5io BRITISH DOGS 



snarl than to bite intentionally, I presume from fright, as, owing to 

 the hair obstructing their vision, they often do not see an object 

 until it touches them. 



Those who keep Skye Terriers for show and wish to win have 

 to give the dogs' coats unremitting attention. The coat must be 

 combed and brushed every day, the oftener the better, and no 

 parasites must be allowed to lodge therein, or the dog will destroy 

 his coat by scratching himself. To prevent this the feet are encased 

 in chamois leather bags. I do not know if such a proceeding can 

 be called cruel; but it cannot be a very pleasant experience for the 

 dog who finds himself itching to be unable to scratch the affected 

 part. I do not approve of washing dogs, and in the case of Skye 

 Terriers it tends to soften the coat. It may be necessary sometimes 

 to wash a dog ; but the less often it is done, the better ; and if the 

 coat is well groomed each day it should not require washing. 



Skye Terriers make excellent house-dogs, and do not give off 

 the offensive smell that many other long-coated dogs do. They will 

 thrive with little exercise but that should be given wherever 

 possible if not overfed or restricted to a luxurious dietary. 



The favourite colour of late years has been iron-grey of a dark 

 shade ; but of all the colours I admire a deep fawn, and if with 

 black points all the better. I prefer the body all of one colour and 

 not mixed with dark hairs, as is often found in the working breed." 



From what has been stated by Mr. Thomson Gray, as well as by 

 other writers in the same field, there is very little room for doubt 

 that the Skye Terrier, as we n6w know it, is a modern production. 

 Years of inactivity, coupled with the greater attention the coat has 

 received in the way of grooming, and the general improvement as 

 regards its housing, have modified considerably the coat that stood 

 the working animal in such stead. In fact, from being a rough-and- 

 ready sort of Terrier (as he doubtless was in the days of Dugald 

 Ferguson the fox-hunter and George Clark), he has become one of 

 Fashion's darlings an interesting and companionable pet-dog, but 

 useless for the work associated with his remote ancestors. Clark, it 

 will be remembered, was the Duke of Argyll's head game-keeper 

 at Mull, and he it was who afterwards, 'popularly, at any rate, had 

 the credit for preserving the strain of Skye Terrier associated with 

 Roseneath, and referred to in more detail under the Scottish Terrier. 



Even as long ago as 1837 the Skye Terrier was a popular 

 variety with ladies, and Lady Fanny Cowper is said to have owned 

 a beautiful specimen at that time. Lady Macdonald, of Armadale 

 Castle, Skye, had a famous strain of this Terrier ; and, coming to 

 recent days, perhaps the finest kennel of Skye Terriers as known 

 upon the show-bench belonged to a lady Mrs. W. J. Hughes (one 

 of whose famous dogs is illustrated at Fig. 102); while Mrs. M. 



