Toy Schnauzer vs Silky Terrier - Breed Comparison

Toy Schnauzer is originated from Germany but Silky Terrier is originated from Australia. Toy Schnauzer may grow 9 cm / 4 inches higher than Silky Terrier. Both Toy Schnauzer and Silky Terrier are having almost same weight. Both Toy Schnauzer and Silky Terrier has almost same life span. Toy Schnauzer may have more litter size than Silky Terrier. Both Toy Schnauzer and Silky Terrier requires Moderate maintenance.

History

The Miniature Schnauzer was actually a distinct breed as early as 1899. It is believed that the dog came from breeding the smallest Standard Schnauzers with Affenpinschers, Black Poodles, and the gray Spitz.

Miniature Schnauzers were registered as a separate breed in 1926. The Toy Schnauzer is registered as a Miniature Schnauzer but is actually a little bit smaller.

The Miniature Schnauzer was developed as a farm dog with the purpose of killing rats.

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.

Basic Information

Group:
Toy dog
Toy dog
Origin:
Germany
Australia
Height Male:
33 - 35 cm
12 - 14 inches
21 - 26 cm
8 - 11 inches
Height Female:
33 - 35 cm
12 - 14 inches
21 - 26 cm
8 - 11 inches
Weight Male:
4 - 9 kg
8 - 20 pounds
4 - 5 kg
8 - 12 pounds
Weight Female:
4 - 9 kg
8 - 20 pounds
4 - 5 kg
8 - 12 pounds
Life Span:
12 - 15 Years
11 - 14 Years
Litter Size:
3 - 8
3 - 5
Size:
Toy dog
Toy dog
Other Names:
Miniature Schnauzer
Silky Toy Terrier, Australian Silky Terrier
Colors Available:
Black and silver, chocolate or a salt and pepper look
Tan and silvery grey
Coat:
Medium length, hard and wiry
Long, straight and silky
Shedding:
Minimal
Moderate
Temperament:
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Quiet, Responsive, Social, Stubborn
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Quiet, Responsive, Social, Sweet, Territorial
Grooming:
Moderate maintenance
Moderate maintenance
Trainability:
Easy
Moderate
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
Yes

Description

The Toy Schnauzer is a small dog standing at between 33–35cm tall and weighing about 4 to 9 kg.

He has medium length hair which is hard and wiry and which requires minimal grooming. These low-shedding dogs make the ideal family pets for those people who have allergies.

Colors of the coat are essentially black and silver, chocolate or a salt and pepper look. You'll find they have a beard and bushy eyebrows, giving him an almost human-like expression.

These dogs were brought about to be all-around farm dogs and ratters and they are tough, muscular, and fearless without being aggressive.

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.

Characteristics

The Toy Schnauzer is spunky, strong-willed and confident. They all have different personalities and while some people report they are aloof, stubborn and uppity, others say they are playful, friendly and amicable.

A lot depends on the owners as dogs often develop the temperaments of the owners.

With this range in temperament, you can’t say with certainty how your Toy Schnauzer will turn out. Most of them just want to be involved with their human families and they make great family pets.

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.

Health Problems

Your Toy Schnauzer has a life expectancy of 12 – 15 years if you care for them properly. They can, however, suffer from some health problems that so many other dogs might also have to contend with.

Some of these are -

Cataracts:

You’ll notice your pet's eyes taking on a filmy look. Most times these cataracts emerge in older dogs and they can be surgically removed.

Entropion and Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) are other eye diseases that may affect your dog. Most dogs are able to adapt well to their limited vision and can even adapt to lost vision.

Bladder Infection:

A bladder infection can be terribly uncomfortable for your pet and occurs when bacteria gets into the bladder. Females are more likely to get a bladder infection, but male dogs can pick up the infection too. Having a bladder infection increases the pet’s urge to urinate even when there is no urine to come out.

The little bit of urine that does come out may be cloudy or even have some blood in it. It is imperative to get your pet urgent veterinary attention. When you see your pet trying to urinate all the time with nothing happening, then this is the sign to get your dog to the vet for a course of antibiotics.

Congenital Megaesophagus: 

This is when food and liquid are retained in the dog's esophagus so that you find him regurgitating his food. This can lead to pneumonia.

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.

Caring The Pet

Most people have their Toy Schnauzers professionally groomed on a regular basis. He is a double-coated dog with a wiry coat. Some people, looking to maintain the wiry texture do hand-stripping, certainly if the dog is used for show purposes.

