Skye Terrier E-Book

Muriel P. Lee

• Herausgeber: CompanionHouse Books
• Kategorie: Lebensstil
• Serie: Comprehensive Owner's Guide
• Sprache: Englisch

Seitenzahl: 256

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2012

Beschreibung

Elegant and dignified, the Skye Terrier, named for the rugged Isle of Skye, stands tall among Scotland's "below the knee" terriers in character and courage. Few pure-bred dogs match the Skye Terrier in independence and liberal thinking, as this intelligent terrier has a mind of his own and a heart to share with his like-minded, well-informed keeper, who is not averse to a little humility in the training department. Although not a choice for the first-time dog owner, the Skye Terrier proves to be a loyal and devoted companion to those he loves. Likened to a caterpillar, the Skye has a look all his own, "long, low and level" with a profuse coat that "falls straight down either side of the body," according to the breed standard. The Skye will most assuredly act like a Skye, delighting and challenging his ever-devoted master. Terrier breed expert and author, Muriel P. Lee provides an up-to-date look at the Skye Terrier, including the breed's history in England and the United States as well as its character and breed standard. The author also details everything that a new owner needs to know about acquiring a well-bred Skye Terrier puppy, bringing him into a safe home and establishing a house-training and obedience regimen. In addition to the basics of everyday care, including feeding, grooming and exercise, this comprehensive guide also includes up-to-date information on healthcare, written by Dr. Lowell Ackerman, well-known Harvard lecturer and veterinarian. Lavishly illustrated, this excellent chapter on preventive healthcare advises owners on selecting a qualified veterinarian, controlling parasites, vaccinations and infectious diseases and more.

Leseprobe

Physical Characteristics of the Skye Terrier

(from the American Kennel Club breed standard)

Head: Long and powerful.

Stop: Slight.

Eyes: Brown, preferably dark brown, medium in size, close-set and alight with life and intelligence.

Nose: Always black.

Teeth: Closing level, or with upper teeth slightly overlapping the lower.

Proportion: Ideal ratio of body length to shoulder height is 2 to 1.

Forequarters: Shoulders well laid back…elbows should fit closely to the sides. Forearm should curve slightly around the chest. Legs short, muscular and straight as possible.

Coat: Double. Undercoat short, close, soft and woolly. Outer coat hard, straight and flat. 5 inches long without extra credit granted for greater length.

Color: Must be of one over-all color at the skin but may be of varying shades of the same color in the full coat, which may be black, blue, dark or light grey, silver platinum, fawn or cream.

Ears: Symmetrical and gracefully feathered.

Neck: Long and gracefully arched, carried high and proudly.

Backline: Level.

Size: Ideal shoulder height for dogs is 10 inches and bitches 9.5 inches.

Body: Pre-eminently long and low, the chest deep, with oval-shaped ribs.

Tail: Long and well feathered.

Hindquarters: Strong, full, well developed and well angulated. Legs short, muscular and straight when viewed from behind.

Feet: Large hare-feet preferably pointing forward.

Contents

History of the Skye Terrier

Meet the rugged terrier hailing from the Isle of Skye. A familiar face in his native Great Britain, see how this charming lad won hearts the world over to gain him a band of fanciers with unmatched devotion to their breed. Meet influential dogs and breeders, and read the enchanting story of perhaps the most famous Skye, Greyfriar’s Bobby.

Characteristics of the Skye Terrier

The Skye’s body type and coat set him apart in looks from his terrier brethren, but make no mistake—he is all terrier in spirit. Intelligence, independence, courage and a zest for life are at the fore of the Skye’s temperament; are you up for the challenge? The breed’s physical characteristics, personality, owner suitability and hereditary health concerns are among topics discussed.

Breed Standard for the Skye Terrier

Learn the requirements of a well-bred Skye Terrier by studying the description of the breed set forth in the American Kennel Club standard. Both show dogs and pets must possess key characteristics as outlined in the breed standard.

Your Puppy Skye Terrier

Find out about how to locate a well-bred Skye Terrier puppy. Discover which questions to ask the breeder and what to expect when visiting the litter. Prepare for your puppy-accessory shopping spree. Also discussed are home safety, the first trip to the vet, socialization and solving basic puppy problems.

