Australian Silky Terrier vs Ariegeois - Breed Comparison

The Ariegeois is a fairly new breed, believed to have originated in France in 1912. As a scent hound, it is a blend of 3 French scent hounds - Grand Gascon-Saintongeois, Grand bleu de Gascon and the Briquet.

Just to show you how ancient these breeds are, the Grand bleu were thought to have been brought to France by an ancient civilization, the Phoenicians, who traded wares and dogs. The Briquet is native to southern France but they have been used as hunting dogs as far back as pre-Roman times.

As the breeds mixed, the Ariegeois came about. A popular pack dog emerged with an excellent sense of smell that would stand the dog in good stead for hunting. Today, while still fairly uncommon beyond French borders, the dog is highly regarded for its extraordinary hunting abilities and his loyal, affectionate nature towards his human companions.

Many toy breeds have been bred for centuries and were kept as lap dogs and companion dogs. Known at first as ‘The Sydney Silk’ the Australian Silky Terrier originated in Australia, but before the 2nd World War, the Australian SilkyTerrier was all but unknown outside Australia.

The toy breed came about by crossing the Yorkshire Terrier and the Australian Terrier, but further crossings contributed to the silky coat and the small size we are familiar with today. Despite this little dog being classified in the Toy Group, this spunky dog has the ability to hunt and kill rodents.

Victorian and Tasmanian breeders claimed to be originators of the breed, so the official name, Australian Silky Terrier, was adopted in 1956. Since recognition by the American Kennel Club in 1955, the breed has enjoyed a solid build up of fans.

The amicable-looking medium-sized Ariegeois dog, also known as the Ariege Hound, has a lean, muscled body. This dog breed isn’t just suitable as as working breed, but his kind face tells you he has a good temperament and he makes for an affectionate family pet and friend as well.

The Kind Child’s Friend

The Ariegeois gets along well with children in the family. Gentle and patient, you want to teach your children to also be gentle, patient and kind around this affectionate canine. Early socialization and training, as with any dog breed, will be important for this energetic dog, and training will make him a wonderful family pet.

With their trim, athletic build, deep chest and slightly forward lean similar to that of a Pointer dog, the scenthound’s white coat with black markings is short and smooth.

One of the more noticeable features of the dog is his long ears which are lovely and soft to touch. With his dark brown, soulful eyes, his black nose and slightly curved tail, the Ariegeois has a deep, throaty bark.

Small but Spunky

This is a small breed with Loads of Spunk. The Silky terrier is somewhat longer than tall and height is around 23cm, with weight being about 4kg. He has an athletic build and although the bone structure is refined, the small dog has amazing strength and durability with a keen, alert face. Small but sturdily built, the dark, almond-shaped eyes don’t miss a thing as do the small, erect v-shaped ears.

Full of fun and packed with character, the Silky Terrier isn’t your regular lap dog as he is bold, active, feisty and playful- always ready for action. He can be aggressive toward strange pets but becomes amicable with other pets in the home. He is sharp and clever, and can be trained to be an absolute pleasure in the home and a playmate for children trained to be kind to animals.

They are loving and devoted to their human family and can be excellent watchdogs even though they can’t offer much protection.

The Coat – the most Distinctive Feature

Of course, the Silky Terrier gets his name from the sleek, silky coat that if allowed to grow, flows down from their backs to the floor. It is the dogs most distinctive feature. They come in several solid colors and mixes of colors too such as blue/tan, grey/blue and cream.

He’s Adaptable

The Silky is an adaptable dog and even though he is energetic and will needs daily physical and mental exercise, he can be a country or an apartment dog, but will require plenty of exercise and getting out and about.

Your wonderful Ariegeois wants to be your lifelong companion, and you can expect all the wonderful characteristics to be evident in this canine if you buy him from a reputable breeder. When you bring him home, make sure he has a warm, dry, comfortable sleeping area, and in exchange for this provision he will be your loyal, devoted friend.

Spayed or Neutered saves you from Unwanted Puppies

If you don’t intend your Ariegeois becoming a parent have your dog spayed or neutered by 6 months of age.

Intelligent and Trainable

Your Ariegeois is intelligent and easy to train and can be guaranteed to be your best friend and will be your loyal companion through thick and thin. In exchange for this priceless friendship, you need to be a responsible dog owner to ensure his health and happiness.

