The Skye Terrier
There
are at least two versions of the history of the Skye terrier. It was
before accepted that the Skye Terrier's origins are connected with
a centuries old shipwreck. The story goes that early in the 1600's
a Spanish ship wrecked on the Isle of Skye in the Scottish Hebrides.
Some of the survivors of the shipwreck were Maltese dogs that mated
with the local terriers, creating a new and unique breed of Terrier.
But a text of Caius, written decades before the shipwreck, describes
a very modern portrait of the Skye terrier, proving that the modern
Skye terrier existed long time before the arrival of the Malteses
:
"lap
dogs which were brought out of the barbarous borders from the uttermost
countryes northward, and they by reason of the length of their heare,
make show neither face nor body, and yet these curres forsooth because
they are so strange, are greatly set by, esteemed, taken up, and made
of, in room of the spaniell gentle, or comforter".
So
it is sure that the Skye terrier has inherited very few, or even not,
characteristics of the Maltese. As an achondroplastic breed, and looking
alike the Welsh corgi, it is believed that the Skye Terrier may have
been a result of a crossing between the celtic terriers local to the
area and the Swedish Vallhund of the Viking invaders. It may be that
the Swedish Vallhund had mated with the local terriers centuries before
Maltese dogs were said to have arrived, making both histories true.
The
Skye is double coated, with a short, soft undercoat and a hard, straight
topcoat, which must be flat against the body and free of curl. The
ideal coat length is 5 1/2 inches (14 cm), with no extra credit for
a longer coat. The shorter hair of the head veils the forehead and
eyes, forming a moderate beard. The ears should be well feathered
and, in prick-eared examples, the hair should fall like a fringe,
accenting the form, and blending with the side locks.
The
colour can be Fawn, blue, dark or light grey, blonde, and black with
black points (ears and muzzle) all occur. They may have any self colour,
allowing for some shading of same colour on the body and a lighter
undercoat, so long as the nose and ears are black. There should be
no further patterning on the body, but a small white spot on the chest
is permissible.
The
Skye Terrier coat is resistant to tangling, and needs to be brushed
at least once a week. The Skye should be generally kept natural and
untrimmed; however, minor trimming of the coat between and around
the toes and pads can help avoid problems due to trapped dampness
or twigs, pebbles, mud, etc.
Except
for the shape and size of the ears, there is no significant difference
nor preference given between the prick- and drop-eared types. When
prick, they are medium sized, carried high on the skull and angled
slightly outwards. In the drop type, the ears are set lower, are larger,
and should hang flat against the head, with little or no muscle movement
forwards and backwards.
Breed Clubs and Societies
SKYE TERRIER CLUB. Sec: Ms Megan Roberts - Libanus House, Rhos Isaf, Gwynedd LL54 7NN
Tel - 01286 832441 secretary@skyeterrierclub.org.uk
This breed of dog is a 'Vulnerable Native Breed'.
GREYFRIARS BOBBY
I remember the story of a little dog called Greyfriars Bobby, its a sad but very sweet story.
Around 1850 a man called John Gray worked as a night watchman for the police force to keep him company he took along his Skye terrier Bobby and for the next few years they became a familiar sight. John became very ill with tuberculosis and eventually died of the disease in February 1858 and was buried in Greyfriars churchyard,at this time dogs were not aloud to enter churchyards. The very next morning Bobby was found keeping a constant watch and guard over his masters grave, the gardener and keeper of Greyfriars tried on many occasions to keep Bobby out, but the next morning Bobby was there! in the end he gave up and provided a shelter for Bobby by placing sacking beneath two tablestones at the side of John Grays grave. Bobby would leave at 1.00pm each day to go for his food from the local people, he remained loyal to his master for fourteen years untill his own death in 1872.
Bobby is also buried at Greyfriars but just outside the graveyard as dogs could not be buried inside the churchyard.
Bobbys headstone reads
Greyfriars Bobby
Died 14th January 1872
Age 16 years
Let his loyalty and devotion be a lesson to all us all.
Go To Top Of Page
