Skye Terrier puppies

About the Skye Terrier

The Skye Terrier comes from the Hebridean island the breed is named after, where crofters used them to dig fox, otter and badger out of rock cairns. They are built long and low, standing only 24 to 25 cm at the shoulder while weighing 15.9 to 20.4 kg, which makes them a surprisingly heavy dog to lift. A curtain of long hair falls over the eyes, the ears carry either prick or drop, and the whole outline is one flowing line. Skyes are reserved with strangers and deeply loyal to one household.

Exercise needs are modest, and a daily walk with a game indoors will do. The coat looks harder work than it is, wanting a weekly comb through with a long toothed comb, and it should never be clipped or scissored. The long back is the thing to protect, so block off stairs for puppies and discourage jumping down from furniture. Because Skyes are wary by nature, early and steady socialisation matters more than obedience drills. New owners often read that reserve as timidity to be coddled, which makes it worse.

What to expect at eight weeks

At eight weeks a Skye Terrier puppy is sleeping around 18 to 20 hours a day, is not house trained, and cannot hold on for more than an hour or two at a stretch. A medium breed puppy at eight weeks is a manageable armful that will not stay that way. Most of the growth happens between now and six months, so buy for the adult dog where you can. Expect moderate energy, in short bursts separated by long naps. Grooming needs are moderate, so build the brushing habit now while the coat is still short and easy. The socialisation window is open and closing: everything they meet calmly now, from vacuum cleaners to men in hats, is easier for the rest of their life.

Health worth knowing about

Conditions this breed is reported to be predisposed to. Predisposed does not mean inevitable, it means ask about it.

• Intervertebral disk injury, a real risk in long backed dogs, diagnosed by x-ray and MRI
• Hip dysplasia, which breeding stock should be x-rayed and scored for
• Patellar luxation, graded by a veterinary orthopaedic exam
• Mammary cancer and haemangiosarcoma, found through regular veterinary examination and imaging
• Autoimmune disease, investigated through blood work
• Skin allergies, diagnosed by allergy testing and elimination diets

Your Skye Terrier puppy's first six months

• Vaccination schedule, dated for your country.
• Worming and parasite schedule.
• Feeding calculator. Set expected adult size to Medium for a Skye Terrier.
• Adult size predictor, to check growth against the 15.9 to 20.4 kg adult range.
• Puppy names and the first week checklist.

Kit sizes: crate 36 inch (36 x 24 x 26 in, 91 x 61 x 66 cm) for an adult of up to 20.4 kg; chew toys made for medium breeds. Worked out the same way as the crate size calculator. PetMD bases a crate on the dog's own measurements, not weight or breed alone, so measure once the puppy is home.

Buying guides for this

• Best crate for a puppy: wire, plastic or soft, and how to size one with a divider

Other medium breeds

Previous: Silky Terrier · Next: Sloughi

Sources

• akc.org for adult weight and height, life expectancy, energy, grooming, shedding and the temperament ratings, coat type and health notes
• fci.be for country of origin
• Health notes from Skye Terrier breed information at https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/skye-terrier/. Discuss any of these with your own vet.

Photo: Pleple2000, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped. All photographers are listed on the photo credits page.