Skye Terrier

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Breed Details

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Breed Rating

Breed Details

General

The Skye Terrier originated in Scotland and was bred for human companionship but also to kill rodents. This dog was created by mixing the Maltese with a variety of Scottish Terriers and is now a recognized breed in the AKC. There is a legend about a Skye Terrier who visited his owner?s grave 10 years after he had died, until he too had passed away!

This unique looking dog has a very long body with short legs and large ears that are pricked upwards. This breed proportionately is two times as long as they are tall! They have a long tail and a thick double layered coat.

The Skye Terrier is notorious for their loyalty and faithfulness to their owner. Their upbeat attitude and charming personality make them great pets to own! This breed will be best in a home where there are no other animals because they might be more aggressive around other dogs and have the tendency to chase small animals such as cats, guinea pigs, hamsters etc.

Color

The Skye Terrier will come in black, cream, fawn, light grey, or blue with their ears being black. Patches of white on the chest is permitted for show purposes.

Coat

This breed has a very thick double layered coat that is about 6 inches long. Their under coat is soft and keeps the dog warm, while the outer coat is a hard, wiry texture and will protect them from the colder elements like the rain and snow. The Skye Terriers coat will need daily grooming because it will have a tendency to tangle, but as puppies their fur is shorter but can take up to a year for them to fully grow their adult coat!

Personality

The Skye Terrier is a charming, happy, devoted dog that literally thrives on their owner?s attention. This breed is incredibly loyal and wants only to please his owners. They are not the friendliest dog towards other animals or people but when introduced a number of times, they will warm up quickly. This dog loves to bark and will make a good watchdog because they will happily alert their owner of any strangers! As puppies, this dog will need to be socialized extensively especially around other dogs, strangers and small pets so they will be more relaxed and familiar with these as adults. The Skye Terrier is a rare breed but will be a great pet for people looking for an affectionate dog!

Care

This breed will need extensive grooming because they have thick long coats that mat easily. Daily brushing is a must and constant monitoring of their back end for tangles will be needed. Bathing should be done every 2-3 months and monthly trims will be needed to keep their coat looking great! This breed is prone to degenerative disc disease, hyperthyroidism, cancer and autoimmune disease.

Training

The Skye Terrier will need a gentle training method to grasp the concept of obedience. They have a high motivation to please their owners so short training sessions and repetition will be excellent for this dog to learn! The Skye Terrier will need to be socialized as a puppy to familiarize themselves with other dogs and people because they can be aggressive towards these as adults if socializing is not done.

Activity

The Skye Terrier will need a long walk daily to burn off their energy. They play and entertain themselves throughout the day leaving them less energetic at night, so they will not need extensive exercise. These dogs will do well in an apartment because they don?t take up much room. A back yard is not needed but would be a benefit so they can run around in an outside environment at home.