GENERAL APPEARANCE
Shoulder height: 23-26cm (9”-10”).
Colour: Black, grey, fawn and cream with black points.
Coat: Outercoat - long, hard, straight and flat. Undercoat - short, close, soft and woolly.
Gait: Free with strong hind propulsion.
These short legged, long bodied terriers with their flowing coats are the picture of elegance. The skull and muzzle are long and strong with a slight stop. The close set eyes are preferably dark brown, and are covered with a veil of hair falling forward from the forehead. The ears may be either prick or dropped - the pricked variety must be well feathered and the inner edges must slant towards each other. The slightly crested neck runs into the long body and a deep chest. The muscular legs are well boned and the feet point forward. The gracefully feathered tail may hang down in a slight curve, or be carried straight out.
CHARACTERISTICS AND CARE
The Skye is not a dog for everyone, he is a one person dog and often distrustful of strangers. Often sensitive, only a strong verbal reprimand is needed to make them understand what is right or wrong. Their loyalty to their master is all encompassing and often difficult to break. Weekly care of the coat is necessary in order to see that the woolly undercoat does not knot up with the outercoat.
HISTORY
One of the earliest terriers in Britain, Skye Terriers take their name from the Isle of Skye off the west coast of Scotland. It is believed they arrived there from the Mediterranean area with the early Phoenician traders over 20 centuries ago. The breed adapted themselves well as working terriers; their long coats protecting them from the rough edges of rocky crevices, while the facial fringes protected their eyes. Queen Victoria took a fancy to this breed and owned a pair of them. In fact, their popularity was far greater in the late 19th century and at the 1902 Manchester show in England, the breed drew an entry of 110 exhibits.