt is the Yorkshire Terrier and the Australian Terrier which are the ancestors of the Australian Silky Terrier. This is by no means a new dog breed. It is believed that the breed came into existence at the end of the 19th century.

The dog’s purpose is to be a companion. This little canine wasn’t always known as the Silky Terrier, but in 1955 the name became officially Silky Terrier.

The breed is also recognized by the Australia National Kennel Council in the Toy Group. In fact the breed is recognised by a number of the major kennel clubs as well as the Fédération Cynologique Internationale.

boston terrier - historyNicknamed the American Gentleman, the Boston Terrier is the result of crossing the British Bulldog with the white English Terrier. At first the Boston Terrier was bred to be a fighting dog, but since then, undesirable characteristics have been bred out and today the Boston Terrier is regarded as an indoor dog that doesn’t tolerate extreme weather conditions.

The breed emerged in the 1870s when Robert Hooper from Boston bought a dog thought to be a mix of a Terrier and Bull type lineage. A specialist breed club was formed in 1891 and in 1979 the commonwealth of Massachusetts named the Boston Terrier the Official State Dog. By the 20th century, the breed’s color and patterns were standard and an essential feature.

Basic Information

Group:
Toy dog
Terrier dog
Origin:
Australia
United States
Height Male:
21 - 26 cm
8 - 11 inches
38 - 43 cm
14 - 17 inches
Height Female:
21 - 26 cm
8 - 11 inches
36 - 41 cm
14 - 17 inches
Weight Male:
4 - 5 kg
8 - 12 pounds
7 - 11 kg
15 - 25 pounds
Weight Female:
4 - 5 kg
8 - 12 pounds
5 - 11 kg
11 - 25 pounds
Life Span:
11 - 14 Years
11 - 13 Years
Litter Size:
3 - 5
1 - 6
Size:
Toy dog
Small dog
Other Names:
Silky Toy Terrier, Australian Silky Terrier
Boston Bull, Boston Bull Terrier, American Gentlemen
Colors Available:
Tan and silvery grey
Brindle with white markings, Brown and white or black and white.
Coat:
Long, straight and silky
Short and smooth
Shedding:
Moderate
Minimal
Temperament:
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Quiet, Responsive, Social, Sweet, Territorial
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Curious, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Quiet, Responsive, Social, Sweet
Grooming:
Moderate maintenance
Low maintenance
Trainability:
Moderate
Easy
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
Yes

Description

silky terrier puppy - descriptionThis is a small dog breed, standing at just 21 to 26cm in height and weighing in the region of 4 to 5kg. He may be a toy dog, but he is robust and athletic.

The ears of the Silky are small and erect with a lot of silky hair that hangs down and the tail is preferably docked and held high.

His coat is eye-catching – straight, long, silky and shiny. If it is left unclipped, it will reach the floor. The colour of the coat is a tan and silvery grey.

Temperament:

The temperament of any dog is affected by things such as heredity, upbringing and the training and socialization he receives.

Small he may be, but the Silky Terrier can benefit from training as he is feisty and strong willed.

He is energetic and always ready for action. He is ready to come bounding after you and join his human family for any action they’re into. He is playful, bold, loyal, tenacious, independent, social and lively and he makes a good playmate for children.

He might tend to be a bit snappy and aggressive towards other dogs. He is also great as a watchdog, barking and alerting you to strangers.

boston terrier puppy - descriptionThe Boston Terrier is a lively, strong-willed breed with an alert expression and fairly large, erect ears. He is a small to medium sized dog and his square muzzle puts him among the Bull breeds. The dog is compact in build and varies quite significantly in size. Weight with the dog is actually divided into 3 categories – lightweight (under 6.8kg), middleweight (up to 9kg) and the heavyweights being between 9.1kg and up to 11.4kg. The Boston has a short head and a naturally short, low-set tail. The coat is short and smooth, and the colour can be brindle with white markings, brown and white or black and white.

It’s the energetic liveliness of the Boston Terrier that makes him such a lovable and popular pet. He has an affectionate, gentle nature that makes him a fantastic family pet and he gets on well with children and pets in the home. He can adapt to city or country life. One or two interesting facts of this breed are -

with his short nose, he is prone to drool and snore

he is prone to corneal ulcers because of his large, somewhat protruding eyes

with a small pelvis, the females often battle with the birthing process and may require a caesarean section.

