What to Think About Before Getting a Skye Terrier Puppy
The Skye Terrier or Skye is a breed of medium-sized dog that originated on the Scottish island of Skye and Colonsay. Other names for it include the Clydesdale Terrier, Fancy Skye Terrier, Silky Skye Terrier, Glasgow Terrier, and Paisley Terrier. After 1842, when Queen Victoria bought her first Skye, the breed’s popularity skyrocketed overnight. In 1887, the American Kennel Club officially recognized the Skye Terrier. In 1938, the first Skye Terrier Club of America was established. While they were once prized for their ability to hunt, these days people prefer to have them around because of the many ways in which they can contribute as pets. The coat of a Skye can be any of several different colors, including black, blue, dark or light gray, silver platinum, fawn, cream, and tan. Is it the right pet for you? Let’s find out. Here are the things you need to know before getting one home!
The Skye Terrier is friendly and a little shy.
It's not surprising if your terrier is reserved around new people because of the breed's natural independence. Although they aren't the most outgoing or friendly when it comes to strangers, they are extremely affectionate and dedicated to their loved ones. If they show a preference for one member of the family over another, try not to take it personally.
If a stranger waits for him to initiate contact, they will find that he accepts them as well, so long as they aren't aggressive or dangerous. Skye is a courageous, affable, and devoted family member but he is selective about who he befriends and appreciates it when others spend their time getting to know him.
This dog needs early socialization.
Socialization of young Skye Terrier is essential. As introverts by nature, they need encouragement to overcome their wariness and open up to others. Since the Skye Terrier is naturally wary of strangers, it needs early and consistent socialization to help shape its strong sense of independence.
As with all dogs, young Skye benefits greatly from early socialization, or exposure to a wide variety of people, places, things, and events. Your new Skye Terrier puppy will develop into a well-rounded dog with proper socialization.
Even if they had some early exposure to social situations, they may still feel most comfortable in a calm setting free of rambunctious young children. Skye Terriers do best in households with mature children who can properly interact with the dog.
Although some Skye Terriers may be sociable with other animals, this is by no means guaranteed. Because they can be territorial with their human family members, it may be difficult to introduce new pets to the household. Either way, they can learn to get along with one another through socialization.
They need human companionship.
The Skye Terrier thrives as an indoor pet and is extremely loyal to its human family, yet it has a tendency to form strong bonds with just one person. Skye isn't particularly a needy dog, but it does want its share of your love and respect. You'd be foolish to ignore him or her.
If you make a mistake, Skye will let you know by showing its displeasure through digging, gnawing, and barking. When it comes to relationships, the Skye Terrier is all about mutual respect and compromise.
If its people show it the love and appreciation it deserves, it will gladly return the favor. Even while a Skye is guaranteed to make you laugh, he is also there for you when you need to cry, with his long coat ready to soak up your sorrows.
They can adapt to apartment life.
Skye's modest stature and low energy requirements make it a good fit for almost any type of home, whether city or country. Although the Skye Terrier can adjust to apartment life, it is not a dog that thrives on long periods of isolation. If you take the time to play with and walk your dog, you'll be rewarded with a loyal companion.
Skye Terriers are playful dogs that don't require a huge yard. To keep it safe from cars and other dogs, which it may react negatively to, it should either be on a leash or in a gated yard whenever it is outside.
The Skye Terrier, like many other terriers, is predisposed to enjoy the outdoors and find buried treasure. Still, it's best for him and his folks if he stays inside throughout the winter.
They can be a bit to deal with while training.
The Skye terrier has been given the Scottish name "canny". It has feelings but is not a pushover and has a strong sense of self. Many owners have trouble getting these dogs to respond to training. Because of their stubborn nature, teaching these dogs properly is crucial.
Even though it has a will of its own, it is sensitive and can be trained with a firm voice, food rewards, praise, and play. Use positive reinforcement to train Skye, but be strict and consistent with your expectations. Your Skye will always try to disobey you if he believes he can get away with it.
Skye Terriers are dominant and willful, so you'll need to show them who's boss in every way possible.
They should not be left alone with small animals.
In addition to being hostile toward strange canines, Skye Terriers often go after and kill smaller animals. The Skye, being a terrier and all, will gladly take on canines of any size, thus it should not be left alone with little fuzzy pets like rabbits, hamsters, birds, and guinea pigs. A little too much like lunch, if you ask me.
A Skye Terrier may show aggression toward strange canine companions, but he is likely to get along swimmingly with the feline and canine friends he was brought up with.
Skye Terriers are very loyal.
Getting any of these dogs as a pet is the best decision you can make if loyalty is important to you. The faithfulness of this breed has been praised by many, both historical and contemporary.
Bobby, a Skye whose master passed away in 1858, is famously credited with popularizing the breed's reputation for unwavering loyalty to his human companion. In Greyfriars Kirk Cemetery in Edinburgh, Bobby remained for the next 14 years, never far from the grave of his owner.
People in town gave Bobby food and water. A bronze statue of Bobby was set up outside the churchyard gates after the dog passed away.
These dogs are pretty easy to keep.