Proper Care of Your Skye Terrier

Cover the specifics of taking care of your Skye Terrier every day: feeding for the puppy, adult and senior dog; grooming, including coat care, ears, eyes, nails and bathing; and exercise needs for your dog. Also discussed are the essentials of dog identification.

Training Your Skye Terrier

Begin with the basics of training the puppy and adult dog. Learn the principles of house-training the Skye Terrier, including the use of crates and basic scent instincts. Get started by introducing the pup to his collar and leash and progress to the basic commands. Find out about obedience classes and other activities.

Healthcare of Your Skye Terrier

By Lowell Ackerman DVM, DACVD

Become your dog’s healthcare advocate and a well-educated canine keeper. Select a skilled and able veterinarian. Discuss pet insurance, vaccinations and infectious diseases, the neuter/spay decision and a sensible, effective plan for parasite control, including fleas, ticks and worms.

Your Senior Skye Terrier

Know when to consider your Skye Terrier a senior and what special needs he will have. Learn to recognize the signs of aging in terms of physical and behavioral traits and what your vet can do to optimize your dog’s golden years. Consider some advice about saying goodbye to your beloved pet.

Showing Your Skye Terrier

Step into the center ring and find out about the world of showing pure-bred dogs. Here’s how to get started in AKC shows, how they are organized and what’s required for your dog to become a champion. Take a leap into the realms of obedience trials, agility, earth-dog events and tracking tests.

Behavior of Your Skye Terrier

Analyze the canine mind to understand what makes your Skye Terrier tick. The following potential problems are addressed: aggression (fear-biting, inter-canine and dominant), separation anxiety, sexual misconduct, chewing, digging, jumping up, barking and food-related problems.

KENNEL CLUB BOOKS®SKYE TERRIER

ISBN 13: 978-1-59378-302-0

eISBN 13: 978-1-62187-054-8

Copyright © 2007 • Kennel Club Books® • A Division of I-5 Publishing, LLC™

3 Burroughs, Irvine, CA 92618 USA

Cover Design Patented: US 6,435,559 B2 • Printed in South Korea

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form, by photostat, scanner, microfilm, xerography or any other means, or incorporated into any information retrieval system, electronic or mechanical, without the written permission of the copyright owner.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Lee, Muriel P.

Skye terrier / by Muriel P. Lee.

p. cm.

ISBN 1-59378-302-7

1. Skye terriers. I. Title.

SF429.S67L44 2006

636.755—dc22

2006012319

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

Photography by Carol Ann Johnson and Alice van Kempen

with additional photographs by:

John Ashbey, Kim Booth, Paulette Braun, Bushman Photography, DAG, Downey Dog Show Photography, Laurie J. Erickson, Isabelle Français, Bill Jonas, Don Petrulis, Phototake, and Alice Roche.

Illustrations by Patricia Peters.

The publisher wishes to thank all of the owners whose dogs are illustrated in this book, including Mr. Lankhaar, Mrs. Sue McCourt, Ms. Laura Weber and Mrs. Welkenhuyzen.

From Vero Shaw’s famous Book of the Dog, published in 1881, comes this lovely drawing of early Skye Terriers, exhibiting both the drop and prick ears. The two ear carriages have been a part of the breed’s history since the breed’s inception.

It is thought that the modern Skye Terrier evolved in the late 16th century on the Isle of Skye, one of the rugged Hebrides islands of northwestern Scotland. From that time to the late 19th century, refinements continued to be made in the breed. Early references are made to Lady MacDonald and her dogs at Armadale Castle in Sleat, located at the southern tip of Skye. Some theorize that this breed was a cross of native Scottish terriers with some Spanish white dogs, possibly of Maltese origins, which survived the shipwrecks of the Spanish Armada. Through the centuries, not only were the Skye Terriers tireless workers in the field but they provided their owners with companionship and loyalty.

THE SKYE IN BRITAIN

By 1826, Skyes were found in abundance on the Isle of Skye as well as on the Isles of Wight and Mull. In 1842, Queen Victoria received her first Skye and, with Her Majesty’s blessing, the breed became popular. Before long, the Skye Terrier was a familiar dog throughout Scotland and England. The breed appeared in many paintings by well-known artists and became a common sight at the dog shows. During this time, the drop-eared variety was much more popular than the erect-, or prick-, eared Skye. From 1890 on, the judges preferred the erect ears, but there remained two separate classes for the two varieties at the dog shows.