Caution with Small Children

Small in stature but with a strong personality, the Australian Silky Terrier is a keen, intelligent, active, energetic and spunky breed. He is affectionate and loyal towards his human family, and although good with older children and other pets, he may not get on too well with small children and their erratic movements.

Training Required for his Wilful Nature

Don’t leave him alone for too long as he becomes anxious and destructive. He is an active dog too and while he will adapt to apartment living, he will need exercise and games to keep him active, fit, stimulated and healthy. Your Silky is an intelligent dog but he is stubborn too and proper socialization and training will be important for Silky Terriers, as then he becomes quite sociable.

A firm but gentle hand will be needed to train this wilful little dog, but when you show him who’s boss, he becomes your devoted and loyal friend.

There are a number of illnesses that are common to all dog breeds. Some of the more common dog illnesses are -

• ear infection, arthritis, kennel cough and diarrhea, obesity, cancer and dental problems
• fleas, ticks and parasites
• canine distemper
• canine parvovirus
• lyme disease
• rabies

No Standard Health Problems – Get Puppy Vaccinations

There are no specific health problems linked to the Ariegeois Dog but he will still need to get his regular puppy vaccinations -

• 6 – 8 weeks Distemper, para-influenza and measles
• 10 – 12 weeks DHPP – distemper, hepatitis, parainfluenza and parvovirus
• 12 – 24 weeks Rabies
• 14 – 16 weeks DHPP
• 12 – 16 months Rabies, DHPP
• every 1 – 2 years DHPP
• every 1 – 3 years Rabies

Some Ailments to Look out For

The Australian Silky Terrier is generally healthy and he has a lifespan of 11 – 14 years. However he may suffer from some problems such as Legg-Perthes disease. This means degeneration of the head on the femur bone of the dog's hind leg, resulting is osteoarthritis. This ailment is commonly seen in miniature-, small and toy breeds and can result in lameness and pain.

Silky Terriers are also prone to certain eye disorders, including PRA or Progressive Retinal Atrophy as well as cataracts. PRA can lead to total blindness.

Vaccinating your Pet – what’s required?

Getting the right puppy shots and vaccinations is also part of good health care for your Silky and you can speak to your vet about what injections are due at 6 – 8 weeks of age and what booster vaccinations may be necessary.

The Ariegeois is a relatively low maintenance dog and his short coat will require a good brush at least once a week. You don’t have to bath him often as this strips natural oils away that make his coat shiny and glossy. Check those long ears and make sure that no leaves, grass and dirt are lodged deep within the ears.

Feeding

There are thousands of options for dog foods and the first step is to chat to your veterinarian about the best food for your to meet his nutritional needs during each stage of his life. It is difficult to determine diet quality for you dog from the label.

Wet or dry dog food, it is important to have high quality ingredients from a dog food manufacturing company that has the expertise to produce dog food that meets your pet’s nutritional needs. Protein is highly important for your pet and many dog owners make their own dog food. Raw meat is imperative for the health of your dog, but before switching to a raw diet, chat to your veterinarian. Do research on different brands - there are good and bad brands and your pet needs to be protected from false claims. Always make sure your pet has access to fresh, cool, clean drinking water.

Exercise

Your Ariegeois will need some exercise if you want him to maintain his lean, muscular shape. In order for him to stay in shape and to avoid boredom, take him on walks, throw a ball for him, and your reward will be his bright eyes and wagging tail.

Regular Brushing of the Silky Hair

The long, straight coat of the Silky will need a fair amount of brushing each day. This dog is considered a hypoallergenic breed, and although he doesn’t shed a lot, the length of the hair will require regular brushing to get rid of loose hairs but also ensure there is no tangling of the hair. If the hair of the dog is kept long, he may require a bath every now and then to keep his hair silky and clean and to get rid of dirt build-up.

Nutrition and Diet

A healthy, nutritional diet is important for keeping your canine friend healthy and free from disease and unhealthy skin. To stay health your pet will require correct amounts of vitamins and minerals.

Dog food companies make different types of dog food such as dry, semi-moist, and moist and these are available for dogs of different ages, activity levels and stage of life. Speak to your vet about selecting a dog food that is right for your Australian Silky Terrier and always ensure a bowl of fresh water is available to him.