Sporting Dogs: Their Points and Management in Health and DiseaseBarton, Frank Townend
Science
Sporting Dogs: Their Points and Management in Health and Disease
Barton, Frank Townend
Dogs
These little Terriers are natives of the Island of Skye and adjoining
coast, though by what means the breed was originally produced there
does not appear to be any accurate data to go upon. The Skye is the
only truly long-coated Sporting Terrier in Great Britain, cross-bred
dogs excepted.
The introduction of this long coat into a Terrier--dogs originally bred
for rough-and-tumble work, can hardly have been advantageous, and the
remarkably profuse coats of typical specimens in the present day is
absolutely detrimental for work; moreover, it requires very careful
grooming to keep the coat in a perfect state, though the texture of the
hair being much harder than the silky coat of the Yorkshire Toy, gives
less trouble than the last named.
Skyes are divided into "drop"-eared, and "prick"-eared, the chief
differences being the carriage of the ears and tail. The drop-eared
has a little longer and softer coat, longer body, and slightly smaller
head; in all other respects they are practically the same. They are
generally very game little Terriers, and will hold their own, weight
for weight, in combat with any dog. Are good companions; of good
constitution, and not given to quarrelling, unless interfered with.
Many indifferent specimens of the breed are remarkably clever for
destroying vermin, and take to water without the slightest trouble.
In colour the Skye should be a steel-grey or blue, silver-grey, or
fawn. If fawn, black or dark-brown tipped, and if silver-grey, black
tipped.
The coat is a very important matter; taken along with the head it
constitutes thirty-five per cent. value in point judging.
For the show bench, the outer coat must be long, in fact, reaching to
the ground. For work, this is objectionable. Better to be of medium
length, and this is the sort of coat that judges will do well to plump
for. The outer coat to be of hard texture; straight, and long, and
the under coat close and woolly. The long hair on the head almost
completely conceals the sharp brown or hazel-coloured eyes.
A thick, soft, woolly undercoat affords the most perfect protection
against wet to the skin, and supports the outer coat, as in
Rough-coated Collies. Both limbs and tail must be well feathered in the
case of show dogs, but for work, too much hair in these regions is a
nuisance.
[Illustration: TYPICAL PRICK-EARED SKYE TERRIER DOG (Property of Miss
M'CHEANE).]
In drop-eared Skyes a low carriage of tail is desirable, but in the
prick-eared variety on a level with the back.
The hair down the spinal column has a parting in it, causing the coat
to hang, in curtain-like fashion, from head to tail.
_Head._--This should be long, rather wide between the eyes, flat on
the skull, and narrow between ears. Nose black, and hard palate black,
or nearly so. Ears about 2 inches, and lying close to cheeks. If
prick-eared, to be well up, and inclined forward.
Body long, and ribs well rounded. The back ought to be fairly level,
rising at the croup.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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