Tibetan Terrier vs Skye Terrier - Breed Comparison

The 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 Tibetan Terrier is a medium-size breed of dog that originated in Tibet. He has always been kept as a pet and companion for Tibetan monks.

He is still a popular companion dog, more so because he is thought to be hypoallergenic, so that even allergy sufferers can enjoy a canine friend.

This isn't a new dog breed, and if you have to go according to records, they have been around for more than 2000 years as herding dogs.

The first Tibetan Terrier was brought to Europe in 1922. The first Tibetan Terriers in the US were imported in 1956 and in 1973 the American Kennel Club recognized the breed. They're classified as a non-sporting breed.

The 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.

The Tibetan Terrier is a medium-sized dog weighing about 8 – 14kg and standing at about 35 – 41cm in height.

People liken him to the Bearded Collie in looks. The long, shaggy, double coat of the dog is available in a number of colors such as white, grey, golden, black or tri-colored.

The dog is powerful and squarely built with floppy ears and a tail that is well feathered, long and carried curled over the back.

Temperament:

He has always been a dog kept by Tibetan monks. There is nothing aggressive about this dog at all and he is sweet, reserved, gentle and sensitive while also being playful and social with his human family.

These dogs thrive on human companionship and are often used as therapy dogs. He is energetic and active and will require regular exercise. He is able to adjust to life in the city or the countryside, but wherever he is, his exercise needs can never be neglected.

Give 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.

Tibetan Terriers are loyal ad devoted to their human family. They’re social dogs and won’t do well stuck in the back yard.

They want to be part of the family and what they’re doing.

They are sensitive dogs, being able to sense the mood of those whom they love. They also make good watchdogs. They’re ideally suited to people who can give them the attention they crave, making splendid pets and companions.

The 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.

Your Tibetan Terrier can live to be between 10 and 14 years of age but even so it is susceptible to a host of health problems. Some of the problems you may have to contend with are hip dysplasia, eye problems and heart murmurs.

Hip Dysplasia:

This is a serious condition where the femur doesn't fit snugly into the pelvic socket of the hip joint. It can be painful and cause lameness even. Dogs that have hip dysplasia most certainly shouldn't be bred.

Heart Murmurs:

Heart murmurs are extra heart vibrations. This is because of a disturbance in the blood flow so as to produce an audible noise.

Sometimes the sound is barely audible but it can also be louder and your pet can show signs of congestive heart failure such as coughing, not being able to tolerate exercise, and being lethargic and weak.

● 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.

Diet:

The Tibetan will require good food and exercise to stay healthy. The commercially manufactured dog foods are always a convenient choice, but make sure to give your pet one of the better brand foods, otherwise you feed him a lot of useless ingredients such as fillers, preservatives and colorants from the cheap, inferior brands.

Feed him some home-made food too just to add a little bit of variety to his diet. Boiled chicken, brown rice or pasta and spinach, sweet potatoes and carrots are a healthy choice for your pet.

Avoid people foods such as chocolates, onions, spices, chips etc as these can just upset his stomach and push your vet fees up. Always ensure he has a constant supply of fresh, cool water.

Grooming:

Brush your Tibetan Terrier. He has a long shaggy coat so will require brushing at least twice a week.

Brushing your dog regularly will help to reduce shedding. Many people opt to take the dog to professional groomers and have the coat professionally clipped. The groomers will also trim your dog’s nails and clean the inside of your dog’s ears.

Vaccines:

Before you get a dog, make sure you have a reliable veterinarian. It’s no good if your pet becomes ill, maybe even some kind of an emergency, such as bloat, and you don’t know where to take your pet.

You need to be aware of a vet that is open 24/7. Your Tibetan will need to have your vet vaccinate him against some of the deadly diseases there are.