When Yorkshire Terriers were brought to Australia in the 19th century, many were bred with local Australian Terriers. Some of their offspring looked like Yorkies, and some looked like Australian Terriers, but others looked like the Silky Terrier we know today. In 1906, Australian fanciers developed a breed standard for the dogs they called the Sydney Silky Terrier, but in 1909, another standard was drawn up elsewhere, this one in Victoria. The two standards didn’t quite match, but compromise was reached on the preferred weight and ear type, and a new breed standard came out in 1926. In 1955, the became known the Australian Silky Terrier (still the official name for the breed in Australia), but in the U.S., it was changed to Silky Terrier.
All that said, a few folks struggle to tell the two breeds apart, particularly if they’re not standing next to each other. Generally speaking (very generally):
Silkies are bigger than Yorkies. Their backs are longer, their heads are bigger, and their bodies are heavier. All bets are off if the Yorkie in question is an oversized dog falling outside the breed standard, but generally speaking, they’re just the bigger dog of the two. A Yorkie is smaller, more finely built, and has less muscle mass than a Silky.
A Silky Terrier has erect, V shaped ears set high on their head. Yorkies also have an erect, V shaped ear, but their’s are turned outwards slightly.
Both breeds have docked tails (where allowed), but the Yorkie carries her tail slightly higher than the level of her back, while the Silky carried her tail high and at a “twelve to two o’clock” position.
Both breed standards call for a glossy, silky textured coat, but the Yorkie’s standard adds the word, “fine” to its coat description, while the Silky’s is straight an single, and should never approach the floor, which the Yorkie’s coat may.
The Silky’s eyes are more almond-shaped than the Yorkie’s, and there’s the matter of color. A Silky has 13 acceptable colors: Black, blue, blue and tan, blue silver and tan, cream, fawn, gray, gray and tan, platinum, silver, silver and tan, and silver black and tan. The Yorkshire Terrier has but four: black and gold, black and tan, blue and gold, and blue and tan.
And finally, when all else fails and one is looking at a show dog, a Yorkie wears a bow, a Silky does not.
Having read this, can you now tell which dog in the image above is the Silky, and which is the Yorkie?
Image found on Pinterest and happily credited upon receipt of information.
This is Pawpaul. He was bought as a Yorkie (and I adopted him at 1 yr) but some have suggested he is a silky terrier mostly because he is larger than average at about 11lbs. His coat is slightly wavy.
What do you think?
Chad, we showed your picture to experienced dog people and asked, “Silky or Yorkie?” By and large, most felt that you have a Silky Terrier. An actual Silky Terrier breeder commented, “The head from this angle looks like a Silky, but it’s so hard to tell with these two breeds. Usually use length of muzzle and big indication is temperment. Silkys are more terrier in actions and in confidence…”
Did you papers when you acquired Pawpaul?
He Looks like my Pete Rose which I was given to me because the two brothers fought. He was five at the time. He was smart and had a good disposition. Loved him so much!
You have a Yorkie , not silky . I have a Yorkie and silky terrier ….that’s a Yorkie
He looks like a handsome silky boy to me.Ive had both.The hair texture is different.My yorkie didn’t have to be brushed daily.He has was a little thicker.My silky hair has to be brushed daily.It is thin and fine and gets matted easier.Now days most people just call both breeds yorkie.My yorkie was 15 lbs and 100%.I like the big ones.My silky not sure why but she is only 4 lbs but her mom was 9lbs.If you have a Facebook join More To Love Yorkies(it’s for yorkie owner whose dog is 8lbs and up).Their is one in the group that’s 22 lbs
Forgot to say they were bred to hunt out rabbits in Australia. Bigger and more muscle than the smaller Yorkie. Mine was 12 pounds and I wish I had a pic. What a sweet boy! (RIP sweet PeteyRose!)
What about him? Silky or yorkie?
Is this a test, Jess, or are you really wondering?
I believe that is a yorkie the face is way different that mine. I have a silky
I love Silky Terrier, my Choupy !
He’s darling, and we see s/he has a “hip” Asian fusion haircut!!
My dad got a purebred Yorkie with papers but he is 16 lbs and not overweight for his frame. Is he a giant Yorkie or a giant Silky?
If the papers (are they AKC?) indicate that your dad’s dog is a Yorkshire Terrier, he is a really big Yorkie. The AKC standard indicates that a Yorkie shouldn’t exceed seven pounds.