GREYFRIAR’S BOBBY

Sometime in the mid-1800s, John Gray acquired a Skye Terrier through his work as a police officer. Gray, accompanied by his shaggy dog, Bobby, went to market every Wednesday and when the castle cannon boomed at 1 P.M., Gray and his dog went to the local coffee house for lunch, a block from Greyfriar’s churchyard. Gray had his lunch, and Bobby had a bun followed by a bone.

Gray died in 1858 and was buried in the Greyfriar’s cemetery. The little dog visited the restaurant every day when he heard the cannon. He would be given his bun and bone, and, after eating, he retraced his steps to the cemetery to sleep on his master’s grave. He did this for 14 years until his death of old age. After his death, a memorial fountain was erected on the corner by the churchyard gate. Of course, the shaggy dog was a Skye Terrier, and the fountain can be seen whenever you travel to Edinburgh.

An illustration of Greyfriar’s Bobby at the tomb of his master from the picture by Gourley Steele, originally published in 1924.

The most famous Skye kennel by the turn of the 19th century was Mrs. W. J. Hughes’s Wolverley kennels. Her dogs, Wolverley Roy, Wolverley Jock and Wolverley Duchess, were all big winners in their day. Mrs. Hughes was presented by command to the Princess of Wales, later Queen Alexandria, in recognition of being the owner of the most perfect kennel of Skyes in England. Eng. Ch. Wolverley Chummie, considered the best Skye of all time and owned by Miss McCheane, won 31 championships, sired 14 champions and was never beaten in the ring.

By the early 1900s, entries for the Skye could be as high as 110 in a show. However, when World War I broke out, just owning a dog became very difficult. After the war, when breeding was again possible, some historians believe that the long, thick coat and its upkeep became a factor for the breed’s suffering a decline. By 1920, registrations had dropped so low that classes for the two varieties (the drop-eared and prick-eared) were combined and all Skye Terriers were shown under one classification, regardless of ear type.

Artists and naturalists have long been fascinated with the creatures of the Isle of Skye. From the 1840 book Dogs from Naturalist’s Library comes this illustration entitled “Isle of Skye Terrier.”

Between the two World Wars, Merrymount kennels, established in 1906, came to the fore. Merrymount kennels of Lady Marcia Miles was founded on the famous Wolverley dogs. Lady Miles’s mother, Hon. Mrs. Jocelyn, also had a large kennel of Skyes, so Lady Miles had been well familiar with the breed all her life. At the age of eight, she saw a team of Wolverley Skyes at a show and so greatly admired their full coats and grooming that she vowed that one day she would have a kennel of Skyes to match the Wolverleys’s.

Over 100 champions came out of the Merrymount kennels. Among the greats were Eng./Am. Ch. Royalist of Merrymount, exported to the United States to the Iradell kennels; Eng./Am. Ch. Merrymount You’ll Do, also exported to America to the Iradell kennels (“of Iradell” was then added to the end of the dog’s name); and Eng. Ch. Merrymount Sunset, an outstanding brood bitch who had several drop-eared progeny. Mrs. Miles’s death in 1972 was a great loss to the whole dog fancy.

Marion von Feldmahr Crook, born in Vienna but living in Great Britain with her British husband, moved to the village of Rhosneigr on the west coast of Anglesey, North Wales, where they founded the well-known Rhosneigr kennels. Many outstanding champions were produced by this kennel, including Eng. Ch. Rhosneigr Red Shoes, who was Best of Breed at the Crufts Dog Show in 1959 and 1960 and then exported to America to the Merrybrac kennels, and Eng. Ch. Rhosneigr Rising Star, another winner who was exported to the United States to the Iradell kennels. Rhosneigr kennels thrived for many decades and was still active in the 1990s.

The most important Skye Terrier in the early days of the breed, bred by Mrs. Hughes, was Eng. Ch. Wolverley Chummie, who won an inordinate number of honors in his day.

Eng. Ch. Diana, bred by Mrs. L. King, was born in 1924 and won her first Challenge Certificate in 1928.

Eng. Ch. Luckie Henry, bred by Miss Watson in 1926, won three Challenge Certificates in 1930 to become a champion.

Brigitte Helm, the famous German film star of the 1930s, with her best friend, a prick-eared Skye Terrier.