It is recommended to brush your Skye Terrier once a week and bathe it every two or three weeks. When it comes to shedding, he's just your typical guy. A pin brush or large-toothed comb should be used to maintain the luxuriant long coat.
Before you wash your dog, you should brush away any knots and tangles. They become more secure and challenging to remove after becoming wet. In order to avoid breaking the dog's hair during brushing, you should spray the coat with water as you go.
Nail and teeth care are two more aspects of personal grooming. Too long nails will make a clicking sound when dropped on the floor. Keep your Skye's feet in tip-top shape by trimming her nails short so she won't scratch your legs as she bounds up to welcome you.
It is recommended that you brush your Skye's teeth at least twice weekly to prevent tartar accumulation and the bacteria it attracts. Ideally, you would do this every day.
The Skye Terriers need daily exercise.
The Skye Terrier may have a low activity level and be calm in the house, but he still needs daily walks. You should aim to get at least 30 minutes of exercise every day.
A daily stroll or some vigorous yard play is just what Skye needed. It will become bored and dissatisfied without consistent teaching and will likely exhibit disruptive or noisy behavior as a result.
Fortunately, Skye Terriers tire out quickly, so even a few brief play sessions spread out throughout the day should be enough to burn off some of their boundless energy.
The Skye Terrier is a very healthy breed.
The Skye Terrier is a breed that tends to be quite robust. The only thing that could go wrong is some kind of orthopedic issue during the growing process. The Skye has a huge body and short legs, a condition known as achondroplastic.
Never let your young Skye Terrier puppy up the stairs or onto the furniture. It's not good for a young Skye Terrier's front legs to be subjected to all that activity.
It could develop premature closure, a condition in which the growth plates in its legs don't close properly if he's permitted to undertake considerable jumping and climbing when still a puppy.
Skye Terriers can expect to live a long and happy life beside you and your loved ones. Some people say they bark too much, but this is another problem that can be fixed with proper training.
Unfortunately, they are also stubborn, so you'll need to be patient and lavish them with praise whenever they behave well. Other diseases that can affect Skye Terriers include hypothyroidism, von Willebrand's disease, allergies, and ulcerative colitis.
Your dog’s diet should take into account its age, size, and degree of exercise.
The average dog needs high-quality dog food per day, split between two meals. The amount of food your adult dog needs depends on factors such as age, size, structure, metabolism, and level of exercise. Like humans, dogs are unique in their nutritional requirements. Naturally, an energetic dog will require more than a less active dog.
Rather than putting food out all day long, measure its food and feed it twice a day to keep your Skye Terrier in good form. This aids in preventing the canines from becoming overweight while also keeping them satisfied and stimulated. Skye Terriers thrive on a high-protein, high-fat, and high-fiber diet.
A Skye Terrier is good for older children.
If it has been properly socialized, a Skye Terrier can be a wonderful pet for older kids. Their terrier nature may make them too combative for kids under the age of six. When these canines are feeling lively and enthusiastic, households with young children may need to take extra precautions.
To avoid any potential for biting or ear or tail pulling, adults should instruct children on the proper pet interaction before allowing them to engage with dogs.
Don't let your kid bother a dog while it's sleeping or try to take his food away from him. Regardless of how friendly a dog is, it should never be left alone with a youngster. They can be rather aggressive toward people who cross their limits. They are so lively that they wouldn't think twice about knocking over a toddler.
This breed is quite rare.
Puppies of the Skye Terrier breed are getting increasingly hard to find. Few of them remain, increasing the difficulty of locating a reliable breeder. If and when you do encounter one, though, know that it may come at a hefty price.
Although there aren't many Skye Terrier breeders, rest assured that the ones who do care deeply about the dogs and the continuation of the breed. The likelihood of finding one of these dogs in a backyard breeding site or a dog rescue is quite low.
The typical price of a Skye Terrier puppy is between $1,500 and $2,000. The price may go up or down from here. One of them will cost you thousands of dollars, depending on a variety of criteria. Never let the cost deter you. This species should not be allowed to go extinct; they have contributed greatly to our world.
They have a very high prey drive.
Like other terrier breeds, Skye Terriers were originally bred for hunting vermin like foxes and badgers. Historically, these dogs were prized for their superiority as hunting companions due to their intense prey drive.
Today's pet owners may experience some frustration as a result of this behavior, but nobody can argue that the animals are doing just what they were originally bred to do.
The Skye terrier loves to dig and bark.
A typical Terrier, the Skye is noisy and persistent, and has a penchant for barking and digging. In contrast to other dog breeds, the Skye Terrier is a very practical pet. Skye Terriers retain many of the positive and negative characteristics typical of the breed.
Overall, the decline in the number of these dogs is quite sad. A lot of people might benefit from introducing a Skye Terrier into their lives. Some individuals interested in buying or adopting them might find it difficult to encounter a trusted breeder. Aside from their intense loyalty and intelligence, he's a digger, a barker, and a cat-chaser. It doesn't get along with other dogs very well, especially if they're also male. And they can be a bit of a challenge to train because of their stubbornness. Bringing one into your house is a decision you won't come to regret. Especially if you're prepared to meet all of the dog's health and lifestyle requirements. Good luck!
