GENERAL APPEARANCE: This dog is compact, moderately low set,
of medium length with a refined structure but of sufficient substance to suggest
the ability to hunt and kill domestic rodents.
It should display terrier characteristics, embodying
keen alertness, activity and soundness.
The parted, straight silky hair presents a well-groomed appearance.

CHARACTERISTICS: The Australian Silky Terrier should display
terrier characteristics, embodying keen alertness, activity and soundness.

TEMPERAMENT - (See under Characteristics).

HEAD AND SKULL: Of moderate length, slightly shorter from
the tip of the nose to between the eyes
than from the same position to the occiput.
The head must be strong and of Terrier character,
being moderately broad between the ears;
the skull flat and without fullness between the eyes, with
fine silky top-knot, not falling over the eyes,
(a long fall of hair on the foreface or cheeks is very objectionable).
Nose black.

EYES: Shall be small, round, not prominent,
dark as possible in colour with a keen intelligent expression.

EARS: Should be small, V-shaped with fine leather,
set high on the skull, pricked, and entirely free from long hair.

MOUTH: Strong jaws, teeth even and not cramped,
the upper incisors fitting closely over the lower [scissor bite].
Lips tight and clean.

NECK: Medium length, refined, slightly crested,
fitting gracefully into the shoulders.
Well covered with long silky hair.

FOREQUARTERS: Shoulders fine, well laid back,
fitting with well angulated upper arms snugly to ribs.
Elbows turned neither in nor out.
The forelegs have refined, round bone and are straight and set well under
the body with no weakness in the pastern.

BODY: Should be moderately long in proportion to the height of the dog.
Level top-line, well sprung rips extending back to strong loins.
Chest of moderate depth and breadth.
A top line showing a roach or dip is a serious fault.

HINDQUARTERS: The thighs must be well developed and the stifles
should be well turned and the hocks well bent.
When viewed from behind the
hocks should be well let down and parallel with each other.

FEET: Small well padded, cat-like, with closely knit toes;
the toenails must be black or very dark.

TAIL: PREFERABLY docked, set on high and carried erect but
not over-gay.
Should be free of feathering.

GAIT/MOVEMENT: The movement should be free and true
without slackness at shoulders or elbows; there should be no turning in or out
of the feet or pasterns.
The hindquarters should have strong propelling power
with ample flexibility at stifles and hocks.
Viewed from behind, the movement should be neither too close nor too wide.

COAT: Must be flat, fine and glossy and of a silky texture
with a length of coat from 13 to 15 cms[5 to 6 ins]
from behind the ears to set on of tail,
but MUST NOT impede the dog's action.
The legs from knees and hocks to feet free from long hair.

COLOUR: Blue and Tan or gray-blue and tan ; the richer these colours the better.
Blue on tail to be very dark.
Silver- blue or fawn top-knot desirable.
Distribution of blue and tan as follows;
tan around the base of the ears, muzzle and on the sides of the cheeks;
blue from the base of the skull to the tip of tail,
running down the forelegs to near the knees and down the thighs to the hocks;
tan line showing down the stifles and from
the knees and hocks to the toes and around the vent.
The body colour must be free from smut or dark shading.
Black colouring is permissible in puppies, blue colour must be established
by 18 months of age.

SIZE:
Height: Approximately 23 cm [approx.9 ins] at the withers, bitches slightly less.
Weight: Desirable Weight from 3.5 to 4.5 kg [approx. 8-10 lbs].

FAULTS: Any departure from the foregoing points should be
considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault
should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree.