Skye Terrier
Dogs
Skye Terrier
Skye Terrier |
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Alternative names |
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Country of origin |
Scotland |
Common nicknames |
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Classification and breed standards |
FCI: |
Group 3 Section 2 #072 |
AKC: |
Terrier Group |
ANKC: |
Group 2 (Terriers) |
CKC: |
Group 4 (Terriers) |
KC (UK): |
Terrier |
NZKC: |
Terrier |
UKC: |
Terriers |
Not recognized by any major kennel club |
This breed of dog is
extinct |
Notes |
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The Skye Terrier is an old and dignified
dog breed
originating, as have so many
terriers, in
Scotland. First bred on the
Isle of
Skye in the
Hebrides, this dog
was bred to go to ground to hunt aggressive predators, such as
foxes,
otters, and
badgers. They
were the aristocrats of the farm dogs, not left out with the other herding and
ratting animals, but often kept in their owners' homes, a rare privilege as most
working
dogs would not be allowed inside.
A statue of
Greyfriars Bobby, a famously loyal Skye Terrier
The Skye was first popularized outside their home island in 1840s when
Queen Victoria began breeding the dogs. Before then, the drop-eared variety
was the most popular, but the prick-eared is now the most common, partially
because of the Queen's love of the type.
Appearance
The Skye Terrier is often called "a large dog with short legs", and their
height of 10 inches (25 cm) at the
withers is
deceptive, as they are twice as long as they are tall, generally 20 inches (51
cm) long in a properly proportioned dog.
The head is held high, and should be both long (but not snipey) and powerful,
with strong jaws typical of the terriers. The dark eyes, closely set, should be
alert and intelligent.
The body is long and low, with a level backline and a deep chest. The tail is
long and well feathered, carried either low or level with the back, in which
case it may be mistaken for a continuation of the back. The forearms curve
slightly around the large chest, and the hindquarters are muscular and well
developed. The Skye should have long "hare" feet, pointing forwards, with strong
nails.
Coat
The Skye is
double coated, with a short, soft
undercoat
and a hard, straight
topcoat,
which must be flat against the body and free of curl. The ideal coat length is 5
1/2 inches (14 cm), with no extra credit for a longer coat. The shorter hair of
the head veils the forehead and eyes, forming a moderate beard. The ears should
be well feathered and, in prick-eared examples, the hair should fall like a
fringe, accenting the form, and blending with the side locks.
Colour
Fawn, blue, dark or light grey, cream, and black with black points (ears,
tail, muzzle) all occur. They may have any
self
colour, allowing for some shading of same colour on the body and a lighter
undercoat, so long as the nose and ears are black. There should be no further
patterning on the body, but a small white spot on the chest is permissible.
Types
Except for the shape and size of the ears, there is no significant difference
nor preference given between the prick- and drop-eared types. When prick, they
are medium sized, carried high on the skull and angled slightly outwards. In the
drop type, the ears are set lower, are larger, and should hang flat against the
head.
Grooming
The Skye Terrier coat is resistant to tangling, and needs to be brushed at
least once a week. The Skye should be kept natural and untrimmed.
Temperament
The Skye Terrier is a dog of strong personal character, who responds well to
the same trait in his owners. Loyal, steadfast, and sensitive, but never
submissive, the Skye must respect his owner, in which case he will endlessly
please, but no amount of yelling will earn that respect. Nor will exceeding
affection forced upon him win his approval. A light but firm touch, especially
the ability to say No, will win undying devotion. The Skye is nothing if
not selective, and prefers reserved, calm people who reflect his attitude to
life.
Affectionate towards their owners, they are reserved and aloof to strangers,
sometimes even close friends of the family, and prefer to spend their time with
one person. Much socialization is needed to reduce their aloofness, but though
exceedingly warm, playful, and sensitive to a few, they will never be a social
butterfly.
Training that works for one sort of dog may not for the Skye; they are
intelligent and have a desire to work, but get easily bored with long training
sessions, yet an hour a week with a Skye often has the same results as several
hours with another breed, if you can capture their attention. They require firm
boundaries and positive reinforcement, but can excel in many activities such as
competitive
obedience,
dog
agility, and
tracking.
In spite of all this, for the right person, the Skye makes the ideal terrier,
as they don't require long walks nor do they have energy to burn by digging and
racing around. They can be an ideal apartment or city dog.
Health
Being an
achondroplastic dog breed with extremely short legs, the Skye Terrier has
particular health concerns. The most preventable is often called Skye limp
or Puppy limp, and it is due to premature closure of the distal radial
growth plate. If a Skye is exercised too often, too young, especially before 8
months, they can damage their bone growth, leading to a painful limp and
possibly badly bowed legs. Jumping up and down from objects, climbing over
objects, running, even long walks, are all things to be avoided for the first 8
to 10 months to prevent later problems and allow for correct closure of the
growth plate.
Degenerative disc disease is also a common problem in short-legged dogs, and
as many as 10% of Skyes will suffer from it.
Breast cancer is the leading cause of Skye Terrier deaths, with
Hemangiosarcomas (a malignant tumour of the blood vessels),
Autoimmune disease, and
Hyperthyroidism[1]
as other concerns of the breed.
Overall, the breed is still considered quite healthy, and the average
lifespan is 12-15 years.
Famous Skyes
External links
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