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Breed profile

Skye Terrier

Long, low and dignified, with a veil of hair over the eyes. Devoted to its own people, reserved with everyone else, and now rare in the UK.

Grey Skye Terrier with a long coat falling over its eyes, standing on paving
Skye TerrierPhoto: Pleple2000 / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Weight
12–18 kg26–40 lb
Height
24–26 cm9–10 in
Lifespan
12–14 yrs
Group
Terrier
Origin
Scotland
Popularity
#181 US#140 UK · 2025

Known for: Flat-friendly

Energy
Shedding
Trainability
Barking
Good with kids
Flat-friendly

Temperament

Loyal, Dignified, Reserved, Brave.

Health problems to know about

  • Puppy limp (premature growth plate closure)
  • Haemangiosarcoma
  • Intervertebral disc disease
  • Heart disease

Ask breeders for the parents' health test results, and check what your national breed club recommends screening for.

Daily care

Around an hour of exercise a day, with no jumping or long hikes for puppies while the legs grow. Brush the long coat to the skin at least weekly, or keep it clipped.

A good fit for

Calm adult homes, town or country, that want one loyal terrier and enjoy a bit of grooming.

Probably not ideal for

Homes with small pets or busy toddlers, owners wanting a social butterfly, and anyone who hates brushing.

Sources

  1. Royal Kennel Club: Skye Terrier
  2. Skye Terrier Club: Breed Health Survey 2025
  3. PetMD: Skye Terrier
  4. Wikipedia: Skye Terrier

Popularity: AKC 2025 registration rankings (US); Royal Kennel Club 2025 registrations (UK, ranked by us). Breed traits are tendencies, not guarantees. Individual dogs vary, and mixed breeds and rescues can be wonderful fits too.

Similar breeds

All breeds
West Highland White Terrier lying on a garden lawn dotted with daisies and buttercups

West Highland White Terrier

Bright, confident white terrier with a big-dog attitude. Fun and sociable, but the skin needs watching.

Black Scottish Terrier lying on a rock beside a lake with pine trees behind

Scottish Terrier

Dignified, stubborn little terrier with a beard and opinions. Loyal at home, reserved with strangers.

Close-up of a grey brindle Cairn Terrier with pricked ears sitting in long grass

Cairn Terrier

A shaggy, game little Scottish terrier. Cheerful, sturdy and curious, with a strong urge to dig and chase.

Brindle and white Miniature Bull Terrier standing on a garden path with ears pricked

Miniature Bull Terrier

The Bull Terrier in a smaller frame: egg-shaped head, comic timing and a stubborn streak.

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