Endangered Dog Breeds
The Skye Terrier
This month there will be a series of blog posts featuring dog breeds which have become rare in the UK.
We hear so much about the Labradors, German Shepherds, and Collies which are popular breeds. However, numbers are declining in rarer breeds and it would be such a shame to see them disappear completely.
This time we take a look at The Skye Terrier.
Endangered Dog Breeds
Skye Terrier
This lovely chap has originated from the Isle of Skye in Scotland for more than four centuries. It was here that the breed was noticed by Queen Victoria in 1842, who kept and bred them, making them extremely popular.
They were first used to hunt badger, fox, and otter and they should never be left where there are small pets such as hamsters or gerbils.
Skye Terriers know their own mind, ignore them at your peril! They will dig, chew or bark for attention and they can become destructive if they are bored.
Their feisty nature and loyalty to their owners mean that this breed make excellent watchdogs.
They have a reserved nature so early positive reinforcement training is required and the puppies should be well socialised, especially with other dogs.
The Skye Terrier has long hair which will need to be groomed regularly, but the breed is only classified as a medium shedder.
This breed make excellent family dogs and they are extremely loyal to their owners, but cautious of strangers.
The average height for a Skye Terrier is 10 inches with a weight of around 30 pounds. Like most terriers, they can live up to 14 years.
Artist Sir Edwin Landseer featured Skye Terriers in his paintings.
This breed is calmer and more serious than other terriers. Also, unlike other terriers, they can be quite lazy and just love a cosy place to sleep. They are usually content with a daily walk around the block.
Breeders
If you are thinking of owning a Skye Terrier, here is a list of reputable breeders.
Leave a Reply