5 o6 BRITISH DOGS 



of these, properly put together, he will look smaller than an ill-made 

 dog four or five pounds lighter. This holds true, to a certain extent, 

 with all breeds. 



Speed is not so much necessary with the Skye as strength. The 

 chief end of his existence is to go to ground, and power to grapple 

 with his subterranean foe is the first consideration. That power 

 must, however, be in a body small enough to enable him to reach 

 the enemy in its stronghold ; and it follows that the particular build 

 or shape by which the greatest amount of strength can most easily 

 get into a small hole is the shape best suited for the purpose. All 

 animals intended by Nature to hunt their prey in holes such as the 

 weasel, stoat, marten, etc. are very long in the body and short on 

 the leg, and it is safe to assume that this form is the most suitable 

 for that purpose. The Skye is the longest and lowest of all Terriers, 

 and is therefore better adapted to do the work of a Terrier than any 

 other. The proportion of length to height, even in the longest Skye, 

 falls far short of what it is in animals of the weasel kind ; yet objec- 

 tions are sometimes made to the Skye because of the shortness of 

 his legs. The advantage in going to ground which a short-legged 

 dog has over a longer-legged one must be apparent to every one, as 

 the former can do his work in a natural position, while the latter 

 must crouch, and so lose power. Again, if there is burrowing to do, 

 the short-legged one has also the advantage of the other, as it is 

 impossible to use long legs properly in a hole. The shortest-legged 

 of all burrowing animals is the mole, and it is credited with being 

 able to make a new hole for itself in less time than any other 

 animal can. 



In general appearance the Skye Terrier is a long, low dog, with 

 a large head, a very long, flat-lying, straight coat, and a sharp, 

 intelligent look. The head is long from the occipital bone to the 

 eyes, it is also broad, and has the appearance of being broader 

 above the eyes than between the ears. This is owing to the position 

 of the ears, which are set on high. The skull is flat, not domed like 

 that of the Dandie. The muzzle is long and broad, the jaws are 

 strong, and the teeth very large. It is a much greater objection 

 to the mouth of a Skye to be undershot than overshot. 



The perfect mouth is, of course, level, or, as many breeders 

 prefer to have it, with the upper teeth fitting closely over the under 

 ones. The eyes are dark brown or hazel in colour, of medium size, 

 and are not prominent. There should not be much falling away 

 under the eye ; and there is almost no hollow or stop between the 

 forehead and the muzzle. The ears should not be large, and, if 

 pendent, should hang straight down, and lie close to the side of the 

 head ; if erect, they should be set on high, and carried without any 

 outward inclination. The hair on the ear should hang gracefully 

 down, and mingle with that on the cheek, which should also be 



