Silky Terrier Puppies: Adopt or Buy in Australia?

Should you adopt or buy a Silky Terrier?

Start with the dog, not the route. The Dogs Australia breed standard places the Australian Silky Terrier in Group 1 (Toys) but describes a dog of “sufficient substance to suggest the ability to hunt and kill domestic rodents” that should display terrier characteristics, “embodying keen alertness, activity and soundness.” Dogs Victoria puts it plainly: not your typical lap dog, but an animated dynamo, curious and high spirited.

Either route can work. A registered breeder who knows the parents' health gives you the best odds with a puppy. A rescue gives you an adult whose voice, energy and manners are already known. The route to avoid is a cheap online ad for a “Silky” with no information about the parents.

Reference only, not quotes. The RSPCA fees were read on the pages named below on 11 November 2026; fees change, so check with them.

Where does the Silky Terrier come from?

From Australia. Dogs Australia's breed page says the breed's development was never chronicled accurately, that early British terrier types brought by settlers were behind it, and that the Yorkshire Terrier is thought to be among its ancestors. It says the first Silky Terrier Club in NSW was formed in 1906, that Sydney breeders had their own standard and called the breed the Sydney Silky, and that in 1959 representatives from NSW and Victoria agreed a national standard, after which it was known as the Australian Silky Terrier.

The Australian Silky Terrier Club of Victoria's history adds detail: the Yorkshire Terrier was introduced into the breeding program, first to develop the blue and tan colour and later to improve the texture and length of the coat of the soft-coated Australian Terrier; in 1934 the Kennel Control Council introduced regulations that essentially prohibited cross breeding between the Silky, Yorkshire and Australian Terriers; the breed was officially recognised as the Australian Silky Terrier in the June 1956 edition of the KCC Gazette; and in 1959 the newly formed Australian National Kennel Council accepted the standard and the breed name.

Today's standard (last updated 22 May 2009) asks for:

So a Silky is not a large Yorkie or a long-coated Australian Terrier: it has its own standard, and an adult coat that should not sweep the floor.

What health questions should you ask a breeder?

Kneecaps and eyes, mainly. Dogs Australia calls the Silky a strong, healthy breed with few health problems that can live for up to 15 years or more, and says that like most breeds it may develop arthritis or cataracts in old age. Dogs Victoria says the breed is generally healthy but that health conditions do occur occasionally, and that in the past there have been instances of:

Sources: Dogs Victoria and Dogs Australia, read 11 November 2026. Dogs Victoria words these as past instances, not as common problems. This is a buying checklist, not veterinary advice. Our Silky Terrier health guide covers knees, windpipe and teeth in more depth.

Is the Silky good for allergies?

Not reliably. Dogs Australia describes the coat as non shedding and therefore low allergenic, but the Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy says up to half of people allergic to animals do not get symptoms straight away, so a short visit is a weak test. Spend real time with the specific dog. Our guide to hypoallergenic dogs in Australia explains why no breed is a guarantee.

How much is a Silky Terrier puppy from a registered breeder?

We could not find a current published price. In November 2026 we read the own websites of Silky Terrier breeders that show Dogs Australia membership through a state body, leaving out listing and marketplace sites. None of them published a current price: some sites had no price, and some had not been updated in years. We also found no club price guide that we could show is current, and prices on listing sites are not something we quote. So ask several registered breeders what they charge.

Reference only, not a quote. Breeders set their own prices and change them, so ask each one what the price is and what it includes, and check with them before you commit.

Registered Silky puppies are scarce. Dogs Australia's registration figures show 100 Australian Silky Terriers registered in 2025, against 180 in 2018. These are registrations, not litters, but they suggest registered puppies are not easy to find. The Victorian club says it keeps a database of available puppies for referral, which is a better starting point than a classified ad. Budget for what comes after, too: the dog cost calculator gives a first-year figure, and regular grooming is a cost to plan for.

