Canis Panther vs Australian Silky Terrier - Breed Comparison

The Canis Panther is a strong, muscled dog who has been developed in the USA in the 1970s by Scorpio Jones, Michael Stratten, and Lucas Lopez. They mixed the Doberman Pinscher, the Great Dane the Labrador Retriever and the American Staffordshire Bull Terrier.

This dog hasn’t got a long history, having only been established in the 1970's, but the breeders wanted a dog much like the Doberman but somewhat larger and stronger. It is a dog breed which is still fairly unknown in the United States and elsewhere.

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 Canis Panther is a large dog measuring roughly 68 – 77 cm in height and weighing around 50 to 63 kg. He has a deep chest and strong neck. The coat is short and dense and it is is essentially a solid color - fawn, grey, blue, chocolate or black.

He looks magnificent with his cropped ears and short docked tail. Unfortunately with regulations surrounding the docking of dog’s tails, the dog these days is often left with a long tail.

He is an intelligent, territorial dog and makes an excellent watchdog. He is a dog which can be easily trained and socialized and then he makes a great family dog. He is loving and loyal to his human family, being somewhat aloof with strangers. His gets along well with children in the home as well as with other pets.

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.

The Canis Panther is a loving dog in spite of his large, guard-dog looks. He is intelligent, bold and courageous, and when trained and socialized is a devoted, loyal, loving pet.

He is known for his high intelligence and becomes so attached to his human family he will fight to the death for them if needs be. He is a territorial dog and won’t welcome strangers to his door.

The Canis Panther puppy is outgoing and playful, loving the company of kids in the family.He requires a firm owner who can see to it that he gets in a good quota of exercise. He is an energetic dog and if he isn’t given enough exercise he can become destructive and aggressive through no fault of his own but because of an irresponsible owner.

The Canis Panther is a large dog but given love and proper care he becomes the most awesome, strong devoted pet and protector.

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.

The Canis Panther breed is not known to have any particular illness and he can live to be 10, 11 or 12 years of age. However, like every other dog, there are some more common dog illnesses that you will need to be aware of and which are seen more commonly in larger dog breeds, some of which are -

Bone Cancer

Larger breeds can be prone to bone cancer, known as Osteosarcoma and found more often in the limbs. Dogs develop swelling in the affected part of the limb and the bones can break easily. If you notice swelling or limping, see that you get your pet to the vet.

Lymphoma

This is another kind of cancer which affects the Lymphocytes, a type of white blood cell. Dogs with Lymphoma may have an enlarged lymph node under the chin and neck for instance or the swelling could be in the groin area. Get your dog to the vet so as to have the lump biopsied.

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.

With his short coat, the Canis Panther is looked upon as a low mainenance dog. You’ll need to brush his hair at least twice a week though to remove loose hairs and keep the coat shiny.

Dental Care

Brush your pet’s teeth at least 2 or 3 times a week. You get special toothpaste and toothbrush for dogs and your vet can guide you on how to use them. If you don’t attend to your pet's teeth, he can experience tartar build up. This can lead to gum disease and tooth loss. Not only that, bad teeth can affect other parts of the body too.

Exercise

This breed comes from several large dog breeds and as a big dog, he is certainly going to need a good deal of exercise. He’ll need a walk every day or perhaps frisbee games in the park where he is made to run.

Any dog requires exercise, and especially a magnificent dog like this one. You want to make sure you maintain those lean, muscled limbs by ensuring he gets his fair share of exercise.

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.