small Breed Dogs
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Skye Terrier
Average Weight:  23-26 lbs.  (10.43- 11.73 kg)
Average Height: 9.5 - 10  inches (24.13- 25.4 cm)
Pronounced:  Sky    TEH-ree-er
Group:   AKC Terrier
Life Span: 14 Years
Average Litter: 4
Origin: Scotland

Description
An adorable small breed dog, the Skye Terrier is known for his elegance and grace.  This is a very agile and strong little dog with sturdy bones and good muscle strength.  This dog is just about twice as long as he is high and is very low to the ground.  The head is long with dark brown eyes of medium size, close set and usually alight with a spark that shows this dog's intelligence.

The ears are either pricked (erect) or dropped which hang flat against the skull.  The muzzle is dark and the nose is always black.  The tail is very full and thick.  The Skye Terrier has a double coat .  The outer coat is hard, straight and flat and the under coat is short and soft.

The body coat hangs straight down each side, parting right down the middle from head to tail. Head hair may be shorter with a veil over the eyes and forming a moderate beard and apron. 


Color

The coat must be of one over all color at the skin, although it may be of varying shades of that color.  This can be black, blue (a diluted, faded black), dark gray, light gray, silver platinum, fawn or cream.   Skye Terrier puppies often go through a color change during the process of puppy to adult coat.

Personality

The Skye Terrier is a typical working terrier, capable of overtaking game and going underground. This small dog has quite a bit of stamina, courage, strength and agility.  When not "on the hunt" he is generally shy, quite and cautious of strangers.   Most Skye Terriers are very friendly and have a nice, even temper.   An owner must be aware, however, that this dog will chase small animals whenever seeing the opportunity and can be quite aggressive with them.  This dog fits in well with a family who does not have hamsters, gerbils or any other small pets.


History & Origin

This breed has existed for about 400 years and has not changed much over the centuries.  The breed is named after the Isle of Skye, which is one of the main islands of of the north western coast of Scotland.  In the middle of the 1800's this particular Terrier was very well loved due to Queen Victoria's devotion to the breed and Sir Edwin Landseer's famous paintings of them.  The Skye Terrier is now rather low in numbers compared to many other types of dogs.

Health

There are only a few health issues that this particular breed is prone to:
  • Allergic Reaction to Invermectin -  This is a common ingredient in many parasite control medications, for unknown reasons, the Skye Terrier can have very serious adverse reactions.
  • Premature closure of distal radius - This is a growth plate and when closed too early it can cause the dog to become deformed, most commonly noticed in a shortening of the limbs.
Exercise

This is, in general, a very active dog.  When left to run, run he will...and dig and jump and try to burrow under the ground whenever possible.  A good 30 minute walk each day will help to burn off energy and this small dog should be supervised when outside. 

Grooming

 The beautiful coat on this dog stays looking beautiful when it is brushed and then combed daily. If not enough attention is given, tangles will quickly develop leading to a very messy,matted coat.  Baths should be given every 4 weeks or so.  Nails will need to be checked for trimming every 6-7 weeks and an owner should brush the teeth every day (as with any dog breed).
 

Care & Training

The best environment for this small dog is indoor living with a safe, enclosed outdoor area in which to run and play.  Since this breed is rather independent, many owners must follow training guidelines to a T in order to remain in control.    Owners - Click Here for More Detailed Information
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