The Skye is a very old breed, developed on the Isle of Skye in Scotland. The breed is most well-known through the story of Greyfriar's Bobby - this true story is related elsewhere on this site.

Skyes are low to the ground, measuring about 10" at the shoulder. Their short stature can be deceiving though as this is a medium-sized dog on short legs, and a Skyes average weight is between 25 to 35 lbs. Their front feet are crooked as the breed was originally used to dig down into holes after their prey. The coat is long, straight and should be thick and somewhat coarse to the touch and comes in many colours - black, silver, various shades of grey, fawn and cream. They come in prick (erect) or drop eared varieties although the later is much harder to come by.
Skyes are an unique breed and cannot be handled exactly the same as you would handle other members of the dog family, even other terriers.

Skyes are extremely loyal and tend to devote themselves to their family, (and often one person in particular) to the exclusion of outsiders. However, in this day and age of anti-dog legislation, it is of paramount importance to properly, and continually, socialize your dog - whatever it's breed. It is recommended that you attend handling or obedience classes with your Skye. This will introduce him or her to new people and other dogs on a regular basis. When people come over to your house, do not allow your Skye to leave the room to avoid them, but equally do not force them to be held or cuddled by strangers if they are not agreeable to this. He must be taught that if you say a person is okay then they are okay. A properly socialized Skye makes a wonderful, loving companion and can even turn into a "social butterfly" once they associate new people with pats and admiration.

Skyes are a strong breed and very intelligent. They must be taught their boundaries for behavior while they are young. It is nobodies idea of a good time to try and teach a 2 year old Skye Terrier that he is not allowed on the sofa when it has always done it and it has been permitted. Teach your puppy the do's and don'ts from day one. Be gentle but firm. Never hit your Skye to punish it, this will only intensify the bad behavior. Instead use the tone of your voice, and key words such as "bad", "no" and "stop", to get your message across.

The Skye is a breed with a dwarfism factor. This accounts for the full-size body and head and the short, stubby legs. Because of this factor, it is common for puppies to develop limps that might last for several months. It should be noted that this is usually outgrown by the time the dog is about a year. It is therefore advisable not to let your puppy do any jumping (such as off sofa's or down stairs) or any vigorous running or other exercise until it is a year old. Even long walks can cause undo stress to the joints. Moderation is the key until the puppy reaches maturity.

Leash training is best started at a young age. Your puppy should have a collar and leash on by 7 or 8 weeks. A light nylon collar is best, never use a choke or a chain collar. Let the puppy wear the collar alone for a few minutes and then attach a leash. Do NOT pull the puppy. Instead, call the puppy and encourage it to follow you. Praise enthusiastically when it follows you, or comes when called. A treat might be in order too. Always keep the training session short, and keep it fun. Soon the puppy will have learned that walking with you is fun and it won't even realize it has been trained.

In summation, treat your puppy with the respect and love it deserves, and it will reward you with the joy of having a lifelong companion who loves you unconditionally and will be the best friend you have ever known.

Introduction To The Skye Terrier