Skye Terrier

American Rare Breed Association

FCI-Standard N° 75 / 20. 01. 1998 / GB

SKYE TERRIER 

ORIGIN : Great Britain.

DATE OF PUBLICATION OF THE ORIGINAL VALID STANDARD : 24.06.1987.

UTILIZATION : Terrier.

CLASSIFICATION F.C.I. : Group 3 Terriers.          Section 2 Small sized terriers.  Without working trial.

GENERAL APPEARANCE : Long, low and profusely coated, twice as long as high.  Moves with seemingly effortless gait.  Strong in quarters, body and jaw.

BEHAVIOUR AND TEMPERAMENT : Elegant and dignified.  A « one-man » dog, distrustful of strangers, never vicious.

HEAD : Long and powerful, strengh not sacrified for extreme length.

CRANIAL REGION :

Skull : Of moderate width at the back of skull, tapering gradually to strong muzzle.

Stop : Slight.

FACIAL REGION :

Nose : Black.

Muzzle : Strong.

Jaws/Teeth : Jaws strong and level with perfect, regular scissor bite, i. e. upper teeth closely overlapping the lower teeth and set square to the jaws.

Eyes : Brown, preferably dark brown, medium in size, close-set and full of expression.

Ears : Prick or drop.  When prick, gracefully feathered, not large, erect at outer edges and slanting towards each other at inner edge, from peak to skull.  When drop, larger, hanging straight, lying flat and close at front.

NECK : Long and slightly crested.

BODY : Long and low.  Sides appear flattish due to straight falling coat.

Back : Level.

Loin : Short.

Chest : Deep; ribcage oval, deep and long.

TAIL : When hanging, upper part pendulous and lower half thrown back in a curve.  When raised, a prolongation of incline of back, not rising higher nor curling up.  Gracefully feathered.

LIMBS

FOREQUARTERS : Legs short and muscular.

Shoulders : Broad, close to body.

HINDQUARTERS : Strong, full, well developed and well angulated.

Legs short, muscular and straight when viewed from behind.  No dewclaws.

FEET : Forefeet larger than hind, pointing truly forward.  Pads thick, nails strong.

GAIT / MOVEMENT : Legs proceed straight forward when travelling.  When approaching, forelegs form a continuation of straight line of front, feet being same distance apart as elbows.  Principal propelling power is furnished by hind legs which travel straight forward.  Forelegs moving well forward, without too much lift.  Whole movement termed free, active and effortless and gives a more or less fluid picture.

COAT

HAIR : Double.  Undercoat short, close, soft and woolly.  Outer coat long, hard, straight, flat and free from curl.  Hair on head shorter, softer, veiling forehead and eyes.  Mingling with side locks, surrounding ears like a fringe and allowing their shape to appear.

COLOUR : Black, dark or light grey, fawn, cream, all with black points.  Any self colour allowing shading of same colour and lighter undercoat, so long  as nose and ears are black.  A small white spot on chest permissible.

SIZE  :

Ideal height 25-26 cm (10 ins), length from tip of nose to tip of tail 103 cm (41 ½ ins).  Bitches slightly smaller in same proportions.

FAULTS : Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree and its effect upon the health and welfare of the dog.

Any dog clearly showing physical or behavioural abnormalities shall be disqualified.

N.B. : Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.