Silkie — breed guide
The teddy bear of the coop and the babysitter of everyone else’s eggs.
At a glance
- Group
- bantam
- Size
- Toy
- Weight
- 0.9–1.4 kg (2–3 lb)
- Life span
- 7–9 years
- Coat
- Fur-like feathers without barbicels — they cannot fly
Living with a Silkie
- Low energy — happy with gentle daily exercise.
- Regular grooming — brushing a few times a week.
- Light shedding.
- Trainable with consistency.
- Quiet.
- Good with children.
- Not always easy with other dogs — introduce carefully.
- Can live with a cat, with a slow introduction and an escape route for the cat.
- Not well suited to a flat — space, exercise need or voice works against it.
- A reasonable choice for a first-time owner.
- Average heat tolerance.
- Average cold tolerance.
Temperament
Docile · Broody · Lap-chicken
Health to watch
- Marek’s disease
- Scaly leg mites
Owner-logged information shared via Leash Life is not veterinary advice; ask your vet about screening for these.
Did you know
Silkies have black skin, black bones and five toes instead of four.
Questions people ask
Is a Silkie good with kids?
Generally yes. Silkies are usually good with children when raised with them and given their own quiet space.
Is a Silkie good with cats?
It can work, with management. Introduce them gradually, feed them apart, and make sure the cat has vertical space the dog cannot reach. Plan to manage it rather than assume it.
How much exercise does a Silkie need?
A gentle daily walk.
Can a Silkie handle hot weather?
About average — use normal hot-day sense.
Leash Life keeps a Silkie's day — walks, meals, meds, weight — in one shared feed for the whole household, and warns on the walk weather this breed can't take. Free to start.