Animal Talk – July 2019

breed profile q&a

DOGTA LK

Skye

Terrier

I

f you take the Skye Terrier

for a daily walk and combine

it with play, it will satisfy his

exercise needs. Skye Terriers

are chasers, so any off-lead

exercise must be in a secure

area. They need consistent

training and they thrive with

fair, positive training methods.

Does the

Skye Terrier

need regular

exercise?

A

moving story about a dog who wouldn’t

leave his owner’s side, even after

death, is that of Bobby, the Skye Terrier from

Edinburgh, Scotland. After his owner died,

Bobby lived in the graveyard, close to his

master’s grave, probably living off rodents and

birds. But one o’clock every day, he would go

to town to get lunch, just like he used to with

his owner when he was still alive. A baker took

pity on him and fed him morsels of leftovers.

When Bobby died, the citizens were so moved

that they buried him close to his owner and

erected a statue and drinking well for dogs in

the town.

T

he Skye Terrier breed is one of the oldest Terriers known today. In the early 1600s, a Spanish ship

ran aground off the island of Skye in the Scottish Hebrides. The Maltese dogs onboard the ship

survived and mated with local Terriers, resulting in the Skye Terrier breed. From there the breed developed

into a determined hunter who was used in fox and otter hunting, and soon caught the attention of Queen

Victoria. She fell in love with the breed and the Skye Terrier soon became a popular breed.

How old is the Skye Terrier breed?

H

e should be brushed daily to prevent mats if his coat is kept long. His double coat has a long,

straight, hard outer coat and a soft, woolly undercoat. The long outer coat hangs on each

side from the parting down the middle of his back, from his head to his tail. To keep his coat in good

condition, he should be groomed regularly.

Is the Skye Terrier’s coat hard

to maintain?

T

his is a dog with a huge personality packed

into a small package that is low to the

ground. He is a fearless little dog, but clever and

good natured. He is also loyal and loving with a

bold and spirited nature. This dog wants to be the

centre of attention and he wants to interact with

his family.

How would you describe the

Skye Terrier’s personality?