Skye terrier dog health problems, training and grooming skye terrier puppies

Originally bred around 400 years ago in Scotland, the skye terrier dog is one of the oldest British dog breeds today.



According to legend, the breed first came about when a Spanish ship carrying a number of small Maltese dogs crashed into some rocks off the coast of Scotland. Some of the dogs were rescued by the local village folk and later mated with the local canines to give birth to the Skye terriers we know today.



While the story has not been corroborated, the skye terrier dog was only known to have inhabited the northern parts of Scotland for a large period of its early days. The breed was then thrust into the limelight when Queen Victoria acquired affection for the breed around the 1800's, making them very popular among the noble and elites of the British population.

While the terrier looks rather small and frail, one should not be mislead as they are very sturdy, strong and courageous animals. The outer coats are rather rough but they also have a soft undercoat. The Skye terrier dog may appear to be mal proportioned as it is extremely long considering its relatively low height. Unlike many other small dogs, the Skye terrier dogs are not overly active and will be happy with a couple of walks over the  course of the day and some amount of play time. However, if it is not afforded the appropriate amount of play time or exercise, it could star to misbehave and become a little destructive. Skye terrier training is rather straightforward as the animals are very loyal and intelligent. However, they do have a tendency to get attached to one individual and will also form a very close understanding with that person. It is essential that the animals are allowed to socialize while they are pups in order to prevent them from developing character flaws such as being aloof or suspicious with strangers.

Skye terrier grooming can be one of the biggest drawbacks of the breed as their lush coats are very susceptible to knotting and matting – making a regular brushing of the coat essential. Since they are medium shedders, they may also pose a problem to individuals that suffer from dog allergies. The Skye terrier dog is known to have a rather long life expectancy where some of them may even live for as long as 15 years. They do tend to suffer from some common medical ailments including thyroid problems, autoimmune problems and spinal issues.