THE SKYE TERRIER 505 



meat of wild ducks or wood-pigeons, and other birds, that every 

 other kind of dog, however hungry, rejects with disgust. In fact, 

 in many particulars their habits resemble those of wild animals ; 

 they always are excellent swimmers, taking the water quietly and 

 fearlessly when very young.' It is only in young animals that the 

 habits of remote ancestors can be seen. Training speedily obliterates 

 all trace of them. 



It is seldom they quarrel amongst themselves ; however, if they 

 do begin, they fight viciously, and take every opportunity of having 

 a new settlement of their differences. Two of unequal weight 

 sometimes fall out, and the weaker, instead of acknowledging defeat, 

 requires upon every fresh occasion to have it demonstrated that he 

 is not the better dog of the two. To all vermin they are deter- 

 mined enemies, but when attacking the larger sorts they do so with 

 generalship ; yet a bite from the adversary often makes them forget 

 their tactics, and when they do close they can both give and take 

 as much punishment as any dog of their weight. They are keen 

 hunters, have good scent, and are fond of the gun. Their speed is 

 not great, but they stick to a scent most pertinaciously, and will 

 follow a wounded animal for miles. 



For all purposes for which the Terriers are used they are of 

 service. As house-dogs they have much to recommend them. They 

 are watchful to a fault ; and they require less exercise to keep them 

 in health than almost any other Terrier. When kept as house-dogs 

 merely, it is of little consequence what weight they are ; but when 

 required to go to ground, they must neither be big in size nor too 

 light in weight. There has been much difference of opinion ex- 

 pressed as to what should be considered the proper weight of a 

 Skye Terrier. The claim has frequently been made on behalf of 

 the Dandie that there is no Terrier so game as he is. This claim 

 may or may not be a just one ; but it does seem very strange, if it 

 is just, that the Dandie Dinmont Club should consider 2olb. not 

 too heavy for a Dandie, and professed judges of the breed outside 

 the Club should think an additional half-stone not too heavy 

 to exclude from the prize list ; while men who at least pretend 

 to know about Skyes maintain that dogs of this breed should 

 not exceed i4lb., and that preference should be given to even 

 lighter weights. Both breeds are used for the same kind of 

 work, and surely it is too much to expect a i4lb. Skye to be 

 successful in doing what it requires a 24-lb. Dandie to accomplish, 

 especially when the latter is the 'gamest of all Terriers.' Fox- 

 terriers are not considered too large at 2olb., and as a Skye has 

 the advantage of two or three pounds in shape, breeders cannot be 

 called unreasonable if they limit themselves to that weight. It does 

 not follow that, because a Skye weighs 2olb., he must necessarily be 

 of large size. Bone and mu.scle weigh well, and if he has plenty 



