Wheaten Terrier vs Skye Terrier - Breed Comparison

Wheaten Terrier vs Skye Terrier - Breed ComparisonSkye Terrier is originated from United Kingdom but Wheaten Terrier is originated from Ireland. Skye Terrier may grow 24 cm / 9 inches shorter than Wheaten Terrier. Both Skye Terrier and Wheaten Terrier are having almost same weight. Skye Terrier may live 3 years more than Wheaten Terrier. Skye Terrier may have less litter size than Wheaten Terrier. Both Skye Terrier and Wheaten Terrier requires Moderate Maintenance.

Basic Information

Group:
Terrier dog
Terrier dog
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United Kingdom
Ireland
Height Male:
23 - 26 cm
9 - 11 inches
43 - 50 cm
16 - 20 inches
Height Female:
23 - 26 cm
9 - 11 inches
43 - 50 cm
16 - 20 inches
Weight Male:
12 - 18 kg
26 - 40 pounds
13 - 20 kg
28 - 45 pounds
Weight Female:
12 - 18 kg
26 - 40 pounds
13 - 20 kg
28 - 45 pounds
Life Span:
12 - 15 Years
10 - 12 Years
Litter Size:
3 - 5
2 - 8
Size:
Medium
Medium
Other Names:
Skye
The Wheaten
Colors Available:
shades of grey, Fawn
Wheaten, gingery
Coat:
Long, straight, hard topcoat
Soft single coat
Shedding:
Moderate
Minimal
Temperament:
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Docile, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Quiet, Responsive, Social, Territorial
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Energetic, Friendly, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Quiet, Responsive, Social
Grooming:
Moderate Maintenance
Moderate Maintenance
Trainability:
Easy
Easy
Hypoallergenic:
No
Yes
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
Yes

History

skye terrierThe Skye Terrier is a hardy dog breed and is actually considered to be an endangered native dog breed in the United Kingdom.

They were found on the Isle of Skye, although there is some confusion about its history. They were used long ago to hunt but these days they are essentially companion dogs.

They found their way to America and the Skye Terrier Club of America was founded in 1938. The American Kennel Club recognized the breed in 1887.

The Wheaten Terrier hails from Ireland, some 200 years ago.

wheaten terrierThe dog was bred to be a useful dog to have around the farm. He was needed to help with the guarding and herding of livestock and to keep the rat population down.

This little dog has a long history, but in spite of this, he wasn’t recognized as a breed in his home country by the Irish Kennel Club until 1937.

It was in 1943 that the Wheaten was recognized by the British Kennel Club. They were exported to the United States in the 1940s and recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1973.

Description

skye terrier puppy - descriptionThe Skye Terrier is a medium-sized dog standing at between 23 and 26cm in height and weighing between 12 and 18kg. The legs are short and sturdy. He is double coated with the top coat being straight and hard and forming a beard around the face area. The coat can be fawn, and in various shades of grey which are sometimes even black. The ears of the dog are medium sized and erect.

Temperament:

The Skye Terrier has always been a hunting dog and he enjoys quite a bit of exercise – walks, ball games as well as indoor games. Small though he may be, he is strong willed with a mind of his own and will benefit from being trained and socialized.

This is also necessary as he has a fairly reserved nature. He gets on well with children and makes an excellent family pet but he is ready to take on smaller pets in the home. He will bark when confronting strangers and makes an excellent watchdog too.

He is able to adapt well into life in the city or the countryside. He isn’t a dog to be left outside day after day and will just die of boredom, frustration and loneliness.

wheaten terrier puppy - descriptionThe Wheaten Terrier is a robustly built, medium-sized dog with males and females standing at between 43 to 50cm in height and weighing between 13 to 20kg.

The soft, single coat is a silky texture and a wheaten, gingery color. A bonus is that the coat doesn’t shed much. Puppies are born with darkish coats of a reddish-brown color but the coat lightens significantly as the puppy grows older.

Most Wheaten Terrier owners opt to have the dog professionally groomed. Their tails have always been docked.

Temperament:

Your Wheaten Terrier is a smart dog, albeit headstrong and stubborn. His intelligence makes it easy to have him trained.

They love their human family and aren’t known for any aggression issues. They’re energetic, playful dogs and are sometimes even looked upon as being hyperactive. They’re able to get along well with other dogs and cats in the house. They generally make great family pets.

These dogs are well suited to life in the city as well as the countryside just so long as he gets his daily walks and other forms of exercise.

Characteristics

skye terrier dog - characteristicsGive the Skye Terrier the attention he wants and he will reward you with his loving companionship.

He loves the entire family but is best suited to homes where children have been taught to be kind to animals and to treat them with respect.

He has moderate energy levels and will expect you to give him a fair amount of exercise. The Skye Terrier can make an excellent companion for you and your family.

wheaten terrier dog - characteristicsThe Wheaten Terrier is such a bouncy, lively little dog that he brings joy into any home.

He is energetic, playful and full of the joys of living but you don’t want to take advantage of his good nature.

Don’t leave him stuck in your back yard but include him in all your family activities. He’s your best friend, providing you with unconditional love that few humans can equal.

Health Problems

skye terrier puppies - health problemsThe Skye Terrier is a healthy dog breed. Perhaps the only issue that could be a problem with him is orthopedic problems. He is an achondroplastic dog, meaning a large body on small legs.

