Wire Haired Fox Terrier vs Silky Terrier - Breed Comparison

Wire Haired Fox Terrier vs Silky Terrier - Breed ComparisonSilky Terrier is originated from Australia but Wire Haired Fox Terrier is originated from United Kingdom. Silky Terrier may grow 12 cm / 4 inches shorter than Wire Haired Fox Terrier. Both Silky Terrier and Wire Haired Fox Terrier are having almost same weight. Both Silky Terrier and Wire Haired Fox Terrier has same life span. Both Silky Terrier and Wire Haired Fox Terrier has almost same litter size. Both Silky Terrier and Wire Haired Fox Terrier requires Moderate Maintenance.

Basic Information

Group:
Toy dog
Terrier dog
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Australia
United Kingdom
Height Male:
21 - 26 cm
8 - 11 inches
33 - 38 cm
12 - 15 inches
Height Female:
21 - 26 cm
8 - 11 inches
33 - 38 cm
12 - 15 inches
Weight Male:
4 - 5 kg
8 - 12 pounds
6 - 9 kg
13 - 20 pounds
Weight Female:
4 - 5 kg
8 - 12 pounds
6 - 9 kg
13 - 20 pounds
Life Span:
11 - 14 Years
12 - 14 Years
Litter Size:
3 - 5
4 - 6
Size:
Toy
Medium
Other Names:
Silky Toy Terrier, Australian Silky Terrier
Wire Fox Terrier
Colors Available:
Tan and silvery grey
White, tan and black
Coat:
Long, straight and silky
Medium length, wiry
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, Courageous, Curious, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Quiet, Responsive, Social, Stubborn, Sweet, Territorial
Grooming:
Moderate Maintenance
Moderate Maintenance
Trainability:
Moderate
Easy
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
Yes

History

silky terrierIt 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.

wire haired fox terrierThe Wire Haired Fox Terrier originates in England, and it is thought that the dog developed from the white English Terrier being crossed with the Bull Terrier and maybe even the Beagle.

The hunting crowd wanted a dog that was small enough to disappear down a hole to flush out a fox.

Even though the Wire Haired Fox Terrier used to be a pet of Queen Victoria as well as King Edward VII, it only became popular as a family pet in the 1930s.

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.

wire haired fox terrier puppy - descriptionThe Wirehaired Fox Terrier is a medium-sized dog, standing at between 33 and 38cm in height and weighing between 6 and 9 kg.

The face is fairly long and he has semi-erect, semi-floppy ears and the high set tail is usually docked. The double coat is wiry, curly and coarse and is essentially white with tan or black markings. White is always the predominant color of the Wire Haired Fox Terrier.

Temperament:

This little dog is cheerful, cheeky, playful, feisty, lovable and full of the joys of life. He is also strong-willed and independent.

He makes a great playmate for kids and loves being in the company of his human family. He will get on well with other pets in the family too.

He is intelligent which means you can have him easily trained and socialized and the kids will love to teach him some tricks too. He is a high energy dog and will require a good dose of exercise.

He’ll become stressed and frustrated if he doesn't get the exercise he needs.

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.

wire haired fox terrier dog - characteristicsOne thing is for sure – when you bring a Wire Haired Fox Terrier into your home, you’re going to have a dog with endless energy. It is why they make such good pets when you’ve got kids in the house.

They like to please their owners and they respond well to training and socialization. They’re also brave and protective, making good watchdogs.

They’re loving, loyal and companionable, and there are plenty of stories about the loyalty of these dogs. Anyone who has had one of them as a pet will tell you what splendid dogs they are.

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.

wire haired fox terrier puppies - health problemsThese robust little dogs can succumb to any one of the many common dog illnesses there are -

Epilepsy:

The Wirehaired Foxy is a healthy dog, but it is thought that Epilepsy could be a problem with this breed. Your spunky dog may seem a little bit confused before he falls to the floor lying on his side and twitching like he’s having a bad dream.

This is brought on by uncontrolled bursts of electrical activity in the dog’s brain. The seizure can last for a minute or so but even so, whether it is a twitch or violent shuddering, it can leave you shocked and disturbed.

He can sometimes even urinate during the seizure. It is imperative to get your pet to the vet who will know precisely how it can be controlled.

Dental Problems:

Dental disease is also a common problem with dogs and unfortunately, your Wire Haired Fox Terrier also battles with this. The problem starts with tartar build-up on the teeth and then it can cause infection of the gums and roots of the teeth.

Left unattended to, your pet could lose his teeth, and it jeopardizes your pet’s health as well.

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.

wire haired fox terrier dogs - caringGroom your pet. Brush twice weekly. Wire Haired Fox Terrier owners like to hand their pets in at professional groomers to have their hair cut short and made more manageable. The hair is kept quite long around the muzzle.

Check inside the ears that there are no signs of infection.

Trim the nails.

Exercise your pet every day.

Provide your pet with the best food there is. Always buy high quality food that can contribute to your pet’s health and which is suitable for his size, age and activity levels. The Wire Haired Fox Terrier is inclined to be a greedy dog and with a dog like this weight gain can slowly increase and can become a health problem.

Spay or Neuter. This is an excellent idea for your pet if you don’t want puppies. Not only that, spaying or neutering actually decreases the likelihood of your pet getting some types of cancer.

Provide your pet with his own dry, warm, quiet sleep area.

Comparison with other breeds

  1. Wire Haired Fox Terrier vs English Bulldog - Breed Comparison
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  5. Wire Haired Fox Terrier vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  6. Wire Haired Fox Terrier vs French Bulldog - Breed Comparison
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  8. Wire Haired Fox Terrier vs Yorkshire Terrier - Breed Comparison
  9. Wire Haired Fox Terrier vs Poodle - Breed Comparison
  10. Wire Haired Fox Terrier vs Rottweiler - Breed Comparison
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  14. Wire Haired Fox Terrier vs Doberman Pinscher - Breed Comparison
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  23. Wire Haired Fox Terrier vs Africanis - Breed Comparison
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  26. Silky Terrier vs English Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  27. Silky Terrier vs German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  28. Silky Terrier vs Golden Retriever - Breed Comparison
  29. Silky Terrier vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison
  30. Silky Terrier vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  31. Silky Terrier vs French Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  32. Silky Terrier vs Beagle - Breed Comparison
  33. Silky Terrier vs Yorkshire Terrier - Breed Comparison
  34. Silky Terrier vs Poodle - Breed Comparison
  35. Silky Terrier vs Rottweiler - Breed Comparison
  36. Silky Terrier vs Boxer - Breed Comparison
  37. Silky Terrier vs English Pointer - Breed Comparison
  38. Silky Terrier vs Siberian Husky - Breed Comparison
  39. Silky Terrier vs Doberman Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  40. Silky Terrier vs American Bully - Breed Comparison
  41. Silky Terrier vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  42. Silky Terrier vs Affenpinscher - Breed Comparison
  43. Silky Terrier vs Afghan Hound - Breed Comparison
  44. Silky Terrier vs Aidi - Breed Comparison
  45. Silky Terrier vs Airedale Terrier - Breed Comparison
  46. Silky Terrier vs Akbash Dog - Breed Comparison
  47. Silky Terrier vs Akita - Breed Comparison
  48. Silky Terrier vs Africanis - Breed Comparison
  49. Silky Terrier vs Askal - Breed Comparison
  50. Silky Terrier vs Atlas Terrier - Breed Comparison