What do Silky Terriers in rescue look like?

Mostly adults, plus Silky crosses, and sometimes a dog whose coat has been clipped short because it came in matted. Silkies come into rescue for the same reasons as other dogs, such as a move or an owner who can no longer manage, and sometimes because the barking, energy or grooming was more than the household expected. Small blue and tan terriers are easy to mislabel, so a rescue's breed label is a best guess; read its notes on the individual dog.

Adopting lets you ask how the dog goes with children, cats and other dogs, how it copes alone and how it tolerates grooming, before you sign anything. Our Silky Terrier adoption guide for Sydney covers the local side, and the grooming guide covers detangling a rescue Silky.

What does a rescue Silky cost?

Reference only, not a quote. These are the fees each rescue published on the date shown; fees change and some dogs are priced individually, so check with the rescue. Read our guide to adopting a dog in Australia.

If no Silky is listed near you, browse small dogs as well: Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide.

How do Silky Terrier puppy scams work?

Scamwatch warns that scammers set up fake websites, social media profiles and marketplace listings for pets that do not exist, and that a very cheap pet is likely a scam. Dogs Victoria's puppy scam fact sheet adds that fake ads may display microchip, source or membership numbers lifted from legitimate breeders. The Victorian Silky club warns about ads offering toy dogs for free, just pay transport. What to watch for with a Silky:

• Free or very cheap toy dogs. The club says that a very low price usually means something is very wrong or it is a scam, unless the seller is a registered breeder.
• Colours outside the standard. The standard says silver and white are not acceptable. A black and tan puppy is normal; the blue comes in by 18 months.
• Borrowed numbers. A real breeder's membership or source number in an ad proves nothing on its own. Contact the breeder through Dogs Australia or the state body, not the ad.
• A cross sold as a Silky. A Yorkie or Silky cross can be a lovely dog, but it should be sold, and priced, as one. Ask which body issued the papers.

Our guide to puppies for sale in Australia has the state-by-state table of breeder numbers, how to check each one, and what to do if you have already paid.

When is a registered breeder the better choice?

Rescue is not right for everyone. A registered breeder is a reasonable choice if you want a puppy and are prepared to wait, if you want to show or do dog sports from puppyhood, or if you have watched the rescue listings for months and no adult has suited your home. Check these before you pay:

1. Registration. Ask for the breeder's prefix and membership number and check them with Dogs Australia or the state body. It confirms membership, not puppy quality.
2. Kneecaps checked by a vet in both parents.
3. Eyes: any eye examination or DNA results for the parents.
4. The mother and where the puppies are raised, before any deposit.
5. A written contract covering health problems, register type, desexing and whether the breeder will take the dog back.

Is a Silky Terrier the right dog for you?

The appeal is real: Dogs Australia describes a dog that is full of life but also happy to sit quietly with its family, is extremely loyal, and typically responds well to training, and says Silkies don't need a huge amount of exercise and can suit apartment living. Be honest about three things before you apply. Energy: Dogs Victoria says Silkies keep a never-grow-up attitude and need to be kept busy. Voice: an alert little watchdog will tell you about visitors. Coat: regular bathing, brushing and combing, plus teeth brushed once or twice a week and nails trimmed.

Not sure it fits? Try the what dog breed am I quiz and the adoption readiness check, and read our guide to apartment dogs in Australia.

Find a Silky Terrier near you

Australian Silky Terriers and Silky crosses listed by rescues, by city:

• Silky Terriers for adoption in Sydney
• Silky Terriers for adoption in Melbourne
• Silky Terriers for adoption in Brisbane
• Silky Terriers for adoption in Perth
• Silky Terriers for adoption in Adelaide

Local guides to adopting a Silky, with the rescues that serve each city: Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, Gold Coast.

More adopt-or-buy guides: Australian Terrier, Tenterfield Terrier, Yorkshire Terrier, Cairn Terrier, Border Terrier, Havanese.