He could develop spinal problems if he were allowed to constantly be jumping off beds and high chairs.

Orthopedic problems affect the bones, muscles and joints and can actually be debilitating. Orthopedic conditions can be ligament tears or hip dysplasia for instance, accompanied by arthritis.

You’ll notice your dog has an abnormal way of walking or running, inability to get up once lying down and he may have arthritis and pain.Be careful because obesity can trigger problems with the joints and bones.

wheaten terrier puppies - health problemsYour Wheaten Terrier is a dog breed that can live healthily with you for a good number of years.

Just like most other dogs, they are prone to some heritable diseases. Perhaps a condition to look out for with this particular dog is protein wasting conditions - protein-losing nephropathy (PLN) and protein-losing enteropathy (PLE).

Both of these diseases are actually fatal but if caught early enough, they can be managed with dietary changes and medication.

Your dog produces proteins known as enzymes, one group being digestive enzymes that help with the breakdown and digestion of food. When your pet battles with malabsorption, digestive enzymes don’t absorb protein and it passes through the large intestine into the faeces. Your dog will have inflammatory bowel disease.

Dogs with PLE for instance, will have vomiting, diarrhoea and weight loss.

Caring The Pet

skye terrier dogs - caring● The coat of the Skye Terrier is long and silky and will most certainly require brushing every day if you keep the hair long. Such silky hair can easily become matted.

● Little dogs like this will need their teeth being checked regularly. You can even try to buy special pet toothpaste and toothbrush and brush his teeth yourself. If you prefer, a professional dog groomer can do this for you and at the same time trim his nails and check his ears and clean the insides of the ears too to avoid infection.

● Provide him with his own warm, dry place to sleep.

● Don’t ignore his exercise needs. A dog without exercise will get sick.

● Provide him with top quality food as the quality of the dog food you buy makes a huge difference to his health and longevity. He is a small dog and there are some excellent commercially manufactured dog foods specially made for small, energetic dogs.

Try to include some home-made food for him which can be simply mixed into the dry kibble twice a week. Boiled chicken, brown rice or pasta and spinach, sweet potatoes and carrots is super tasty and nutritious. Ensure there is always a bowl of fresh, cool water within his reach.

● Have him neutered or spayed if you aren’t wanting puppies.

● Keep his vaccines up to date against some deadly canine diseases, and get him to the vet when he shows signs of illness.

● He isn't a large dog but will still need to be trained and socialized.

wheaten terrier dogs - caringBrush your pet’s coat twice a week to keep it healthy and have him professionally trimmed to keep him looking nice and groomed.

Dental disease is a common problem with dogs, and more specifically small dogs. Dental problems start with tartar build-up on the teeth and then infection of the gums and roots can set in too. The teeth have to be kept in good condition as rotten teeth can have a negative impact on other important body parts like the heart and kidneys.

Have your pet vaccinated against bacterial and viral infections such as rabies and parvo.

Speak to your vet about the many worms and other parasites that can invade your pet’s body.

Have your Wheaten spayed or neutered if you want to avoid unwanted puppies.

Provide your Wheaten with the best food there is to encourage good health and longevity. Keep his meals simple and consistent and always go for high-quality foods that are in keeping with your dog’s age, Kibble as well as home-made food are good choices. Never leave your pet without a constant source of fresh, cool water.

Provide your Wheaten Terrier with good exercise. Remember though that these dogs are sensitive to warm temperatures, and you don’t want to have him exercising in hot weather because of the fear of heat stress.

Comparison with other breeds

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  5. Wheaten Terrier vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  6. Wheaten Terrier vs French Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  7. Wheaten Terrier vs Beagle - Breed Comparison
  8. Wheaten Terrier vs Yorkshire Terrier - Breed Comparison
  9. Wheaten Terrier vs Poodle - Breed Comparison
  10. Wheaten Terrier vs Rottweiler - Breed Comparison
  11. Wheaten Terrier vs Boxer - Breed Comparison
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  26. Skye Terrier vs English Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  27. Skye Terrier vs German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  28. Skye Terrier vs Golden Retriever - Breed Comparison
  29. Skye Terrier vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison
  30. Skye Terrier vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  31. Skye Terrier vs French Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  32. Skye Terrier vs Beagle - Breed Comparison
  33. Skye Terrier vs Yorkshire Terrier - Breed Comparison
  34. Skye Terrier vs Poodle - Breed Comparison
  35. Skye Terrier vs Rottweiler - Breed Comparison
  36. Skye Terrier vs Boxer - Breed Comparison
  37. Skye Terrier vs English Pointer - Breed Comparison
  38. Skye Terrier vs Siberian Husky - Breed Comparison
  39. Skye Terrier vs Doberman Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  40. Skye Terrier vs American Bully - Breed Comparison
  41. Skye Terrier vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  42. Skye Terrier vs Affenpinscher - Breed Comparison
  43. Skye Terrier vs Afghan Hound - Breed Comparison
  44. Skye Terrier vs Aidi - Breed Comparison
  45. Skye Terrier vs Airedale Terrier - Breed Comparison
  46. Skye Terrier vs Akbash Dog - Breed Comparison
  47. Skye Terrier vs Akita - Breed Comparison
  48. Skye Terrier vs Africanis - Breed Comparison
  49. Skye Terrier vs Askal - Breed Comparison
  50. Skye Terrier vs Atlas Terrier - Breed Comparison