Silkese Dog Breed

The Silky Terrier x Maltese mix, as a crossbreed, is not an official member of any breed group--but bot the Silky Terrier and Maltese parent breeds are members of the Toy group in the AKC and other clubs, so the Silkese would certainly fit in that category. Neither does any info exist about these hybrids' specific origin; while a Silky Terrier mix with Maltese has probably existed naturally for a long time, no breeder or breed club has claimed its creation. The Maltese x Silky Terrier mix likely gained popularity during the designer dog "explosion" in North America in the late 20th century. Regardless, these lively, affectionate, confident little dogs will make great companion pets, and they're especially good for seniors or for those living in apartments.

A few facts about the Maltese-Silky Terrier cross: they're toy-sized, averaging nine inches at the shoulders in height and eight pounds in weight; they have long, silky coats that don't shed much, but will need a good bit of grooming; and they're highly energetic and will need consistent exercise.

Some advantages and drawbacks to owning Silkese dogs:

Some important Maltese-Silky Terrier mix info: these hybrids are the offspring of two well-known companion breeds--so it's no surprise that that the Silkese is likewise very friendly and outgoing. Physically, the Silkese is small and elegant: height at the shoulders is 8-10 inches, and weight is normally 6-9 pounds. Silkese coats, like their parent breeds, is long-haired and silky, and will need regular brushing and bathing to keep them soft and tangle-free. The coats come in a variety of colors, mostly in multi-colored patterns, that include white (inherited from the Maltese) mixed with black, tan, blue, and/or gray from the Silky Terrier.

Personality-wise, the Silkese is friendly, energetic, protective, very vocal, and at times fussy. This mixed breed will be very affectionate with family members, and will often be a "Velcro dog," attaching itself to the family member(s) who give it the most attention. Silkese normally get along great with kids and other pets (though their high prey drives mean they'll instinctively chase smaller pets like birds and rodents). They're also very smart, so they can learn commands and tasks pretty easily, and they have great watchdog skills (mainly because they'll bark at anything that moves!).

As toy-sized dogs, Silkese obviously aren't very strong, but they're incredibly lively. They'll need some exercise--a short walk or two, plus a dedicated period of play--on a daily basis.

The Silkese, due to hybrid vigor (in which a crossbred dog inherits the healthiest traits of its parent breeds), is very healthy. Even so, these hybrids can suffer ailments common to the parent breeds including patellar luxation, hypoglycemia (low blood sugar, a common condition in toy-sized breeds), various eye problems (the most serious of which is Progressive Retinal Atrophy, or PRA), and tracheal collapse (another common condition in toy breeds in which the windpipe flattens and causes breathing problems). Potential owners are advised to ask breeders for health screenings for the dog and/or its parents, or they can have their own veterinarians do the screenings).

Life expectancy for the Silkese is 12-15 years.