Breed library

Skye Terrier

Skye Terrier photograph.
Skye terrier 800.jpg - Pleple2000. CC BY-SA 3.0. Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Skye_terrier_800.jpg. License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/. License: CC BY-SA 3.0.

Breed overview

The Skye Terrier is a Scottish breed of terrier. It is long, low, hardy and short-legged, and in the twenty-first century is among the most endangered breeds of the United Kingdom.

  • Breed type: dog breedBreed reference breed kind.
  • Country of origin: ScotlandBreed reference country of origin.

Breed facts

  • A colour lithograph of Skye Terriers was included in The Illustrated Book of the Dog by Vero Shaw in 1881.
  • There are concerns that the breed is under threat of extinction with only 30 born in the UK in 2005.
  • The Skye is double coated with a short, soft undercoat and a hard, straight topcoat.
  • The shorter hair of the head veils the forehead and eyes, forming a moderate beard.
  • The ears are generally well feathered and, in prick-eared examples, the hair normally falls like a fringe, accenting the form, and blending with the side locks.

Size and appearance

The Skye is double coated with a short, soft undercoat and a hard, straight topcoat. The shorter hair of the head veils the forehead and eyes, forming a moderate beard. The ears are generally well feathered and, in prick-eared examples, the hair normally falls like a fringe, accenting the form, and blending with the side locks.

  • Body mass reference: 12 - 18 kgAdult breed reference quantity from the article infobox. Original value 12 - 18 kg. Unit conversion where applicable: 1 inch = 2.54 cm; 1 pound = 0.45359237 kg. Original field and references are retained in the revision-pinned article evidence.
  • Height reference: Up to 26 cmBreed reference height. maximum.
  • Height reference: 25 cm or moreBreed reference height. minimum.
  • Coat layers: double
  • Coat length: short
  • Coat texture: straight
  • Height category: short
  • Weight category: medium

Personality and behavior

Care planning: record what your dog enjoys, how they greet visitors, and how they respond to new places. Add notes after walks and training so you can see their habits over time. Where this profile includes behavior research, use the same named measures when comparing your shortlist.

Exercise and activities

Care planning: build a weekly routine with walks, play and time to explore. Enter the minutes and sessions that work for your dog, then compare the weekly total with your available time. Keep notes about the activities your dog enjoys and adjust the routine together.

Training and enrichment

Care planning: choose one everyday skill to practice and keep a record of each session. Note the cue, the reward your dog enjoys and what went well. Rotate familiar games and new activities, and use your notes to choose the next small step.

Coat and grooming

Care planning: use the coat details above to discuss a grooming routine with your groomer. Record brushing sessions, baths and appointments in the app. Add the tools you use and your preferred schedule so the whole household can follow the same routine.

  • Coat layers: double
  • Coat length: short
  • Coat texture: straight

Health and lifespan

A 2024 UK study found a life expectancy of 12.4 years from a sample of 39 deaths for the breed compared to an average of 12.7 for purebreeds and 12 for crossbreeds.

  • Lifespan reference: 13.5 yearsBreed reference lifespan years.

Living with this breed

Care planning: compare this profile's adult dimensions, coat care and available activity information with your household's routine. Make a shortlist, plan who will handle daily care and save the questions you want to ask a breed club, rescue or breeder.

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Breed history

A colour lithograph of Skye Terriers was included in The Illustrated Book of the Dog by Vero Shaw in 1881.

Clubs and further reading

Sources

  1. Skye Terrier - WikipediaWikipedia contributors Retrieved 2026-10-14.License: CC BY-SA 4.0. Adapted excerpts from Wikipedia contributors, Skye Terrier, revision 1368890316. CC BY-SA 4.0. Formatting, citations and selection changed. Source history: https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Skye_Terrier&action=history
  2. Wikidata structured breed dataWikimedia contributors Retrieved 2026-10-14.License: CC0 1.0. Wikidata contributors (CC0).
  3. National C-BARQ breed and all-breed means from USA.PLOS ONE / Figshare Retrieved 2026-10-14.License: CC BY 4.0. Bohland, Kyle R.; Lilly, Meghan Leanne; Herron, Meghan E.; Arruda, Andréia G.; O’Quin, Jeanette M. (2023). National C-BARQ breed and all-breed means from USA.. PLOS ONE. Dataset. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0289356.s003 CC BY 4.0. Selected rows and field names adapted; values unchanged.
  4. File:Skye terrier 800.jpgWikimedia Commons Retrieved 2026-10-14.License: CC BY-SA 3.0. Skye terrier 800.jpg - Pleple2000. CC BY-SA 3.0. Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Skye_terrier_800.jpg. License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/.
  5. Palipaws everyday care planningPalipaws Retrieved 2026-10-14.License: Palipaws original factual summaries. Palipaws. Original care-planning text, separate from breed measurements and licensed article summaries.
  6. AKC national parent club directoryAmerican Kennel Club Retrieved 2026-10-14.License: Factual reference only. Names and verified external links only. No source descriptions, logos or endorsement reused.