Diet:

No dog deserves to have dry kibble served up to him day after day. However, there are some excellent commercial dog foods on the market and you can choose the best one.

These foods provide a lot of convenience for the dog owner. Dogs also need to have their share of home-made food. It doesn’t have to be all complicated as dogs like simplicity.

Wholesome foods such as boiled chicken, brown rice and some nutritious vegetables such as sweet potatoes, spinach and carrots can do him the world of good. Schnauzers are also prone to pancreatis so you want to avoid giving him food that is high in fat.

Exercise:

Toy Schnauzers love an active lifestyle. They don't like sitting around inactive for too long.

Your Toy Schnauzer can adapt to life in the country or the city but he will certainly need to be well exercised. Walking your dog each day will be essential as will ball games and just generally giving your pet some of your attention,

●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.

Comparison with other breeds

  1. Toy Schnauzer vs Yorkshire Terrier - Breed Comparison
  2. Toy Schnauzer vs Chihuahua - Breed Comparison
  3. Toy Schnauzer vs Morkie - Breed Comparison
  4. Toy Schnauzer vs Havanese - Breed Comparison
  5. Toy Schnauzer vs Chorkie - Breed Comparison
  6. Toy Schnauzer vs Pekingese - Breed Comparison
  7. Toy Schnauzer vs Chinese Crested Dog - Breed Comparison
  8. Toy Schnauzer vs Chiweenie - Breed Comparison
  9. Toy Schnauzer vs Chug - Breed Comparison
  10. Toy Schnauzer vs Affenpinscher - Breed Comparison
  11. Toy Schnauzer vs Brussels Griffon - Breed Comparison
  12. Toy Schnauzer vs Chipoo - Breed Comparison
  13. Toy Schnauzer vs Chiapom - Breed Comparison
  14. Toy Schnauzer vs English Toy Terrier (Black & Tan) - Breed Comparison
  15. Toy Schnauzer vs Long Haired Chihuahua - Breed Comparison
  16. Toy Schnauzer vs Bichon Bolognese - Breed Comparison
  17. Toy Schnauzer vs Russian Toy Terrier - Breed Comparison
  18. Toy Schnauzer vs Franzuskaya Bolonka - Breed Comparison
  19. Toy Schnauzer vs Phalene - Breed Comparison
  20. Toy Schnauzer vs Bugg - Breed Comparison
  21. Toy Schnauzer vs Cockachon - Breed Comparison
  22. Toy Schnauzer vs Shih Tzu - Breed Comparison
  23. Toy Schnauzer vs Silky Terrier - Breed Comparison
  24. Toy Schnauzer vs Snorkie - Breed Comparison
  25. Toy Schnauzer vs Toy Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  26. Silky Terrier vs Yorkshire Terrier - Breed Comparison
  27. Silky Terrier vs Chihuahua - Breed Comparison
  28. Silky Terrier vs Morkie - Breed Comparison
  29. Silky Terrier vs Havanese - Breed Comparison
  30. Silky Terrier vs Chorkie - Breed Comparison
  31. Silky Terrier vs Pekingese - Breed Comparison
  32. Silky Terrier vs Chinese Crested Dog - Breed Comparison
  33. Silky Terrier vs Chiweenie - Breed Comparison
  34. Silky Terrier vs Chug - Breed Comparison
  35. Silky Terrier vs Affenpinscher - Breed Comparison
  36. Silky Terrier vs Brussels Griffon - Breed Comparison
  37. Silky Terrier vs Chipoo - Breed Comparison
  38. Silky Terrier vs Chiapom - Breed Comparison
  39. Silky Terrier vs English Toy Terrier (Black & Tan) - Breed Comparison
  40. Silky Terrier vs Long Haired Chihuahua - Breed Comparison
  41. Silky Terrier vs Bichon Bolognese - Breed Comparison
  42. Silky Terrier vs Russian Toy Terrier - Breed Comparison
  43. Silky Terrier vs Franzuskaya Bolonka - Breed Comparison
  44. Silky Terrier vs Phalene - Breed Comparison
  45. Silky Terrier vs Bugg - Breed Comparison
  46. Silky Terrier vs Cockachon - Breed Comparison
  47. Silky Terrier vs Shih Tzu - Breed Comparison
  48. Snorkie vs Silky Terrier - Breed Comparison
  49. Toy Bulldog vs Silky Terrier - Breed Comparison
  50. Toy Mi-Ki vs Silky Terrier - Breed Comparison

View/Compare Breeds

Popular Dog Breeds