The Skye Terrier

Idrigill Skyes

The Skye Terrier has been a hardworking rodent exterminator for over 400 years. They were strengthened by growing up in the rugged lands of Skye, a northwestern Scottish Island. In this often lonely land, the Skye had no rival in exploring cairns, dens, and quarries. His coat protected him not only from the damp cold, but also from the bites of the animals he pursued.

The Skye was the most widely known of all the terriers down to the end of the 19th century. Queen Victoria's early interest and Sir Edwin Landseer's paintings featuring the breed helped to attract attention.

Scotland's Terriers had been grouped together as Scotch Terriers until 1873, when they were separated into two classifications-Dandie Dinmont Terriers and Skye Terriers. The breeds we now know as the Scottish Terrier, West Highland White Terrier, and the Cairn Terrier were included in classes for Skye Terriers.

Skyes are very devoted to their owners. They are cautious around strangers, but extremely friendly with those he knows.

The Skye Terrier should be 10 inches tall for males and 9 and a half inches for females. Their coat is a double coat. The undercoat is short, close, soft and woolly. The outer coat is hard, straight and flat. It is about five and a half inches long. The color may be black, blue, dark or light gray, silver platinum, fawn or cream.

Health concerns in the breed include allergies and autoimmune disease, low thyroid, and tumors/cancer.

Some Skyes are HIGHLY allergic to Ivermectin (often found in worming and heartworm medication among other things). Some Skyes have hadsevere reactions to them, others have died because of it.

It does have an issue with the plates closing in the shoulders which causes the puppy to limp from time to time (and not all puppies by any means!), but it is usually outgrown within a few months. This has been MISTAKENLY diagnosed by some Vets as dysplasia, but that is wrong.

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