From the end of World War II and through the 1960s, many English kennels deserve mention not only because of the quality of the dogs they produced but also because of the winners that they had in the show ring. The Meerend kennels of Mrs. Cuthbert and her daughter Miss Manville was active for over 30 years. Mrs. Harold Eaden’s “of Mynd” kennels owned and bred some notable bitches, as did the Faygate kennels of Miss Alexander.

SKYES IN THE UNITED STATES

The first Skye Terrier registered in the United States was Romach, whelped in England in 1884 and registered in 1887 to Malzeland kennels in Duchess County, New York. The Skye was not a particularly popular breed in America, but there were a few early supporters and exhibitors. William Sanderson of Philadelphia exhibited Skyes that were consistent winners in the late 1800s. There were several other exhibitors of Skyes prior to 1900, all situated in the East. George William Donaldson, from Philadelphia as well, was successful in the show ring, and his niece noted that he was truly the first American breeder/exhibitor of Skyes, as the other exhibitors were showing stock bred in and imported from Europe. Mr. Donaldson sent several Skyes to his sister in San Francisco, so the breed was seen on the West Coast as early as 1900.

STONEHENGE ON SKYES

Dr. J. Caius, in 1576, wrote in Englishe Dogges about the Skye Terrier, “A beggarly beast brought out of the barbarous borders from the uttermost contryes northward.”

Even though the Skye was not a particularly popular breed, the entries at the shows in the late 1800s reached as high as 50 or 60 dogs. Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Boston, New York and Washington DC were the primary areas where there were Skye entries at dog shows.

For whatever reason, the popularity of the breed dropped after 1900, and by 1905 there were no Skye entries at the Westminster Kennel Club show. A few Skyes were shown in the following year, but from 1913 to 1927 there were no entries at Westminster.

In 1927 Michael Stillman, of Roseland, New Jersey, imported a bitch from England for his wife. She was bred to a stud that had been imported from Sweden and thus began the Arreton kennels of the Stillmans. The Stillmans were active in the breed for many years with their best known dog being Ch. Scottish Chief of Arreton, a Best in Show winner. The Stillmans produced exceptional Skyes over their many years in the breed.

ASHES TO ASHES

After his death in 1891, the remains of Eng. Ch. Wolverley Chummie were donated to the National History Museum in Cromwell and were on exhibit there until the building was bombed and nearly destroyed in World War II.

In the mid-1930s Mrs. N. Clarkson Earl, Jr. from Connecticut discovered Skye Terriers while vacationing in France. Unfortunately, the two French puppies she purchased died from distemper on the trip back to the US, but Mrs. Earl was not to be deterred and purchased two Skye puppies from Mrs. Stillman. By 1937 Mrs. Earl had two brood bitches, and this was the beginning of the very well-known Iradell kennels. Mrs. Earl wrote, “I called Mrs. Stillman and asked her what she had for sale. I will never forget her arrival at my New York house one wintry afternoon in 1935 bringing two desperately cunning looking four-month-old ‘Mickey Mouse’ bundles of fur peering out at me from a basket. I bought them without further ado.”

Mrs. Earl was active in the breed for the next 30 years, breeding over 50 Skye Terrier champions. Ch. Bracadale Henry was Best of Breed at Westminster from 1938 through 1943 and also won the Breed at the prestigious Morris and Essex show from 1938 to 1941. This Skye was second in the Terrier Group at Westminster in 1942, and in 1953 her import Eng./Am. Ch. Merrymount You’ll Do Of Iradell won the Group there as well.

In the mid-1940s, Ch. Bracadale Tiggy of Iradell was the first Skye to win an all-breed Best in Show in America. Ch. Ivory Jock of Iradell won 11 all-breed Bests in Show, and in 1956 he was the top terrier and in the top 12 show dogs all breeds. Later, Ch. Toby of Iradell was another multiple Best in Show dog for the kennel.

The famed American soprano and movie star Jeanette MacDonald with her Skye named Stormy Weather. Often photographed with her dog, Miss MacDonald was instrumental in popularizing the breed in the US.

AN HIGHLAND WARRIOR

Famed author Robert Louis Stevenson had a Skye named Wattie. He wrote, “Wattie was the king in the Stevenson home for six years and battled birds and cats of the neighborhood. He rose, stiff with wrath, if any alien foot profaned the path.” The dog eventually was killed in a fight with a larger dog. Stevenson wrote, “He died like an Highland warrior. Poor wee man, he died in a fight, which is what he would have chosen, for military glory was more in his line than domestic virtue.”

