The Skye Terrier is an affectionate and loyal breed. But how do you know whether you are ready to purchase a pet and if this breed is right for you? This information is absolutely necessary in making the decision to purchase a pet.
History
The origin of the Skye Terrier can be traced back to 17th century Scotland, where is was most commonly used to explore caves, ditches, and small openings, and to hunt and kill small game such as badger, otter, and fox.
Thanks to Queen Elizabeth’s devotion to the breed, by the end of the 19th century, the Skye Terrier was among the most popular of all terrier breeds.
The Skye Terrier was recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1887, and categorized into the Terrier Group.
Today, while the Skye Terrier has attained an underground popularity, the breed remains rather rare outside of its native Scotland and fame throughout Europe and the United States.
Personality Traits
Best known for its feisty and spunky nature, the Skye Terrier is full of character. This breed is very intelligent and easily trained. The Skye Terrier thrives on human attention and relationships and loves to be outdoors to swim and play games such as fetch and frisbee. As a pet, this breed is extremely loyal, loving, affectionate, and fairly obedient.
Train-ability
Due to its need for human relationships and eagerness to please and impress its owner, the Skye Terrier generally responds well to basic training and commands. These dogs are quite bright and have the ability to learn to perform most any task their trainer is willing to take the time to teach.
Establishing immediate trust and respect is key to successfully training the Skye Terrier. This breed responds best to a stern yet gentle approach and positive reinforcement.
Benefits and Disadvantages of the Breed
There are many benefits to owning a Skye Terrier. These dogs are very active and quite entertaining to watch while at play. This breed is highly intelligent and is capable of learning to perform many impressive tasks and tricks. When properly socialized from a young age, the Skye Terrier gets along well with small children and other pets. This breed is loyal, loving, and affectionate, making an excellent family pet and companion alike.
Unfortunately, there are also disadvantages to owning a Skye Terrier. These energetic and athletic dogs require large amounts of daily exercise and room to run and play. Anyone wishing to purchase the Skye Terrier lacking the adequate amount of time and space to dedicate to the dog is strongly advised against doing so. A Skye Terrier not receiving the proper amount of exercise and space will often act out by destroying property, chewing, barking, whining, and ignoring basic training such as housebreaking.
The Skye Terrier has a strong instinct to hunt and will occasionally indulge in a good chase. When on the run, this breed is rather quick, and may pose a threat to other animals, neighborhood pets, and small woodland creatures. The Skye Terrier must be leashed or properly secured at all times when outdoors.
Like many companion breeds, the Skye Terrier is known to suffer from separation anxiety. Individuals seeking to purchase this breed who travel frequently, have full time work, or are away from the home on a daily basis are advised to begin researching another breed. During an attack of separation anxiety, the Skye Terrier will act out of nervous destruction and may destroy property, chew, bark, whine, and ignore housebreaking training.
This breed’s long and gorgeous coat requires almost constant attention, brushing, and grooming to maintain its attractive appearance.
As previously mentioned, the Skye Terrier remains rather rare in certain parts of the world and can prove difficult to obtain. Individuals wishing to purchase this breed often encounter such challenges as inability to locate a breeder, high prices, and being placed on long waiting lists.
Common Health Concerns
While Skye Terrier is typically known as a healthy and hearty breed, though they do suffer from a few health problems, including: hypothyroidism, epilepsy, and degenerative disk disease – due to their short legs.
Now that you know all about the breed, do you think you are ready to own a Skye Terrier? Remember, purchasing a pet is a big decision and should be discussed thoroughly and seriously with your entire family.
Sources:
http://www.akc.org/breeds/skye_terrier
http://www.dogguide.net/skye-terrier.php
