Skye Terrier Dog Breed History, Health Issues, Grooming, Temperament and Living Conditions

Description. The Skye Terrier is short in stature, but long bodied dog, with its body length being double its own height. They are 10 inches in height with the male dog weighing 35-40 pounds and the female bitch weighing 25-30 pounds. They have a long tapered head which seems disproportionately large to the size of the dog. Their ears are symmetrical and can be drooped, although it is more common for them to stand erect. They have a heavily feathered tail which hangs, and does not curl. Their coat is about 5?inches long and is made up of a smooth woolly undercoat and a hard flat outer layer. They come in a variety of solid colours which can be black, dark or light grey, fawn, platinum, blue, and cream. They often have black points on their ears and sometimes a little white on the chest. It is not unusual for a puppy's coat to change colour as they grow to adulthood.

History. It is a very old breed of Terrier having originated in Skye in the early 1600s, when a Spanish ship was wrecked near the island. The dogs, aboard the ship, started mating with the indigenous dogs. They were used to hunt vermin, badgers, and foxes, to protect the farmers' livestock. This Terrier became popular with nobility and commoners alike, in the 19th century when Queen Victoria took a fancy to the breed. History claims that it was one of this breed that stood vigil for 14 years at the grave of its master, fed by locals, until his death at age 16. In Edinburgh, Scotland, a statue was placed to honour the dog. The breed was first exhibited in 1864 in the UK, with the AKC recognizing them in 1887.

Temperament. As a breed the Skye Terrier is polite and loyal with a generally affectionate and loving disposition. They are playful, cheery, and love attention, also being very brave, considering their size. They need to be trained with a consistent firm hand and know who is the boss, or small dog syndrome may develop. If allowed to think they are in charge the dog can become suspicious of strangers obsessively protective and aggressive, and may bark a lot and possibly even a bite.

Health issues. The Skye Terrier is a particularly healthy breed, with no significant genetic or inherent problems, and commonly live 12-15 years.

Grooming. You can choose to clip their hair shorter to make the coat easier to care for. With the hair left long they require frequent brushing or their coat will mat. They are an average shedder. With a short coat, they would require brushing or combing about twice a week. If you choose to leave their hair long, it is an idea to comb every one or two days to reduce mating.

Living conditions. Although they are small dogs, the Skye Terrier will require reasonable walks every day. Playing can help the dog disperse their energy, but this is in addition to walks and not a replacement for them. If you do not sufficiently exercise this dog then they can develop behavioural problems. They prefer to have a fenced secure area to run around in, but do adapt quite well to living in an apartment.