The Skye Terrier Club of America (STCA), under the leadership of Mrs. Earl, was founded in January 1938. There were 18 founding members, including Mrs. Adele Goodman of the famous Glamoor kennels. Mrs. Earl served over 15 years as president of the club.

Another well-known breeder from the 1930s was Mrs. Charles S. Dewey, Jr. of High Times kennels. As with other breeders of the times, top stock was purchased from England and France as well as stock from Mrs. Stillman of the Arreton kennels. Ch. High Times Gesture of Arreton was dam of the Best in Show-winning Ch. High Times Miss Gesty, owned by Adele Goodman.

At the end of the 1930s the Merrybrac kennels, owned by Mrs. Eben W. Pyne of Long Island, was started with an English import. An exceptional dog from this kennel was Ch. Merrybrac’s Mustang, Best of Breed at Morris and Essex and winner of three STCA specialty shows. Mrs. Pyne remained an active fancier in the breed for many years, even after she was no longer breeding her excellent Skyes.

Ch. Dunvegan Tail Toddle, shown winning Best of Breed under judge Amy Stevenson in 1976.

A successful day for Am./Can. Ch. Sand Island Sam Fifield TD.

During the years of World War II, the breeding of dogs was greatly curtailed in the US as it was in Europe. However, Ch. Bracadale Henry placed second in the Terrier Group at Westminster in 1943. Not long after, activity started to pick up in both America and Britain. It wasn’t long before British and French Skyes were once again being imported into the US.

The Stonebrae kennels of Mrs. W. H. Tompkins owned Ch. Little Cap of Stonebrae, the first of the Skye Terriers to win multiple Bests in Show and a Quaker Oats Award winner in 1953 for Best Terrier. In addition he won nearly 60 Group firsts and numerous Group placements. By now, the Skye Terrier was surely becoming a formidable competitor in the Group ring.

Ch. Sand Island Soltaire, a top winner from the mid-1980s.

In 1935 a mother and son duo became active in the breed and were to remain lifelong breeders, fanciers and lovers of the Skye Terrier. Mrs. Adele Goodman and her son Walter imported two Skyes from England, which they were urged to show. In time they purchased Ch. High Times Miss Gesty. With Walter grooming and handling, Miss Gesty became the first American-bred Skye to win an all-breed Best in Show award. Thereafter the wins from this kennel of outstanding Skyes were the talk of the town, and they were tough competition in any Group or Best in Show line up.

The Goodman’s first homebred Skye, a son of Miss Gesty, was Am./Fr./Int. Ch. Glamoor Going Up, 18-time Group winner and a Best in Show dog. In the late 1950s the Goodmans imported the cream bitch Ch. Evening Star de Luchar from France. She went on to win over 70 Terrier Groups and 21 Bests in Show. As usual, all dogs were owner-handled by Walter Goodman. A later import from France, Ch. Jacinthe de Ricelaine won nearly 100 Terrier Groups and 36 Bests in Show. She was in the Terrier Group’s top ten five times and a top all-breed dog. In addition to the illustrious show career, she whelped a litter of nine, all of which became champions and included Best in Show winners Ch. Glamoor Good News, the victor at Westminster in 1969, and Ch. Glamoor Go Go Go. Other big winners for the Glamoor kennels, in addition to Go Go Go, who was the winner of numerous Bests in Show and Terrier Groups, was Ch. Glamoor Gang Buster, the fifth generation of Glamoor breeding. On trips to Europe the dogs were taken along and several of them gained international titles as well.

DROP AND PRICK EARS

Until around 1890, most of the Skye Terriers were of the drop-eared variety, but, after that, the prick ear became more popular. In the drop-eared variety, the ears hang flat and against the skull and, of course, the prick ears are held erect with the hair flowing over the top of the ears and down on the dog’s face. Both types of ears are acceptable for showing in England and the United States, but, in both countries, the prick ear is by far the more popular.

The Glamoor kennels were active for many decades and made a huge impact on the Skye Terrier breed. Although Mrs. Goodman passed away some years ago, Walter Goodman is still very active in dogs and president of the Montgomery County Kennel Club, which hosts the very prestigious all-terrier show in the US. In addition, he is the delegate to the American Kennel Club from the Skye Terrier Club of America.