Characteristics

silky terrier dog - characteristicsThe silky terrier is a good choice for those who want a smallish dog but one which is robust and adventurous.

Your Silky is a loyal dog who loves spending time with his human family, wanting their companionship.

He will need to be physically and mentally stimulated as he is bright and intelligent. He can adapt to life in the city or the countryside but will need to be well exercised wherever he is.

boston terrier dog - characteristicsThe Boston Terrier is such a sweet little dog, but you can’t really say what your puppy’s personality will be as personality varies quite a bit between individual Boston’s. Remember that just like with a human child, your puppy will turn out with characteristics that can be attributed to the way he was raised. The Boston just loves his human family and he wants to be part of all your activities, even though he may gravitate towards one favorite family member.

Your Boston can be your Best Friend

Your Boston is a Terrier and that means he is full of life and will require being exercised by you. He can’t just be left outdoors day after day because this is one particular breed that can’t adapt to changing weather conditions. He likes being inside where the temperature is more even. Look after your Boston, because if you do, you’ll be rewarded by having one of the best friends you’ve ever had.

Health Problems

silky terrier puppies - health problemsJust like most other dogs, the Silky Terrier isn’t likely to get sick easily, but he can still succumb to any one of the dog illnesses there are.

Diabetes:

This is when your pet isn’t able to regulate blood sugar levels. Your dog will be drinking a lot more water than usual and also be urinating more often. The vet will explain to you a special diet for your pet and how the disease can be controlled with insulin.

Tracheal Collapse: 

This is a disease seen more often in smaller dogs like the Silky. It is caused by an obstruction in the airway and symptoms can include labored breathing and coughing. Your dog will need to be treated with anti-biotics and possibly surgery.

boston terrier puppies - health problemsBoston Terriers are generally healthy, feisty little dogs but it is always wise to know that you may well come across some health conditions that can affect your pet.

Eye Problems

Your Boston may well have to contend with cataracts, and in the dog world, this isn’t only an ailment for old dogs. Juvenile cataracts can develop in young puppies already. Cherry Eye is another eye problem with a prolapse of the gland of the third eyelid. It is also an eye disease than can be found in young dog of less than a year old.

Deafness

Boston Terriers actually have a fairly high incidence of deafness in one or both ears. White Bostons tend to produce more puppies with deafness.

Brachycephalic Syndrome

The Boston Terrier is a brachycephalic dog and therefore more predisposed to Brachyphalic Syndrome where the dog battles to breathe because of too much soft tissue which forms in the airways.

To avoid many dog diseases with your Boston, buy your puppy from a reputable dog breeder who screens dogs used in a breeding program as this prevents puppies inheriting genetic disorders.

Caring The Pet

●Grooming:

silky terrier dogs - caringYou can imagine that with that silky hair, you’re going to have to be brushing your furry friend quite a bit. It’s such soft, silky hair that it easily picks up burrs and gets matted. You may want to get your pet to a professional groomer to have the hair cut. As you brush him, check for any unusual lumps and keep an eye on his skin.

Check your pet’s teeth. Bad teeth can cause bacteria that can affect every part of your dog’s body. Check inside his ears for redness and check his eyes that there is no discharge. Trim the nails. If you don’t have the time or the inclination to do all these things for him, make an appointment with the professional pet groomers who will do it for you.

● Diet:

The Silky Terrier will need quality food if you want him to enjoy a long, healthy life. Its always a good idea to have some of the top quality commercially manufactured dog foods with you for convenience. If you want to give him the best there is, some home-made food will be a good choice, if you keep it simple.

Boiled chicken, brown rice or pasta and spinach, sweet potatoes and carrots are a healthy choice for your pet – plain and simple without any exotic spices that could upset his stomach. Your dog will lap it up and you will see how he loves it. Chop the home-made food up and add some of it into his dry kibble as a treat twice a week.

Never leave him without a constant source of fresh, cool water.

Exercise

boston terrier dogs - caringThe Boston Terrier is a lively dog, and even though he doesn't have any extreme exercise requirements, he will still require you exercising him by taking him on walks, or having ball games with him. As an essentially indoor dog, he can even enjoy some quieter indoor games.

