St. John's Water Dog vs Australian Silky Terrier - Breed Comparison

St. John's Water Dog vs Australian Silky Terrier - Breed ComparisonSt. John's Water Dog is originated from Canada but Australian Silky Terrier is originated from Australia. St. John's Water Dog may grow 27 cm / 11 inches higher than Australian Silky Terrier. St. John's Water Dog may weigh 35 kg / 78 pounds more than Australian Silky Terrier. St. John's Water Dog may live 3 years less than Australian Silky Terrier. Both St. John's Water Dog and Australian Silky Terrier has almost same litter size. St. John's Water Dog requires Low maintenance. But Australian Silky Terrier requires Moderate maintenance

History

st john s water dog - historyThe breed known as the St. John’s water dog is an extinct landrace breed. They were domestic dogs found in Newfoundland and at times were called the lesser Newfoundland. There is not much information available about the other breeds that went into its development. Hypothetically it is believed they are a mix of the Irish, Old English and Portuguese dogs bred to work.

It is also thought that other breeds in their family tree, descending from them, include the Golden Retriever, the Flat-Coated Retriever, the Chesapeake Bay Retriever, the Labrador and the Curly-Coated Retriever. The Newfoundland is also related to the St. Johns Water Dog through the line of Rafeirio do Alenteios that Portuguese fisherman brought to the island.

The breed was exported to England in the 19th century and early 20th. There the breeds of retrievers were developed. In Canada during this time frame restrictions were placed on dog ownership in order to encourage people to raise sheep. At the same time England imposed a long quarantine on all animals coming into the country in order to get rid of rabies. These two factors contributed greatly to the extinction of the breed. It seems the last two dogs were seen in a remote area in the 1980’s. All attempts to save the breed failed.

australian silky terrier - historyMany 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.

Basic Information

Group:
Working dog
Toy dog
Origin:
Canada
Australia
Height Male:
48 - 53 cm
18 - 21 inches
23 - 26 cm
9 - 11 inches
Height Female:
47 - 52 cm
18 - 21 inches
20 - 25 cm
7 - 10 inches
Weight Male:
25 - 41 kg
55 - 91 pounds
4 - 6 kg
8 - 14 pounds
Weight Female:
16 - 35 kg
35 - 78 pounds
4 - 6 kg
8 - 14 pounds
Life Span:
10 - 12 Years
12 - 15 Years
Litter Size:
4 - 6
3 - 5
Size:
Large dog
Small dog
Other Names:
St. Johns Dog, Lesser Newfoundland, St. John’s Newfoundland
Silky Terrier, Sydney Silky
Colors Available:
black
blue/tan, grey/blue and cream.
Coat:
short, thick coats
long, straight and silky
Shedding:
Seasonal
Minimal
Temperament:
Intelligent, Loving, Responsive
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Energetic, Friendly, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Quiet, Responsive, Social, Stubborn, Sweet
Grooming:
Low maintenance
Moderate maintenance
Trainability:
Moderate
Moderate
Hypoallergenic:
No
Yes
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
Yes

Description

st john s water dog puppy - descriptionSt. John’s Water Dog is strong, medium sized and stocky. They looked more like English Labs than American Labs. They had a thick, short coat, loved swimming, had a lot of endurance and rudder tail. It was also described as a thin, black dog with short hair. They had white patches on their chest and feet. His nose was thin and tapered, his legs powerful, his chest muscular. The breed is quick, swims, runs quickly and is a fighter as well.

Never accepted by any major kennel club except as a foundation breed. They became extinct.

Small but Spunky

australian silky terrier puppy - descriptionThis 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.

Characteristics

Characteristics

1.Children friendliness - yes they are good with children.

2.Special talents swimming is their best talent

st john s water dog dog - characteristics3.Adaptability large need fence, they are not large dogs but they need outdoor space

4.Learning ability – very smart and eager to learn

Caution with Small Children

australian silky terrier dog - characteristicsSmall 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.

Health Problems

st john s water dog puppies - health problemsThere is no documented history of any genetic or hereditary illnesses in the breed. However, it seems rational to believe they suffered from ailments similar to Labradors and newfoundland though they are smaller dogs.

No history like Labs and Newfoundlands .

  • Hip and elbow dysplasia – can cause lameness and arthritis.
  • PRA – progressive retinal atrophy – can cause blindness.
  • Cancer – in their later years.
  • Infectious diseases – not as serious as prior to vaccinations.
  • Myopathy hereditary – affects the muscles.
  • Ear infections.