Many individuals who had a love for the Skye Terrier became active during the 1960s. Druidmoor kennels of Charles Brown, Jr., in Beverly Hills, imported several dogs from France from the renowned kennels of Madame Chamart. He also imported a male from Holland, Dutch/Bel./Int. Ch. Jimmy de Ricelaine, litter brother to Walter Goodman’s Ch. Jacinthe de Ricelaine. Many nice wins came from this kennel of limited breeding.

THE SKYE TERRIERS AND HUNTING

The Skyes would run with the hounds and when the hounds chased the prey, often otters, fox and other field vermin, into the cairns (heaps of stones), the Skyes, with their long and low bodies, would wriggle through the stones and drive the prey out for the hunters to kill. The heavy coat on the Skye provided protection, and his particular body conformation allowed him to enter spaces that few other dogs could enter. His courage, stamina and endurance were legendary.

Winning Best in Show at the Chicago Goldcoast Kennel Club in 2000, Ch. Gleanntan Gee Whillikers with judge Dr. Robert Indeglia.

A small kennel of the 1960s and 1970s was Edrie Weehunt’s Cimarron kennels, located in Oklahoma. Ch. Cimarron Sarason Andrew won several Groups and a Best in Show and was the number-two Skye Terrier in 1970, 1971 and 1972.

The Gleanntan kennels of B. Nolan and Donna Dale in Maryland started in the late 1960s. Their foundation bitch, Ch. Jojac’s Rise and Shine was bred to Ch. Glamoor Gang Buster and from this litter came the top-producing bitch Ch. Gleanntan Coming At Ya, a multiple Best in Specialty Show bitch and a producer of nine champions. She was the top-producing dam, all breeds, in 1972. Donna was very active in the breed, in the STCA and as a mentor to many. The kennel has produced nearly 100 champions, including all breed Best in Show winners. Unfortunately, Donna passed away in 2001.

Olga Smid of Olivia kennels came to the US from Czechoslovakia in 1968. She has produced many American champion Skyes in addition to Skye champions throughout the world. She is still active in the breed and judges all Terriers and some Non-Sporting and Toy breeds.

Mrs. J. Jay Amann from Oklahoma was also active in the 1960s and 1970s with her Quizas kennels. Ch. Quetzan Brucie O’Duff (kennel name was later changed to Quizas) was a multi-Group winner in the US and Mexico and sired 14 champions. His son, Ch. Quizas Casey O’Bruce won Terrier Groups in the US, Mexico and South America and was Best of Breed at Westminster in 1971. Over 30 champions have come out of this kennel.

Roblyn kennels of Bob and Anne Boucher in Minnesota bred a number of champions over the years and were great supporters of the breed. Ch. Roblyn’s Racy Rachel, bred to Ch. Glamoor Gang Buster, produced Ch. Roblyn’s Bhain Inghean, winner of several Terrier Groups and sire of six champions. Ch. Roblyn’s Hotter Than That was a Best in Show and multiple-Group winner. Anne was active in the breed and in the STCA, in addition to being a Terrier Group judge, until the time of her death in 2005.

Carol Simonds and her daughter Janice of Rover Run kennels in California have been active since 1965. Their first Skye, Ch. Wishau of Iradell, won many Group placements. Ch. Rover Run The California Zephyr, owned and bred by Carol and Jan and co-owned with Don and Anne Brown, had multiple-Group placements. They have bred many Skye Terrier champions and in recent years have also become involved with the Sealyham Terrier.

Many breeders are coming along to continue the work of the dedicated breeders who have gone on before them. Laura Weber of Lairdoglen kennels in Minnesota started with the Roblyn line and is breeding excellent dogs. In addition, Laura is active in the STCA and also with performance Skyes. Her homebred Ch. Lairdoglen Braveheart, owned by Michel Koss, Gail Smith and Tim and Diane Brown, is a multi-group-winning Skye.

Ch. Quizas Casey O’Bruce, owner-handled by Jay Amann under judge Forrest Hall in 1971, was one of the top-winning Skye Terriers for several years in the early 1970s.

