Silky Terrier vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison

Silky Terrier vs Labrador Retriever - Breed ComparisonSilky Terrier is originated from Australia but Labrador Retriever is originated from Canada. Silky Terrier may grow 36 cm / 14 inches shorter than Labrador Retriever. Silky Terrier may weigh 31 kg / 68 pounds lesser than Labrador Retriever. Both Silky Terrier and Labrador Retriever has almost same life span. Silky Terrier may have less litter size than Labrador Retriever. Silky Terrier requires Moderate maintenance. But Labrador Retriever requires Low maintenance

History

silky terrier - historyIt 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.

labrador retriever - historyThe Labrador Retriever has its origin from Newfoundland which is an island.Dorset Eskimos are the people who settled down first in Newfoundland. Newfoundland was discovered in 1494 by the Bristol traders from England. The people in the Newfoundland used Lab to help them during fishing.They were recognized as a kennel club breed in England.

The Lab has its special talents in fishing, it nicely holds the fish in its mouth and swims well to bring it to the fisherman who was its master. They are also used to hunt game birds and waterfowl.

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.

labrador retriever puppy - descriptionLab is a nice companion and also it helps in doing several works if it is trained. Lab is the America's most popular breed. They help the hunters, works with police and also serves physically challenged people. They are very friendly and it helps people so much by doing many works. They have very good sensitivity and are so affectionate with family members.

They have very high energy level in their young stage. The Lab is a muscular and athletic dog. They are sweet natured and well deserved. Lab needs physical and mental activities regularly as they are very intelligent and energetic. The pure bred Labs have black, chocolate and yellow colours. They are very interested in hunting and roaming. The young Lab should be given training to swim as a child, as they likes it very much. They takes more time to mature hence remaining as teenager for a long time when compared with other breeds.

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.

Adaptability

labrador retriever dog - characteristicsThe Lab has a very good adaptability, it will get adjusted with its environment.

Learning ability

Lab has a good learning ability and it can learn upto 300 human phrases. They are the 7th most intelligent dog breed.

Children friendliness

They are very much interested in playing with kids and are a very good companion for them.

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.

labrador retriever puppies - health problemsMalformation of hips, knees and elbow, Chances for Cancer.

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.

Feeding the puppy

labrador retriever dogs - caringThe 2 month old puppy should be given 200 to 250gms of food. 3 month old puppy should be given 250 to 300gms of food and 6 months older should be given 350 to 450gms. The varieties of food which are popular is kibbles, Barf, wet food and Home cooked puppy food.

Feeding the adult

Lab can be fed by dry kibbles and also by raw meat or bones. Now-a-days most of the Lab are being fed with kibbles. Kibbles are the dried pellets of dog food that can be bought in pet shop or even online. Raw meat and bones are very much popular food among dog owners in UK.

Points for Good Health

For good health, Lab should be fed by a diet controlled food. Because overfeeding will lead to overweight of the dog as it causes weakness of bones.

Games and Exercises

Lab is a very energetic dog, so it should be given some time to play daily. It will be very happy if it is given a fenced ground to play and burn off his natural energy. Also it will be very good for lab if it is given chance to swim weekly once.

Basic Information

Group:
Toy dog
Sporting dog
Origin:
Australia
Canada
Height Male:
21 - 26 cm
8 - 11 inches
57 - 62 cm
22 - 25 inches
Height Female:
21 - 26 cm
8 - 11 inches
55 - 60 cm
21 - 24 inches
Weight Male:
4 - 5 kg
8 - 12 pounds
29 - 36 kg
63 - 80 pounds
Weight Female:
4 - 5 kg
8 - 12 pounds
25 - 32 kg
55 - 71 pounds
Life Span:
11 - 14 Years
10 - 13 Years
Litter Size:
3 - 5
5 - 10
Size:
Toy dog
Large dog
Other Names:
Silky Toy Terrier, Australian Silky Terrier
Labrador, St.John's water dog, St.John's dog, Newfoundland dog
Colors Available:
Tan and silvery grey
Black, Chocolate and yellow
Coat:
Long, straight and silky
weather-resistant undercoat, short, thick, straight topcoat and a soft
Shedding:
Moderate
Moderate, Seasonal
Temperament:
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Quiet, Responsive, Social, Sweet, Territorial
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Intelligent, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Responsive, Social
Grooming:
Moderate maintenance
Low maintenance
Trainability:
Moderate
Easy
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
Yes

Comparison with other breeds

  1. Silky Terrier vs Yorkshire Terrier - Breed Comparison
  2. Silky Terrier vs Chihuahua - Breed Comparison
  3. Silky Terrier vs Morkie - Breed Comparison
  4. Silky Terrier vs Havanese - Breed Comparison
  5. Silky Terrier vs Chorkie - Breed Comparison
  6. Silky Terrier vs Pekingese - Breed Comparison
  7. Silky Terrier vs Chinese Crested Dog - Breed Comparison
  8. Silky Terrier vs Chiweenie - Breed Comparison
  9. Silky Terrier vs Chug - Breed Comparison
  10. Silky Terrier vs Affenpinscher - Breed Comparison
  11. Silky Terrier vs Brussels Griffon - Breed Comparison
  12. Silky Terrier vs Chipoo - Breed Comparison
  13. Silky Terrier vs Chiapom - Breed Comparison
  14. Silky Terrier vs English Toy Terrier (Black & Tan) - Breed Comparison
  15. Silky Terrier vs Long Haired Chihuahua - Breed Comparison
  16. Silky Terrier vs Bichon Bolognese - Breed Comparison
  17. Silky Terrier vs Russian Toy Terrier - Breed Comparison
  18. Silky Terrier vs Franzuskaya Bolonka - Breed Comparison
  19. Silky Terrier vs Phalene - Breed Comparison
  20. Silky Terrier vs Bugg - Breed Comparison
  21. Silky Terrier vs Cockachon - Breed Comparison
  22. Silky Terrier vs Shih Tzu - Breed Comparison
  23. Snorkie vs Silky Terrier - Breed Comparison
  24. Toy Bulldog vs Silky Terrier - Breed Comparison
  25. Toy Mi-Ki vs Silky Terrier - Breed Comparison
  26. Chesapeake Bay Retriever vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison
  27. German Wirehaired Pointer vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison
  28. Bull Arab vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison
  29. Gordon Setter vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison
  30. Magyar Agar vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison
  31. Eurohound vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison
  32. Grand Anglo-Francais Blanc et Noir vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison
  33. Grand Anglo-Francais Blanc et Orange vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison
  34. Grand Anglo-Francais Tricolore vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison
  35. Tweed Water Spaniel vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison
  36. Siberian Husky vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison
  37. Rottweiler vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison
  38. American Bully vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison
  39. Boxer vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison
  40. Akita vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison
  41. Doberman Pinscher vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison
  42. Samoyed vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison
  43. Labradoodle vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison
  44. Cane Corso vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison
  45. Alaskan Malamute vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison
  46. Mixed vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison
  47. Bullmastiff vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison
  48. Labrador Retriever vs German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  49. Labrador Retriever vs Golden Retriever - Breed Comparison
  50. Dogue De Bordeaux vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison

View/Compare Breeds

Popular Dog Breeds