-

Some Ailments to Look out For

australian silky terrier puppies - health problemsThe 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.

Caring The Pet

st john s water dog dogs - caring1Feeding the puppy – Don’t overfeed – they have a propensity toward obesity. Feed high quality, high protein 3 x a day.

2.Feeding the adult – Don’t overfeed. Feed a high quality, high protein 1-2 x a day.

3.Points for Good Health - stamina

4. Games and Exercises – They need space to run and they love to explore. They would also love to be near water where they could swim. Good at dock diving, field trials, flyball and frisbee.

Regular Brushing of the Silky Hair

australian silky terrier dogs - caringThe 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.

Comparison with other breeds

  1. St. John's Water Dog vs Siberian Husky - Breed Comparison
  2. St. John's Water Dog vs Rottweiler - Breed Comparison
  3. St. John's Water Dog vs Boxer - Breed Comparison
  4. St. John's Water Dog vs Akita - Breed Comparison
  5. St. John's Water Dog vs Doberman Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  6. St. John's Water Dog vs Samoyed - Breed Comparison
  7. St. John's Water Dog vs Alaskan Malamute - Breed Comparison
  8. St. John's Water Dog vs Bullmastiff - Breed Comparison
  9. St. John's Water Dog vs Great Pyrenees - Breed Comparison
  10. St. John's Water Dog vs Boerboel - Breed Comparison
  11. St. John's Water Dog vs Presa Canario - Breed Comparison
  12. St. John's Water Dog vs Alapaha Blue Blood Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  13. St. John's Water Dog vs Labrador Husky - Breed Comparison
  14. St. John's Water Dog vs Argentine Dogo - Breed Comparison
  15. St. John's Water Dog vs Giant Schnauzer - Breed Comparison
  16. St. John's Water Dog vs Africanis - Breed Comparison
  17. St. John's Water Dog vs Belgian Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  18. St. John's Water Dog vs Goldador - Breed Comparison
  19. St. John's Water Dog vs Bandog - Breed Comparison
  20. St. John's Water Dog vs Belgian Shepherd Dog (Groenendael) - Breed Comparison
  21. St. John's Water Dog vs Dogo Cubano - Breed Comparison
  22. St. John's Water Dog vs Dogo Sardesco - Breed Comparison
  23. St. John's Water Dog vs Beauceron - Breed Comparison
  24. St. John's Water Dog vs Central Asian Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  25. St. John's Water Dog vs Mackenzie River Husky - Breed Comparison
  26. Pomeranian vs Australian Silky Terrier - Breed Comparison
  27. Maltese vs Australian Silky Terrier - Breed Comparison
  28. Pug vs Australian Silky Terrier - Breed Comparison
  29. Maltipoo vs Australian Silky Terrier - Breed Comparison
  30. Cavalier King Charles Spaniel vs Australian Silky Terrier - Breed Comparison
  31. Cockapoo vs Australian Silky Terrier - Breed Comparison
  32. Cavapoo vs Australian Silky Terrier - Breed Comparison
  33. Cavachon vs Australian Silky Terrier - Breed Comparison
  34. Papillon vs Australian Silky Terrier - Breed Comparison
  35. Japanese Chin vs Australian Silky Terrier - Breed Comparison
  36. Miniature English Bulldog vs Australian Silky Terrier - Breed Comparison
  37. Bolognese vs Australian Silky Terrier - Breed Comparison
  38. Italian Greyhound vs Australian Silky Terrier - Breed Comparison
  39. Jug vs Australian Silky Terrier - Breed Comparison
  40. Miniature Pinscher vs Australian Silky Terrier - Breed Comparison
  41. Dorgi vs Australian Silky Terrier - Breed Comparison
  42. Belgian Griffon vs Australian Silky Terrier - Breed Comparison
  43. Carlin Pinscher vs Australian Silky Terrier - Breed Comparison
  44. Dorkie vs Australian Silky Terrier - Breed Comparison
  45. German Spitz (Klein) vs Australian Silky Terrier - Breed Comparison
  46. Doxiepoo vs Australian Silky Terrier - Breed Comparison
  47. Bospin vs Australian Silky Terrier - Breed Comparison
  48. Bantam Bulldog vs Australian Silky Terrier - Breed Comparison
  49. Damchi vs Australian Silky Terrier - Breed Comparison
  50. Lowchen vs Australian Silky Terrier - Breed Comparison

View/Compare Breeds

Popular Dog Breeds