Michael Pesare, teamed up with B. Nolan Dale and Roxanna Rohrich, is carrying on the Gleanntan name and traditions. Ch. Gleanntan Gotitxactlyrite, handled by Michael, was the number-one Skye in 2003 and a Pedigree Award winner. Ch. Gleanntan Grandxpose was the number-one Skye bitch for 2001 and 2002. Ch. Gleanntan Gee Whillikers was the number-one Skye in 2000, winning eight all-breed Bests in Show, Bests in Specialty Show and a Pedigree Award.

The Skye Terrier’s history is long and glorious and its supporters are numerous. The breed will always be beloved in the United States.

SKYES ON THE CONTINENT

Skye Terriers are known and are popular throughout the world. It was thought that the mother of Marie Antoinette owned the first Skye in Austria. Frau Janisch was a great Austrian Skye fancier and her English import, Crown Prince Charles of Meerend, won his world championship at the World Dog Show in Frankfurt in 1935. Herr Steinbacher’s Austrian kennel imported several dogs from Talisker kennels.

Skyes have been popular in Germany since the early 1900s. Crown Princess Cecilia and Princess Pless showed their Skyes in the 1930s. Frau Dillis had an impressive kennel in the 1960s and imported several dogs from the Isle of Skye and the former Czechoslovakia. In 1973 Gloriette v Muencher Kindl won her world championship title, and in 1976 at the World Dog Show in Innsbruck, she won the world championship title again under breeder-judge Olga Smid. The Morningsky kennels of Elke Spinnrock are well known, with Int./World Ch. Alpha of Morningsky’s having won the world championship in 1978 and 1981. This dog is behind most of the top winners in many countries today. The kennel is known for outstanding blacks.

Not only does Ch. Roblyn A Chorus Line present well in the show ring, this dog earned a Tracking Dog Excellent title!

Here’s Am./Can. Ch. Lairdoglen Renaisance Man winning a Best of Opposite award at the Lake Minnetonka Kennel Club in 2000.

In Belgium, Italy, France, Switzerland and the Netherlands, there are many Skye fanciers. In addition, the former Czechoslovakia, the former Yugoslavia, Poland and Russia all have breeders of quality.

In the Scandinavian countries, the Skye was imported as early as 1883. In Denmark, by the 1920s, a number of Swedish dogs were imported and the breed continued its popularity. The breed has had difficulty in achieving success in Norway, but in the 1980s a number of Skyes were imported from Sweden. However, at this time, the breed has only a small following in the country. Sweden has its loyal supporters and breeders: Mr. and Mrs. Swensen and their Skylab kennels, with foundation from Skyeline kennels in Finland, have achieved great success in the breed. They purchased Opulous of Skyeline, and he achieved an outstanding show record in addition to being an exceptional sire. Through the 1980s and 1990s, many breeders were active in the breed and produced some lovely Skyes.

Mrs. Hjordis Westerholm of Finland has been a very active breeder under the Skyeline prefix. She bred numerous Finnish champions before retiring to England in the 1980s. Finnsky kennels has also produced outstanding dogs in addition to importing excellent specimens from Sweden and Switzerland. Other kennel names of note are the Tuukan kennels and the Skyroyal kennels. The Finnish have been very active in the breed, with over 300 members in the Finnish Skye Terrier Club. The club is active in holding matches, lectures and camps and in encouraging newcomers to the breed.

Although the Skye is known throughout the world, the breed has not been forgotten on its island of origin. The Isle of Skye kennels of Lia Obee produced some outstanding dogs in the 1980s and 1990s. Her exceptional cream bitch, Ch. Cimarron Czigana v d Litsberg, was bred to Int. Ch. Olivia Wild West and produced the “Winter” dogs: Winter Wish, Winter Wheat, Winter Witch and Winter Whisper, all champions, with Whisper becoming a multinational champion who won several Groups in the Netherlands and Denmark in 1986. Cimmaron was then bred to her son, Whisper, and out of this litter Brilliant Brisk of the Isle of Skye became one of the top-winning Skyes in the Netherlands. Int. Ch. x Littlecreek Reay was added to the kennel, and she has become an impressive brood bitch in addition to her impressive number of titles.

Finnish-bred Skye Terriers have done well at Westminster, winning numerous Bests of Breed and Group firsts. In 2003 the breed winner was Ch. Albatross of Skyeline, shown by Eugene Zaphiris under judge Karen Wilson.

The little dog who had its start on the farms of the rugged country of the Isle of Skye has surely come a long way in 150 years. Hail the Skye!