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.
Size, Proportion, Substance
Size-The ideal shoulder height for dogs is 10
inches and bitches 9-1/2 inches. Based on these heights a 10 inch
dog measured from chest bone over tail at rump should be 20
inches. A slightly higher or lower dog of either sex is
acceptable. Dogs 9 inches or less and bitches 8-1/2 inches or
less at the withers are to be penalized. Proportion-The
ideal ratio of body length to shoulder height is 2 to 1, which is
considered the correct proportion. Substance-Solidly
built, full of strength and quality without being coarse. Bone is
substantial.
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.
Moderate width at the back of the skull tapers gradually to a
strong muzzle. The stop is slight. The dark muzzle is just
moderately full as opposed to snipy. 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.
Neck, Topline, 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.
Tail long and well feathered. When hanging, its
upper section is pendulous, following the line of the rump, its
lower section thrown back in a moderate arc without twist or
curl. When raised, its height makes it appear a prolongation of
the backline. 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.
Hindquarters
Strong, full, well developed and well angulated. Legs short,
muscular and straight when viewed from behind. Feet as in front.
Coat
Double. Undercoat short, close, soft and woolly. Outer coat
hard, straight and flat. 5-1/2 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.
Color
The coat must be of one over-all color at the skin but may be
of varying shades of the same color in the full coat, which may
be black, blue, dark or light grey, silver platinum, fawn or
cream. The dog must have no distinctive markings except for the
desirable black points of ears, muzzle and tip of tail, all of
which points are preferably dark even to black. The shade of head
and legs should approximate that of the body. There must be no
trace of pattern, design or clear-cut color variations, with the
exception of the breed's only permissible white which
occasionally exists on the chest not exceeding 2 inches in
diameter.
The puppy coat may be very different in color from the adult
coat. Therefore, as it is growing and clearing, wide variations
of color may occur; consequently, this is permissible in dogs
under 18 months of age. However, even in puppies there must be no
trace of pattern, design, or clear-cut variations with the
exception of the black band encircling the body coat of the creme
colored dog, and the only permissible white which, as in the
adult dog, occasionally exists on the chest not exceeding 2
inches in diameter.
Gait
The legs proceed straight forward when traveling. When
approaching, the forelegs form a continuation of the straight
line of the front. The feet being the same distance apart as the
elbows. The principal propelling power is furnished by the back
legs which travel straight forward. Forelegs should move well
forward, without too much lift. The whole movement may be termed
free, active and effortless and give a more or less fluid
picture.
Temperament
That of the typical working terrier capable of overtaking game
and going to ground, displaying stamina, courage, strength and
agility. Fearless, good-tempered, loyal and canny, he is friendly
and gay with those he knows and reserved and cautious with
strangers.
This information from the AKC
Skye Terrier Club of
America
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