Little Pawz -- Skye Terrier -- Small Dogs -- Small Dog Breed Information -- Toy Dogs -- Miniature Dogs -- Dog Breeds

The Skye Terrier originated on the Isle of Ske in the Hebrides and is, despite its beautiful appearance, a relentless fighter if aroused. It is not a vicious dog, but tends to give total trust and devotion to its owner and has little time for strangers. Considerable care has to be given to the grooming of this breed. If given the chance they are valiant hunters, having been bred to hunt fox, otter and badger.

Size
Height: 10 inches (25 cm) at the withers
Length: 41 1/2 inches (105 cm)
Weight: 25 lbs. (11.3 kg); Bitches slightly smaller

Coat and Colour
Coat double. Undercoat short, close, soft and woolly. Outercoat 5-1/2 inches (14 cm) with no extra credit for any greater length. Hard, straight and flat. Body coat hanging straight down each side, parting from head to tail. Hair on head shorter, softer and veiling forehead and eyes, with moderate beard and apron. On ears, overhanging inside, falling down and mingling with side locks, surrounding the ears like a fringe and allowing their shape to appear.

Any colour, including but not limited to black, dark or light blue, grey, fawn, or cream. Shade of head and legs should approximate that of body. In dogs of all colours, muzzle, ears, and tip of tail are preferably dark.

Exercise
It would be unfair to buy this gay, little breed purely as a fashionable accessory, for they are tireless and enjoy nothing more than a long walk and a romp in fresh air.

Grooming
The Skye Terrier should be brushed daily and combed once a week with a wide-toothed comb. Incidentally, the coat does not reach its full beauty until the third year.

Feeding
Recommended would be 1 – 1 1/2 cans (13.3 oz 376 g size) name-brand dog food, with a biscuit, or 3 cups dry dog food. Always provide an ample supply of fresh water for your Skye Terrier.

Origin and History
The Skye Terrier is a legend — not only in Scotland, but throughout the world — because of the late Greyfriars Bobby, whose statue stands near Greyfriars churchyard, Edinburgh, Scotland. Following his master's death, Bobby would each day, for the next 14 years, visit the café that he had frequented with his master, where he spent his days until his own death from old age, when the statue was erected in his memory.

The Skye evolved from the small earth dogs kept in Scotland to hunt foxes, badgers and other vermin. Although the Cairn Terrier and other breeds existed in the Highlands it would seem that the Skye Terrier owes its appearance to no one, although the Highland terriers in early days were not separate breeds.