Tessier Silky Terriers

Updated March 2022

Since 1981, Tessier has been committed to breeding and showing quality Silky Terriers. We are proud to be an AKC Platinum Breeder of Merit — that is, we follow our club-recommended health testings and have produced over 100 homebred champions, actually 135 as of March 2022.

We strive to produce healthy, happy dogs that look and act like the breed. (Pictured above is our GCh. Tessier Wyntuk Red-E to Reign taking Breed in 2021 at Westminster.)

We did well at the 2020/2021 Silky Terrier Club of America Specialty, which is a once-a-year National show just for our breed. With COVID, there was no National in 2020, so it was combined with the 2021 show. In addition to our “Reddie”, seen above, our Ch. Tessier Wyntuk Kiss Me Kate did well as well:

 

As part of our mission, Tessier not only wants to produce healthy Silkys that look and act like the breed, we want to help others do the same. Chris Alexander purchased a dog in Canada from our bloodlines, Artemus Just in Time; “Riot” completed his AKC Championship last December, pictured here with a grinning (behind her mask) Chris:

Riot was bred to Ch. Tessier Wyntuk Midnight Seranade (now owned by Chris), producing a lovely litter. “Bean” Ricochet Time Stands Still, was sold to the Czech Republic and recently took Best in Show Junior.

My kennel partner Karen Huey and I have been busy as well. Here is Karen in 2021 with our Ch. Tessier Wyntuk In the Nic O’ Time,

And myself with Nic’s brother Ch. Tessier Wyntuk All In Good Time, “Goodie” (now owned by Anita Lovely).

Tessier has been blessed over the years with its partners. First was Billie Pruitt, who used the Tagalong prefix and passed away in 2015. She was a true friend and stuck with us through thick and thin.  Karen Huey (formerly Carwyn, now Wyntuk) joined us in 2002 and has been the best mentor we could ever have wanted. She is a master behaviorist, an expert “puppy whisperer” and a dear friend. Janet Aslett, Margaret Cunningham, Angela Tilot-Smith, and Chris Alexander are all involved in the kennel — it really does take a village to do this right!

For all the details of all our wins at 2016 Nationals (we swept Sweeps, Reserve Winners, Best of Winners, and much more),  click here. We did equally well in 2017, 2018, and 2019.

While Karen and I were taking casual pictures of two of the big winners in 2016 our judge Peter Green (who judged Best in Show at Westminster in 2019) stopped by and asked to join us. I’m in red, holding Sera (mother of the BIS Junior above), Karen is holding her brother Coda. What fun!

The Silky Terrier is cheerful, sassy, and sturdy, with a lovely blue, tan, and fawn coat. A bath and a brush once a week — that’s relatively easy care for a long-coated small dog. Highly hypoallergenic, the Silky Terrier is bright, happy, and independent.

If you are looking for an 8-week old puppy to love, we are probably not the right kennel for you. As a show kennel, we never place any dog younger than 12 weeks and we generally keep them longer as we are assessing them for show quality. The last 3 puppies we sold were all about 6 months old. We do breed regularly (2 – 3 litters a year) so if we don’t have something for you right now, we can either refer you to a quality breeder or put you on our waiting list.

We sometimes have young adults (over 1-year-old) available to approved homes. These are well-trained and socialized dogs whom we started to show or champions we are now retiring to their forever homes.

Such young adults can be a real find as they are ready to go with relatively little effort. They are no more expensive, and usually, are even less than a puppy.

Silkys are generally long-lived dogs, most of ours make it to between 14 and 18 years. Young adults also bond extremely well in their new couch potato environment as they are thrilled to have a whole family of humans all to themselves.

Very often people only want a puppy. There’s certainly nothing wrong with this if one has the time and expertise available to devote to the necessary training. If you are looking for a puppy (12 weeks to a year), let me know, we do occasionally have some available.

If you are looking for a Silky, puppy, or adult, please email me (Sandy) at sandy@smesmer.com. I am located in Clearwater, Florida.

Male or Female? You Decide.

Many people contacting me for puppies only want one gender or the other. Their previous dog was a female and so they want another one just like her. Or they have heard that boys can be, well, dirty. But both male and female Silkys can make excellent pets.

My rule of thumb, developed over the years, is this: Girls want to be loved, boys will want to love you. As to the potty training issue: I have found that this really comes down to owner consistency right from the start, and while some dogs are harder to train than others, this is not based on gender.

Feel free to contact us if you are interested.

Best, Sandy