Silky Terrier is originated from Australia but Borador is originated from United States. Silky Terrier may grow 31 cm / 12 inches shorter than Borador. Silky Terrier may weigh 21 kg / 46 pounds lesser than Borador. Both Silky Terrier and Borador has almost same life span. Silky Terrier may have less litter size than Borador. Both Silky Terrier and Borador requires Moderate maintenance.
It 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.
Hybrid breeds have become popular in the last decade or so. The Borador, hailing from Northern America, is one of these popular crossbreeds between two very popular dog breeds - the Border Collie and the Labrador Retriever. Between the two dog breeds, you get extraordinary intelligence, energy and a wonderful temperament.
You first started hearing about this dog breed in the early 21st century. However each of the two breeds brought together to produce the Borador have got reasonable lengthy histories.
This 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.
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.
The Borador is a medium to large sized working dog which is well well-proportioned and muscular. His size can’t be carved in stone, but generally he will be in size from 40 – 57cm and weight in the region of 18 and 26 kg. His coat can vary significantly, leaning more towards one particular breed than the other. So the coat can be short and smooth or long and wavy or straight.
The Borador essentially has medium-sized ears which are floppy and the tail is medium-length. Sometimes the Borador will have the black and white coat of the Border Collie or he could have a brownish/beige colour from a golden Labrador.
When your energetic Borador is trained and socialized, he becomes a great family member and he gets on well with children and other pets.You’ll find that he often has the sweet, amicable temperament of the Labrador while having the sharp, alert intellect of the Border Collie.
Most Boradors are also good watchdogs and will bark at strangers, but because they are so amicable, from barking, they can quickly become a stranger’s friend.
The 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.
The Borador is an intelligent dog that can be trained. He is a sociable dog and is friendly to all members of his human family, willing to extend a paw of friendship to strangers as well.
The Borador is also a friend of children and other pets. This combination of breeds is very energetic and you can’t just leave him for days on end in the backyard. He will need exercise and walks as well as ball games. When you become involved in his games, you tighten the bond between you and this is what this social, outgoing dog loves.
The Borador is going to make a wonderful pet because he is a mix of two very popular dog breeds. Give him all he deserves as a member of your family and you’ll have the perfect friend and companion for life.
Just 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.
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.
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.
You won’t find serious health problems with your Boradors, as he is a robust breed. Nonetheless, there are some ailments that as a dog owner, you need to be aware of for your Borador.
Skin ailments – you don’t want to see your dog scratching or licking continuously so you want to be aware of things like parasites and allergies. Skin diseases can be debilitating for a dog and can even require lifelong treatments. Yes, corticosteroids can help with itchy rashes, but the best move is to try and avoid skin ailments by ensuring a nutritious diet rich in minerals and vitamins and which includes some raw meat.
Always be checking your pet for skin problems such as ringworm, caused by a fungus and found on your dog and which appear as scaly patches and hair loss.
Hip Dysplasia – an inherited problem with the hip joints. No-one can predict when hip dysplasia settles in, but it can be as early as 4 months of age.Your dog shows signs of stiffness and may not be his energetic self. Some dog owners want to see certificates first that the parents of puppies have been hip-cleared before they buy a puppy.
You 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.
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.
The Borador may have inherited the moderate shedder characteristics of the Border Collie or the more intense shedding of the Labrador Retriever. He will require a good brush at least twice a week to ensure you remove loose hairs so as to keep his coat shiny and healthy. Check your dogs ears too for yeast infections.
Puppies and young Boradors are full of energy and they will require a diet that has an excellent protein content. If you’re unsure about how to feed your Borador, speak to your vet as some dogs need more calories depending on their level of activity.
Certainly if your dog has allergies, you may have to look for a special diet but otherwise a top brand commercial dog food can be a good choice if you include some home prepared food such as rice, vegetables and meat. It is important to give your dog some raw meat every now and then as well. Always have a bowl of cool, fresh water available for your pet 24/7.