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Skye
History
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Yuck! Who likes the dumb old
subject of 'history'??
However, it's important to know the history of the Skye Terrier. It gives you a perspective on the basic functioning of the breed. Here's a thumbnail sketch of the breed's origin.
More than 500 years ago, the hardy souls who wrested a living from the land and sea of the Isle of Skye started developing a dog who was the right size to kill the larger 'vermin' who ate their grain and fish. They had a smaller dog (probably the breed we know today as the Cairn Terrier) to take care of mice and rats. Badger, fox and otter were another story, though.
The Isle of Skye today
Thus began the development of the Skye Terrier. Bred to be an independent hunter, doing its job without direction from man. Bred to have a double coat to withstand the rigors of a Scottish winter. Bred to be small enough to go into a burrow but big enough to kill what it found there. This is the origin of the Skye, and the characteristics still seen and treasured today. Keep this in mind if you're used to a more tractable breed like a retriever.
No history of the Skye would be complete without mention of Greyfriars Bobby. For fourteen years Bobby kept constant watch over his master's grave until his own death in 1872. The popularity of the breed soared in the late 17th and early 18th century when Queen Victoria became a Skye fancier. Since then, the number of Skyes has waxed and waned. Today, it's not easy to find a Skye in the US.
Here is what some breed experts have to say about the history of the Skye Terrier
(NB: When you click on either of these links, you'll be visiting a site outside of Argent on the Web. To return to Argent, close that browser window.)
