theSkye Terrier

Courageous, Good-tempered, Canny
Terrier Group Terrier Group

meet theSkye Terrier

Did you know?

Skyes were bred by farmers as working terriers whose function was to destroy fox, badger and otter.

Learn More

at aGlance

Energy & Size

medium ENERGY &
medium size

AKC Dog Ranking

177th
Most Popular Dog Breed

AKC Dog Ranking

Personality

  • Check Canny
  • Check Courageous
  • Check Good-tempered
Plucky but dignified, calm but sometimes stubborn; famously loyal and devoted.

theBreed Standard

Embed the breed standard on your site.

  • Click the box above and use
    Cmd + C or Ctrl + C
    to add this code to your site/blog. Show off your love for the Skye Terrier!

Skye Terrier Breed Standard Illustration 01 02 03 04 05 06

  • General Appearance

    The Skye Terrier is a dog of style, elegance and dignity: agile and strong with sturdy bone and hard muscle. Long, low and level-he is twice as long as he is high-he is covered with a profuse coat that falls straight down either side of the body over oval-shaped ribs. The hair well feathered on the head veils forehead and eyes to serve as protection from brush and briar as well as amid serious encounters with other animals. He stands with head high and long tail hanging and moves with a seemingly effortless gait. He is strong in body, quarter and jaw.

  • Head

    Long and powerful, strength being deemed more important than extreme length. Eyes brown, preferably dark brown, medium in size, close-set and alight with life and intelligence. Ears symmetrical and gracefully feathered. They may be carried prick or drop. If prick, they are medium in size, placed high on the skull, erect at their outer edges, and slightly wider apart at the peak than at the skull. Drop ears, somewhat larger in size and set lower, hang flat against the skull. Powerful and absolutely true jaws. The nose is always black. A Dudley, flesh-colored or brown nose shall disqualify. Mouth with the incisor teeth closing level, or with upper teeth slightly overlapping the lower.

  • Body

    Neck - Long and gracefully arched, carried high and proudly.The backline is level. Body pre-eminently long and low, the chest deep, with oval-shaped ribs. The sides appear flattish due to the straight falling and profuse coat. Though not to be preferred, the tail is sometimes carried high when the dog is excited or angry. When such carriage arises from emotion only, it is permissible. But the tail should not be constantly carried above the level of the back or hang limp.

  • Forequarters

    Shoulders well laid back, with tight placement of shoulder blades at the withers and elbows should fit closely to the sides and be neither loose nor tied. Forearm should curve slightly around the chest. Legs short, muscular and straight as possible. "Straight as possible" means straight as soundness and chest will permit, it does not mean "Terrier straight." Feet -  Large hare-feet preferably pointing forward, the pads thick and nails strong and preferably black.

     

  • Coat

    Double. Undercoat short, close, soft and woolly. Outer coat hard, straight and flat. 5½ inches long without extra credit granted for greater length. The body coat hangs straight down each side, parting from head to tail. The head hair, which may be shorter, veils forehead and eyes and forms a moderate beard and apron. The long feathering on the ears falls straight down from the tips and outer edges, surrounding the ears like a fringe and outlining their shape. The ends of the hair should mingle with the coat of the neck. Tail well feathered.

  • Hindquarters

    Strong, full, well developed and well angulated. Legs short, muscular and straight when viewed from behind. Feet as in front.

A Skye Terrier
Learn More

theSkye Terriers of AKC

Add my DogAdd My Dog

Upload your favorite Skye Terrier photos to Twitter or Instagram using the hashtag #akcSkyeTerrier.

More Photos

get involved inClubs & Events

National Breed Club

theSkye Terrier Club of America

Local Breed
Club

Find the Local Breed Clubs in your area.


Meetups

Explore meetups.com and see all of the local Skye Terriers in your area.

exploreOther Breeds