Skye Terrier Dog Breed

The Skye Terrier, as its name suggests, is a member of the Terrier group of breeds. Dogs of this breed are quite rare, and were created centuries ago to hunt vermin and small game, but are now considered companion dogs; as such, they're great for families of any size (particularly those with older children), seniors, and anyone who can provide their Skye with plenty of love and attention.

A few breed specifications: Skyes are small- to medium-sized (height at the shoulders is about 10 inches, and weight averages 32 pounds), with long-haired, double-layered coats that come in various shades of brown and gray. Here are some good (and not so good) qualities of this rare breed:

PROS:

• Affectionate and good-natured
• Intelligent
• Good watchdog abilities
• Adapts well to apartment life
• Excellent health
• Good for first-time owners
• Comical, playful demeanor
• Adaptable to a variety of climates
• Great for families with children (especially older ones)

CONS:

• Can be stubborn and willful
• Requires early socialization with humans and other animals
• Will turn destructive if bored or left alone
• Extremely high prey drive; will chase and possibly injure smaller pets
• Sometimes difficult to train
• High barking tendency
• Often confrontational with other dogs
• Responds extremely poorly to harsh treatment
• May be difficult to housetrain
• Rare, and thus difficult to find/expensive to purchase

At first glance, a Skye Terrier resembles a hippie's version of a Dachshund. These dogs' long, wavy coats (and long, wiener-shaped bodies) illustrate their development as small-game hunters, able to hole their way into fox and badger dens with their hairy "shields." While quite intelligent, Skyes normally carry the classic "tough and feisty" terrier personalities; they're good at learning tasks and commands, but can be unwilling to do so, and will usually need extra-firm and consistent training.

Skye Terrier owners, however, often attest to their dogs' calmness and dignity when around their people. These dogs are normally affectionate and devoted to their families, while being standoffish and even suspicious of strangers (one trait that makes them good watchdogs). A Skye will normally warm up to strange people, though, once it's determined they don't pose a threat. But stranger or friend, these dogs behave best in the company of others. Skyes will turn incredibly destructive--often by digging, another classic terrier trait--if left alone for extended periods. One rule of "Skye Terrier Dogs 101" is to provide them with plenty of companionship!

Skyes are typically pretty active, and they're quite strong for dogs of their size; their history as natural "vermin-busters" makes them fast and agile. Their natural energy, combined with an hour or so of daily exercise like a long walk, will be enough to keep them in good physical shape.

Genetically, individual Skye Terriers are extremely consistent in size, structure, and appearance. The only variation within dogs of this breed is with the ears: some have prick (erect) ears, while others have drop (hanging) ones. Modern dog show judges prefer dogs with prick ears, so that variation is more common, though drop-eared Skye Terriers are still seen.

In regards to coat length: a Skye Terrier's natural coat is uniformly long-haired. Any Skye Terrier with short hair has a coat that has been fashioned that way by the owner or a professional groomer.

Affectionate, loyal, intelligent, playful, and sometimes stubborn, the Skye Terrier temperament is one of dignity and good cheer. Dogs of this breed form close bonds with their human families, but are normally pretty reserved around unknown people. Skyes are very sensitive, and they need the same attention they're willing to give; they will become destructive little terrors if they're ignored! They get along great with children (especially older ones who can treat them properly), but they will likely need socialization with other pets (particularly smaller animals, which they were bred to hunt) starting when the dog is a puppy, if possible.

Skyes can respond well to training, but they might display the typical terrier stubbornness and be difficult to teach. Positive, consistent, reward-based training methods work best for these dogs.

These dogs do, however, make great watchdogs. Their natural distrust of strangers, combined with their frequent barking, means they will be quick to sound a vocal alarm when confronted with a potential threat.

The Skye Terrier is an extremely healthy breed, with one notable exception: dogs of this breed are achondroplastic, meaning they have abnormally short leg bones. This condition can cause orthopedic issues during the dog's puppyhood; if a young Skye Terrier is allowed to jump and/or climb excessively during the first year of its life, it can damage the growth plates in its legs, which can lead to severe limping or bow-leggedness once the dog matures. Veterinarians recommend waiting at least 18 months before allowing a young Skye Terrier to run, jump, or exercise with too much frequency.

Life expectancy for Skye Terriers is 12-15 years.

Some interesting facts about the breed:

• Skye Terriers are "achondroplastic," meaning they have abnormally short legs. Commonly called dwarfism, achondroplasia is a genetic condition characterized by stunted leg bones; while considered an anomaly in most other dog breeds, the condition is normal in Skye Terriers.
• After his owner died in Scotland, a Skye Terrier named Grayfriars Bobby sat at the owner's grave for 14 years. Bobby guarded the grave in Edinburgh until his own death in 1872, rarely leaving the spot above where his owner, John Gray, was buried. Numerous books and films detail the legend, including the 1961 Disney movie Grayfriars Bobby.
• Great Britain's Queen Victoria owned and bred Skye Terriers, and made the breed hugely popular in eighteenth-century Europe. According to historians, Victoria owned several dogs of this breed, of both the prick- and drop-eared varieties; after she got her first one in the early 1840s, other European aristocrats immediately got Skye Terriers of their own.