Scottish Terrier vs Skye Terrier

A Scottish Terrier
Photo: Carlos Valenzuela
A Skye Terrier
Photo: Pleple2000

Side by side

Scottish Terrier
Skye Terrier
Adult weight
8.5–10.5 kg (19–23 lb)1
16–20 kg (35–45 lb) (breed club figure)2
Lifespan
Median 12.7 years3
10–16 years4
Fully grown
10 months, both sexes5
11 months, both sexes5
Group
Terriers1
Terriers6
Coat
Wire or harsh coat1
Double coat6
Shedding
Holds loose hair until it is brushed or clipped out
Moults most as the seasons change
Grooming
A brush once a week
Exercise
A moderate amount
Health
Toe melanoma (far more likely); Mouth melanoma (much more likely)7
No sourced figure
Class
Companion
Companion

Which suits you

Size
The Skye Terrier is much larger: about 18 kg (40 lb) as an adult, against 9.5 kg (21 lb) for the Scottish Terrier.
Shedding
Their coats shed differently: the Scottish Terrier holds loose hair until it is brushed or clipped out, the Skye Terrier moults most as the seasons change.
Temperament
They differ most on affection (Scottish Terrier: likes its own space; Skye Terrier: affectionate on its own terms) and on sensitivity (Scottish Terrier: average; Skye Terrier: needs a calm, predictable home).
Alike
Both are rated the same on independence: decides for itself.
Neither is the better dog in general. Which suits you depends on your home, your days and the care you can give.
Take the breed matcher

What they're like

Scottish Terrier
Terriers · Small

In temperament the breed is confident and independent, often reserved with strangers but loyal to its own household.

Skye Terrier
Terriers · Medium

In temperament the Skye is courageous and closely attached to its own people, yet reserved and often aloof with strangers.

The Scottish Terrier page →The Skye Terrier page →

Breed traits

Day to day
Scottish Terrier
Skye Terrier
Activity
A good daily walk and play
A good daily walk and play
Intelligence
Learns readily, likes games
Learns readily, likes games
Handler demand
Needs steady training
Needs steady training
With people
Scottish Terrier
Skye Terrier
Affection
Differs
Likes its own space
Affectionate on its own terms
Loyalty
Sticks close to its people
Sticks close to its people
Independence
Decides for itself
Decides for itself
Around the home
Scottish Terrier
Skye Terrier
Sensitivity
Differs
Average
Needs a calm, predictable home
Voice
Barks to alert, then settles
Barks to alert, then settles
Prey drive
Differs
Likely to chase small pets
Chases; needs managing
Breed explains only about 9% of how individual dogs differ in behaviour8. Meet the dog. A good breeder breeds for temperament as well as health, and matches each puppy's personality to the right home9,10.

Puppy growth

Reference curves · both sexes
The Skye Terrier grows to the heavier adult, about 18 kg against the Scottish Terrier's 9.5 kg.
Scottish Terrier
Skye Terrier
01020302m4m6m9m12m18m
01020302m3m4m6m9m12m18m

More comparisons

Compare the Scottish Terrier with
Cesky Terrier vs Scottish TerrierScottish Terrier vs Standard SchnauzerAll breed comparisons →

Sources

Parts of this page were written by AI ·