The Dog Centre - for professional dog trainers in the UK

Skye Terrier

General Appearance

Long, low and profusely coated, twice as long as high. Moves with seemingly effortless gait. Strong in quarters, body and jaw.

  Below Average Above Key
Likelihood to wander   Medium    
Protectiveness   Medium    
Destructiveness   Medium    
Quietness Low      
Good with children Low      
Affinity to other dogs Low      
Size   Medium    
Lifespan   Medium   Below: < 10 years
Average: > 10 years
Above: > 15 years
Location   Medium   Below: Town only
Average: Town and Country
Above: Country only

Characteristics

Elegant and dignified

Temperament

A ‘one-man’ dog, distrustful of strangers, never vicious

Head and Skull

Long and powerful, strength not sacrificed for extreme length. Moderate width at back of skull, tapering gradually with slight stop to strong muzzle. Nose black.

Eyes

Brown, preferably dark brown, medium in size, close-set and full of expression

Ears

Prick or drop. When prick, gracefully feathered, not large, erect at outer edges and slanting towards each other at inner edge, from peak to skull. When drop, larger, hanging straight, lying flat and close at front.

Mouth

Jaws strong and level with perfect, regular scissor bite, i.e. upper teeth closely overlapping lower teeth and set square to the jaws.

Neck

Long and slightly crested.

Forequarters

Shoulders broad, close to body, chest deep, legs short and muscular.

Body

Long and low, back level. Ribcage oval, deep and long. Short loin. Sides appear flattish due to straight-falling coat.

Hindquarters

Strong, full, well developed and well angulated. Legs short, muscular and straight when viewed from behind. No dewclaws.

Feet

Forefeet larger than hind, pointing truly forward. Pads thick, nails strong.

Tail

When hanging, upper part pendulous and lower half thrown back in a curve. When raised, a prolongation of incline of back, not rising higher or curling up. Gracefully feathered.

Gait

Legs proceed straight forward when travelling. When approaching, forelegs form a continuation of straight line of front, feet being same distance apart as elbows. Principal propelling power is furnished by hind legs which travel straight forward. Forelegs moving well forward, without too much lift. Whole movement termed free, active and effortless and gives a more or less fluid picture.

Coat

Double. Undercoat short, close, soft and woolly. Outer coat long, hard, straight, flat and free from curl. Hair on head shorter, softer, veiling forehead and eyes. Mingling with side locks, surrounding ears like a fringe and allowing their shape to appear.

Colour

Black, dark or light grey, fawn, cream, all with black points. Any self-colour allowing shading of same colour and lighter undercoat, so long as nose and ears are black. A small white spot on chest permissible.

Size

Ideal height 25-26 cms (10 ins), length from tip of nose to tip of tail 105 cms (411/2 ins). Bitches slightly smaller in same proportions.

Excercise Requirements

Moderate

Grooming Needs

Moderate

Notes

Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.




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