By Heidi Clayton
This past weekend was my favorite time of the year! It is not only finally fall, but my favorite dog shows of the year, which are the Montgomery County Terrier Shows, are held. There were a total of 1,299 terriers entered into this show with some of them coming from as far as Japan. In the world of terriers, it is the most-anticipated show of the year, and winning Montgomery is the Terrier equivalent of winning the World Series. This year the quality of terriers in the final line-up was outstanding. The judge had her hands full sifting through the best terrier representative there, and the crowd of hundreds was hushed as she did. I was thrilled when my fellow Garden State Terrier club member Antoinelle and her 7-year-old Skye Terrier, Archer, won Best in Show. So in honor of this incredible little dog, this week’s edition will be about the uncommon yet amazing Skye Terrier.
The Skye is considered a low-entry or at-risk breed of extinction. However, people who breed and own Skyes say that these dogs have a tenacious grasp on their hearts and are devoted to keeping them around. Their history can be traced back four centuries to the Isle of Skye in Scotland where they were bred to be vermin exterminators. They were not as common as the other Scottish breeds like the Scotty or Westie until during the 19th century when they caught the eye of Queen Victoria. The queen obtained her first Skye after seeing one in a painting, soon their popularity soared in English-speaking countries as they became the “it” dog of wealthy women. They made their way to America in 1887 and were just as popular here as they were in Europe for many years.
The Skye is perhaps the most unique-looking dog in the Terrier Group. They are twice as long in body length as they are high and are known for being “long, low, and level.” They have a long flowing double coat with easily distinguished big feathery ears that stand out like bat wings. Their coat may seem like it would be high maintenance, but they really only require weekly brushing to ensure it is free of tangles. While the Skye stands on small legs that only get between 9 to 10 inches high, they will be about waist height when they stand on two legs. They have very sturdy bodies that are skilled at going into rat holes and taking care of business.
The Skye Terrier has the true heart of a terrier; they are known for being fearless little dogs that are devoted and loyal to their families. They still excel at vermin hunting but love to snuggle with their owners after a long day’s work of hunting. In our modern-day world, this translates to wanting to cuddle after being out for walks exploring the world. No strangers will be getting near your family or children under the watchful eyes of a Skye. Plus, if you hate the rabbit population on the islands, the Skye Terrier will need no training to deal with them!
I absolutely love watching a Skye Terrier move with their long, flowing hairy ears. They are wonderful dogs with very few health issues and have four centuries behind them to vouch for their reliable coat. Read all about these great little dogs at the Skye Terrier Club of America at scta.us.
If you have any questions, please feel free to email me at heidi@fouronthefloordogtraining.net.
Heidi Clayton started Four On the Floor Dog Training to provide positive, reward-based dog training in South Jersey. She breeds, trains and shows bull terriers under the SoraBully’s Bull Terriers kennel name. Email questions to heidi@fouronthefloordogtraining.net or learn more at https://fouronthefloordogtraining.net