Feeding

You’ll be able to gauge how much your pet requires in terms of high quality food, but by the time he is an adult, he usually has one or two bowls of food a day. Size and age play an important role in determining his eating habits. Home made foods made up of rice, meat and vegetables are always welcome for your pet and these can be added into his top quality commercially produced dog food. For a healthy dog who is free of skin problems include some raw meat in the diet from time to time. Always make sure that there is a bowl of fresh, cool water which is available 24/7.

Grooming

With his short coat, the Boston Terrier isn’t a heavy shedder and is low maintenance in terms of keeping his coat groomed. Brush him at least twice a week to remove loose hairs and to also prevent flea and tick infestations. Brush his teeth 2 or 3 times a week to ensure no plaque build-up which can damage the teeth. Never use human toothpaste, but invest in special toothpaste and -brush for dogs. If he is essentially an indoor dog, you may have to get the vet to trim his nails too.

Comparison with other breeds

  1. Silky Terrier vs Yorkshire Terrier - Breed Comparison
  2. Silky Terrier vs Chihuahua - Breed Comparison
  3. Silky Terrier vs Morkie - Breed Comparison
  4. Silky Terrier vs Havanese - Breed Comparison
  5. Silky Terrier vs Chorkie - Breed Comparison
  6. Silky Terrier vs Pekingese - Breed Comparison
  7. Silky Terrier vs Chinese Crested Dog - Breed Comparison
  8. Silky Terrier vs Chiweenie - Breed Comparison
  9. Silky Terrier vs Chug - Breed Comparison
  10. Silky Terrier vs Affenpinscher - Breed Comparison
  11. Silky Terrier vs Brussels Griffon - Breed Comparison
  12. Silky Terrier vs Chipoo - Breed Comparison
  13. Silky Terrier vs Chiapom - Breed Comparison
  14. Silky Terrier vs English Toy Terrier (Black & Tan) - Breed Comparison
  15. Silky Terrier vs Long Haired Chihuahua - Breed Comparison
  16. Silky Terrier vs Bichon Bolognese - Breed Comparison
  17. Silky Terrier vs Russian Toy Terrier - Breed Comparison
  18. Silky Terrier vs Franzuskaya Bolonka - Breed Comparison
  19. Silky Terrier vs Phalene - Breed Comparison
  20. Silky Terrier vs Bugg - Breed Comparison
  21. Silky Terrier vs Cockachon - Breed Comparison
  22. Silky Terrier vs Shih Tzu - Breed Comparison
  23. Snorkie vs Silky Terrier - Breed Comparison
  24. Toy Bulldog vs Silky Terrier - Breed Comparison
  25. Toy Mi-Ki vs Silky Terrier - Breed Comparison
  26. Boston Terrier vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  27. Boston Terrier vs Border Terrier - Breed Comparison
  28. Boston Terrier vs Australian Terrier - Breed Comparison
  29. Boston Terrier vs American Hairless Terrier - Breed Comparison
  30. Jack Russell Terrier vs Boston Terrier - Breed Comparison
  31. Miniature Schnauzer vs Boston Terrier - Breed Comparison
  32. Cairn Terrier vs Boston Terrier - Breed Comparison
  33. Rat Terrier vs Boston Terrier - Breed Comparison
  34. Scottish Terrier vs Boston Terrier - Breed Comparison
  35. Patterdale Terrier vs Boston Terrier - Breed Comparison
  36. Bull Terrier Miniature vs Boston Terrier - Breed Comparison
  37. Norwich Terrier vs Boston Terrier - Breed Comparison
  38. Norfolk Terrier vs Boston Terrier - Breed Comparison
  39. English White Terrier vs Boston Terrier - Breed Comparison
  40. Parson Russell Terrier vs Boston Terrier - Breed Comparison
  41. Russell Terrier vs Boston Terrier - Breed Comparison
  42. Feist vs Boston Terrier - Breed Comparison
  43. Manchester Terrier vs Boston Terrier - Breed Comparison
  44. Dandie Dinmont Terrier vs Boston Terrier - Breed Comparison
  45. Miniature Fox Terrier vs Boston Terrier - Breed Comparison
  46. Cesky Terrier vs Boston Terrier - Breed Comparison
  47. Glen of Imaal Terrier vs Boston Terrier - Breed Comparison
  48. Schnorkie vs Boston Terrier - Breed Comparison
  49. Sealyham Terrier vs Boston Terrier - Breed Comparison
  50. Chilean Fox Terrier vs Boston Terrier - Breed Comparison

View/Compare Breeds

Popular Dog Breeds