Meet Silas (Sy-lus) Dexter, my 6wk old pure bred Miniature Pinscher. I brought him home yesterday from a private breeder. He’s terribly smart, terribly cute, and likes to sneak under the couch.

The name Silas is a Greek nickname for the Latin Silvanus, which means “of the forest.” Although a Roman in the Bible, the name “Silas” may be derived from pre-Roman Italian languages (see, e.g., the character “Asilas”, an Etruscan leader and warrior-prophet who plays a prominent role in assisting Aeneas in Virgil’s epic poem the Aeneid).

Characteristic traits are his hackney-like action, fearless animation, complete self-possession, and his spirited presence.