Description. The Skye Terrier is a short, but long-bodied dog, with its body length twice its own height. They are 10 inches tall, the male dog weighs between 35 and 40 pounds and the female dog weighs between 25 and 30 pounds. They have a long, tapered head that appears disproportionately large for the dog’s size. Their ears are symmetrical and can be dropped, although it is more common for them to be erect.
The Skye Terrier has a heavily feathered tail that hangs down and does not curl. Their coat is about 5½ inches long and is made up of a soft, fleecy undercoat and a hard, flat outer coat. They come in a variety of solid colors including black, dark or light gray, fawn, platinum, blue, and cream. They often have black dots on their ears and sometimes a bit of white on their chest. It’s not unusual for a puppy’s coat to change color as it grows into adulthood.
History. It is a very old breed of Terrier that originated on Skye in the early 17th century, when a Spanish ship was shipwrecked near the island. The dogs, on board the ship, began to mate with the indigenous dogs. They were used to hunt vermin, badgers and foxes, to protect farmers’ livestock. This Terrier became popular with the nobility and commoners alike, in the 19th century, when Queen Victoria took a liking to the breed. The story goes that it was one of this breed that kept vigil for 14 years at his master’s grave, fed by locals, until his death at the age of 16. In Edinburgh, Scotland, a statue was placed in honor of the dog. The breed was first exhibited in 1864 in the United Kingdom, and was recognized by the AKC in 1887.