Let's talk about the Skye Terrier, probably the most elegant of the United Kingdom's terriers. We'll discover everything we can about its history and temperament, and take a close look at the breed standard that defines it.
Origins and History of the Breed
We actually know very little about the origins of the Skye Terrier — in truth, almost nothing that can clearly establish the era or the ancestors of this dog. It is most likely a native breed that developed in the Scottish archipelago of the Hebrides, and more precisely on the Isle of Skye, from which it naturally takes its name. We know for certain that this small Scottish terrier has extremely ancient origins, but placing it within a specific period of time, as just mentioned, is practically impossible!
The reason, of course, lies in the absence of written records from those distant times. Even so, one thing we do know is that by the end of the 18th century the Skye Terrier already existed, and was known by many other names, including Glasgow Terrier and Paisley Terrier. This has created no small amount of confusion surrounding the breed, causing even the very few pieces of information we might have had to be lost forever.
So we know that it is an undeniably Scottish dog with origins stretching far back in time, and we also know that for as long as records exist it has always been used to hunt small rodents. Only in recent years has its quality as an outstanding companion dog been truly appreciated.
Skye Terrier Breed Standard
The Skye Terrier is a small-sized dog, but when it comes to its breed standard, proportions matter far more than weight. For an average height of 25 cm at the withers, the length of its body must be approximately 105 cm from the tip of the nose to the end of the tail. Females, while slightly smaller, maintain the same proportions.
Despite being a very small dog, its build is sturdy and well muscled; the long trunk shows no tuck-up of the abdomen, and the rump is straight and powerful. The legs are very short, but well set and well rounded, with a good grip on the ground.
The tail is proportionate in length, broad at the base and much finer at the tip, and is often carried stretched straight back. The neck is strong and muscular, the head is elongated, yet the muzzle appears substantial — neither narrow nor pointed. The stop is barely visible, and the small nose is black. The eyes are medium-large and set close together, a dark brown colour tending towards a deep brown. The ears are small and erect on top of the head, covered with an elegant veil of long hair.
The coat consists of a short, very dense and woolly undercoat, and a long, smooth outer coat that feels hard and firm to the touch. The accepted colours are cream, fawn, all shades of grey and black; even the lighter colours always have black tips.
Caring for the Skye Terrier: Nutrition
The Skye Terrier is a dog that enjoys excellent health, is quite long-lived and genetically sound. Its coat needs to be brushed and combed frequently, and to keep it glossy it is essential that the dog's diet be high in protein and of outstanding quality.
Skye Terrier Temperament
The Skye Terrier recognises one owner alone, and forms a bond with that person that is often deeply intense. Even so, it also behaves sociably with the rest of the family and shows a great sense of balance. With strangers the situation is a little different: although it is never aggressive under any circumstances, the small Scottish Terrier does not make new friends easily. The most it may do is maintain a polite manner — but only once it has understood that its owner is at ease with that particular person.
Its personality is very strong, and it is difficult to keep it subdued or pushed to one side. The Skye is a dog that commands attention and is full of charm — highly agile and remarkably fast. Its upright gait, head held high, almost as if daring anyone to contradict it, reflects its proud character…and to think it is so small! It lives very happily inside an apartment, though we cannot ignore the fact that its true passion is hunting small rodents. So if we have a garden to put at its disposal, at least we won't have any problems with mice or similar creatures — of that you can be sure.
Given its stubbornness, we cannot really consider it a dog suited to everyone. It needs a person who can train it with a firm hand and a great deal of consistency, or the support of an experienced breeder.
Breeders and Price
The Skye Terrier is a truly tiny and fluffy puppy, as endearing in appearance as it is in character. From the very beginning it is important to establish yourself as the alpha figure, and to focus a great deal on socialisation.
In Italy it is not very widespread — it appears there are just under twenty individuals in the country, and only two breeding kennels recognised by the ENCI. We do not know the specific price of an individual dog, but we do know that it is not particularly inexpensive.
