How long does a Silky Terrier live?

The listed lifespan for a Silky Terrier is 13–15 years.

How tall is a Silky Terrier?

The listed height for a Silky Terrier is 9–10 in.

Is a Silky Terrier good with children?

The AKC good-with-children score for a Silky Terrier is 3 out of 5.

When is a Silky Terrier full grown?

The growth size band for a Silky Terrier is 8–12 months.

Toy Group

Silky Terrier

Silky Terrier is a toy dog in the Toy Group. Adult weight is 10 lb, height is 9–10 in, and the listed lifespan is 13–15 years. AKC describes the temperament as Friendly, Quick, Keenly alert.

Last reviewed November 1, 2026.

Silky Terrier dog — Photo: Ofsilkysdream · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Lifespan13–15 years

Weight10 lb

SizeToy GroupToy Group

Height

9–10 in

Energy

3 / 5

Shedding

2 / 5

Grooming

3 / 5

Trainability

4 / 5

Good with kids

3 / 5

The breed record

Across 21 single-size toy breeds, a lifespan midpoint of 14 years is about the same as the 14.1-year average. A midpoint adult weight of 10 lb is about 1.6 lb heavier than the 8.4 lb average for those toy breeds.

The listed origin is Australia. The coat is described as silky, long. The AKC energy score is 3 out of 5, 0.3 points below the group average of 3.3 for the Toy Group. Shedding scores 2 out of 5, so loose hair is limited. Grooming scores 3 out of 5. Trainability scores 4 out of 5, which is a biddable score. Good with children scores 3 out of 5. Good with other dogs scores 3 out of 5. AKC ranked this breed number 116 in 2025.

Adult size is usually reached in 8–12 months (size-band statement (Salt et al. 2017): very small dogs reach maturity at 8-12 months). AKC parent-club recommended health screenings: No recommended health tests. These are screening tests, not a list of diseases the breed is guaranteed to develop.

Frequently asked