PetzloverBoth Skye Terrier and Turnspit Dog are originated from United Kingdom. Both Skye Terrier and Turnspit Dog are having almost same height. Both Skye Terrier and Turnspit Dog are having almost same weight. Both Skye Terrier and Turnspit Dog has same life span. Both Skye Terrier and Turnspit Dog has almost same litter size. Skye Terrier requires Moderate Maintenance. But Turnspit Dog requires Low Maintenance
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.
It is amazing that this small dog’s popularity comes from him being used in the kitchens to roast meat. The British enjoyed eating their meat which they roasted on a fire.
These dogs were essentially regarded as a tool – a means to an end, and when kitchens were modernized, they were no longer needed, and they became extinct.
Referred to as the kitchen dog or cooking dog, the first mention of these little dogs was made in 1576. By 1850 the dogs had become scarce and by 1900 it seemed as though there were none left.
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.
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 Turnspit was a small long-bodied dog, standing at between 20 to 30cm in height and probably weighed anything between 9 and 14kg in height.
The legs were somewhat crooked or bandy and Edward Jesse, who wrote ‘Anecdote of Dogs’ in 1846 described them as ugly dogs with a miserable look to them. That was probably due to him having to fit into the hamster-like wheel contraption that turned the meat being roasted in the kitchens.
They were low-bodied dogs, similar to a Dachshund or a Corgi with short, stocky legs, short floppy ears, and a short coat. The long tail curled over its back. It is believed that the coats were white, reddish-brown, gray or black.
The dog was certainly feisty, energetic and hard-working with not much being written about his temperament. He was a working dog, but given the chance, he would no doubt have been loving and loyal, longing for the chance just to be part of a human family and to be loved.
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.
The Turnspit dog had a tough life, but would no doubt have made a wonderful little pet had he just been allowed to be a companion dog.
Make sure that when you buy a dog, you don't just put him in your backyard and forget about him. Give him the love and care he deserves.
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.
The health and lifespan of a dog is influenced by quite a few things such as food, care, love, exercise and the type of breed it is. Generally smaller dogs live longer than big dogs, and mixed breed dogs live longer than pure breeds.
The Turnspit dog, if he had received the proper care, could have lived to between 10 and 15 years of age.
Stress can bring on a sudden drop in blood sugar. The Turnspit had reason to be stressed, working hard in horrible conditions. Dogs become weak and lethargic and can scarcely maintain an even gait. A sudden drop in blood sugar can cause a small dog to go into a fatal coma.
This ailment seems to occur more often with smaller dogs. The pancreas becomes inflamed and your dog has vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain and dehydration. Pancreatitis can come about because of trauma, metabolic disorders or infection.
● 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 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.
● Keep his vaccines up to date against some deadly canine diseases, and get him to the vet when he shows signs of illness.
A dog is man's best friend, but the Turnspit was essentially just a working dog and most likely didn’t receive the proper care he deserved.
Small dogs like these would have had basic needs. Their owners would have had to pay attention to the dog's health, because he needed to work.
We look at ways in which a small dog like the Turnspit should have been cared for -
One wonders if the Turnspit was allowed to eat any of the roast meat he worked so hard on to get ready. Every dog should have a regular meal.
Most adult dogs should be fed 2 meals of kibble a day. If the Turnspit wasn’t extinct he would have required a high quality ‘small dog breed’ commercial dog food. Home-made food would also be a requirement – some boiled chicken, brown rice and vegetables. Dogs want and appreciate simple, wholesome foods that won’t upset their digestive systems.
Along with good food, dogs need cool, fresh water constantly available to stay healthy.
Make sure he gets to the veterinarian if he is sick, but also for his vaccines to prevent him from getting some of the worst dog diseases there are.
Groom your small dog regularly. The Turnspit had a shortish coat and would have required a brush twice a week. Other grooming procedures for a small dog like the Turnspit would have been keeping his nails trimmed and checking the inside of his ears and his mouth for ear infections and dental disease.