The first thing to remember about Skye Terriers is that they are "big" small dogs.  In other words, they are a big dogs on short legs.  Anyone checking their teeth or the size of their head will notice this immediately. 

A person also learns this very quickly as they reach down to pet their grown Skye only to have him jump up and hit them in the nose.  A full grown Skye will reach thigh high or higher, depending on one's height, when they stand up on their hind legs.

Though they have an extremely long and luxurious double coat, it is a hearty coat and can be easily maintained with a brushing once a week. How often they need to be bathed depends on where they live. If their home is in a city, where they have to be walked in the streets, they may require more bathing than if they live in the country. 

The coat can then either be brushed and combed through while drying, or it can be left to dry naturally and then brushed out.  If choosing the latter, there should be few if any matts in the Skye's coat to begin with. Most owners will choose to brush and comb them as they dry, however, there are some coat textures that are much easier to brush out when they are dry, again, provided the skye's coat is not matted.

It is best to use long toothed combs and pin brushes with long pins to work the Skye coat. They will allow one to get through the heavy coat and remove all the mats.

A Skye will usually be happy with whatever exercise his owner can handle.  It is best to have a fenced yard in which he can run and play. However, a skye will also thrive even in an apartment atmosphere, where he is walked two or three  times a day. If in a fenced yard, it is good to have an area where he can get off of the grass or ground, especially if trying to keep their coat in shape for the show ring. This can be done easily with a small amount of decking. However, please be very careful about the lumber used. Some toxins in treated lumber can build up in a dog's system and could even lead to serious illness.

Many a Skye enjoys an enormous supply of energy and enthusiam and, as an adult, can be worked in obedience, tracking, and even agility, to the enjoyment of both owner and dog. However, an owner of a puppy or immature Skye  must be careful to avoid excessive jumping and climbing.

The Skye is a condroplastic breed which means a big body and small legs. Excessive exersize as a puppy, before the growth plates in their shorter legs have closed, can cause a Skye to limp and perhaps have greater problems as he grows.  If the growth plates do not close properly, a Skye can end up with a condition known as Premature Closure.  It is believed that waiting until he is mature before taking long walks and participating in other strenuous training may help these growth plates close properly.