Temperament

Loving and affectionate, the Skye Terrier doesn't anger easily. Almost polite in nature and an easy going breed, this type of terrier is often seen at dog shows and breeding competitions because of its ability to interact with strangers without any troubles.

However, this good nature must be nurtured from the early puppy years. The Skye Terrier needs to have extensive socialization with people when they are young in order to be calm around people. When the puppy is not raised in the presence of others, they can become nervous around strangers as well as overly protective of their family.

Loyal in nature, the Skye Terrier is the perfect fit for a loving family that is able to give the terrier a lot of attention. In order to be happy, the Skye Terrier needs to have a lot of interaction with people. This will mean you need to play with this breed on a regular basis, and while it may be left alone, longer periods of isolation are not suggested.

History and Origins

There are at least two versions of the history of the Skye terrier. It was before accepted that the Skye Terrier's origins are connected with a centuries old shipwreck. The story goes that early in the 1600's a Spanish ship wrecked on the Isle of Skye in the Scottish Hebrides. Some of the survivors of the shipwreck were Maltese dogs that mated with the local terriers, creating a new and unique breed of Terrier. But a text of Caius, written decades before the shipwreck, describes a very modern portrait of the Skye terrier, proving that the modern Skye terrier existed long time before the arrival of the Malteses :

"lap dogs which were brought out of the barbarous borders from the uttermost countryes northward, and they by reason of the length of their heare, make show neither face nor body, and yet these curres forsooth because they are so strange, are greatly set by, esteemed, taken up, and made of, in room of the spaniell gentle, or comforter".

So it is sure that the Skye terrier has inherited very few, or even not, characteristics of the Maltese. As an achondroplastic breed, and looking alike the Welsh corgi, it is believed that the Skye Terrier may have been a result of a crossing between the celtic terriers local to the area and the Swedish Vallhund of the Viking invaders. It may be that the Swedish Vallhund had mated with the local terriers centuries before Maltese dogs were said to have arrived, making both histories true.

The Skye Terrier was recognized by the United Kennel Club on January 1, 1993.

Size & Weight

Height: 25 - 26 cm (9.75 - 10.25 inches); Weight: 25-40 pounds

Grooming Requirements

The Skye Terrier coat is resistant to tangling, and needs to be brushed at least once a week. The Skye should be generally kept natural and untrimmed; however, minor trimming of the coat between and around the toes and pads can help avoid problems due to trapped dampness or twigs, pebbles, mud, etc.

Without frequent brushing, Skye Terriers become a matted mess. If you can't commit to the brushing, you have to commit to frequent trimming to keep the coat short, neat, and healthy.

Exercise Needs

They are good for older people because they require little exercise. They can live in an apartment and are active in the house so a yard is not necessary. Like most terriers, they can be very independent and stubborn.

Health Issues

The Skye Terrier is an extremely hardy breed with few heath concerns. This breed has an average life expectancy of 10 to 12 years.

Trivia

In 1840, Queen Victoria began breeding both the drop-eared as well as prick-eared varieties in her royal kennels and the breed then became very popular, especially among the nobility.