Skyes – The Great Little Dog

Picking a new pet is a joyous occasion, but also a difficult one. There are so many decisions to be made – dog or cat (or even fish or bird)? Once you've decided that a dog is the right choice for your household, even more questions come into play. You need to decide what breed will be right for your temperament, location and family. Some people will choose a dog based on other characteristics, such as a specific breed or size. It's important to learn as much as you can about your chosen dog before actually purchasing a puppy.

Few people can look at Skyes without finding them to be extremely cute. This member of the terrier family may not be the dog for everyone, but if you've got a big heart (and even bigger yard) they can grow up to be excellent family dogs. Skyes are a large dog, but have short legs. It's generally around 20 inches in length, but has only 10 inch legs, making it look rather stumpy. Don't let the height fool you, however, these dogs are tough – they were originally used as farm work dogs. Skyes became popular as pets when Queen Victoria started breeding them during her reign, and she popularized the “prick ear" variety of the breed.

Skyes are born with a thick coat, which is actually two coats. A hard, straight and stiff topcoat covers the shorter, softer undercoat. Their fluffy faces often have the bearded look that most terriers have, and colors vary from cream to dark black. Luckily, their coats are resistant to tangling, so grooming is not a big issue for the Skye, and they are not expected to have any special grooming look (no poodle cuts for a Skye!).

The Skye's temperament is somewhat reserved, and they are very discriminating. They will often choose to be around the calmest person in a household, as they crave this order and reserved attitude. They are very intelligent, and require little exercise, so for the right person, a Skye can be an excellent indoor dog.

Choosing the right dog for your family is important, so do your research. The American Kennel Club offers suggestions about breeds, as well as descriptions of the breeds' characteristics, so they are a good reference point for people deciding whether or not to get a particular breed.