MyDogBreeds
Silky Terrier is originated from Australia but Shikoku is originated from Japan. Both Silky Terrier and Shikoku are having almost same height. Silky Terrier may weigh 48 kg / 105 pounds lesser than Shikoku. Both Silky Terrier and Shikoku has almost same life span. Both Silky Terrier and Shikoku has almost same litter size. Both Silky Terrier and Shikoku 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.
The Shikoku is from the Shikoku Island in Japan and they are very much like the Japanese Shiba Inu. There are six native Japanese dog breeds and the Shikoku is medium sized and sits in between the smaller Shiba Inu and the very large Akita Inu. All of the Japanese native breeds are members of the Spitz family. The Japanese have sorted their six breeds into 3 categories by size. Being medium size, the Shikoku is a member of the Shika-inus group. Others in this group are the Ainu Ken, the Kai Ken and the Kishu Inu. There are small differences between the three dogs in the Shika-inus group.
The Shikoku was bred to be a hunting dog in Kochi Prefecture to hunt boar and deer. Other names for the breed include Kochi-ken and Kishu dog or boar hound. This dog is considered to be the purest of the Japanese native dogs or Nihoken. They are today very , very rare. There are very few outsides of Japan, but some in North America are attempting to save the breed.
The are od Kochi Prefecture is a mountainous region with rough terrain that anyone outside of the area would have a hard time accessing. That is why the Shikoku is considered to be so pure as they were pretty well isolated in the mountains. The breeders were also isolated by the mountains and there was very little interbreeding. Although breeding the same dog, these different groups developed different lines of the Shikoku.
Documentation tells us that the number of originals lines was just two and these were the Western and Eastern Shikoku. The Western dog was known as the Mount Ishizuchi Shikoku and the Eastern as the Mount Tsurugi Shikoku. Within these two lines of Shikoku there are additional strains.
Within the Eastern line there is the Tokushima (lya) and the Koci-Aki strains. Within the Western line there is the Hata Uwahara, the Ehime-ken Shuso-gun and the Honkawa. Among these lines and strains, there are different coats and different colors; some heavier and some taller, but all figure into the development of the breed.
Finally, in the Showa Era the Japanese established the Dog Protective League and they began collecting the native dogs from around the country. They protected them so that the breed will go on. The Shikoku is today recognized as Foundation Stock by the AKC and it is fully recognized by the Japan Kennel Club, the Canadian Hound Club and the Shikoku has been declared a living Japanese “natural monument”.
Two bloodlines became the way the Shikoku were know after the war – the Honkawa and the Hata lines The Honkawa line were the descendants of the Choshun-go and the Hata line were the descendants of the Matsukaze-go. They bred the lines separately until 1955, when they mixed them to make the breed stronger. They are no longer considered separate in any way.
Because they are such primitive dogs, the Shikoku are good watch dogs and quite reserved with strangers. They need a lot of socialization to be a family pet but once they are, they make great companions. Intelligent, quick to learn and eager to please. Of the two lines of Shikoku dogs from the Western strains, the current Shikoku owes much of its current development to the Honkawa and Hata strains.
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.
Today’s Shikoku is a medium sized breed with a Spitz like body – square with a head that is wedge shaped. The ears are pointed, and the tail is curved and feathered. They have arched toes and hard pads with dark, hard nails.
The two lines of the Shikoku are slightly different in built and look. The Honkawa strain is slender and athletic; agile and single coated. They have dark eyes and most of them are black and tan.
On the other hand, the Hata strain is much heavier boned, with the front more muscular than the rear. They have small ears, a wide skull and a strong undercoat. His eyes are shaped differently than the Honkawa. Their coats are also mostly red and tan.
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.
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.
Being isolated as they were, the Shikoku was a fairly healthy breed, no genetic testing has been done. Despite this they suffer a few of the same potential issues as other breeds their size.
Otherwise this is an agile and hardy breed with no known congenital health issues.
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.
Feeding the puppy Be careful with feeding the puppy and adult as the breed is known to have a tendency toward obesity. Fresh food is better as it is what the breed has been used to, but a high quality puppy kibble is acceptable. Feed three times per day.
2.Feeding the adult He is a high energy dog so feed a high energy food designed for a medium sized dog. Feed in two meals each day.
4. Games and Exercises You will need a fenced yard for this breed and time to play with them. If not, you would need time to walk her more than once a day. They love to play indoors as well, chasing balls, learning new things. The breed make great companions for hiking, swimming, play frisbee or catch outside. They do well at agility, rally, obedience and flyball.
1.Children friendliness – They might be a little aloof with children. They are hunters.