The beauty and grace a skye terrier radiates is hard to pin down in a breed standard.
Over the generations and across the continents, the breed has carried forward different traits.

In the UK for example, a great emphasis was put on the size of the breed. The quarantine rules helped this objective as bringing in new dogs and infusing their genes into the pool was not always that easy. The UK skye terrier still conforms to the size standard with great pride. The shining glory of UK kennels are Acheo, Rosneigr, Tarskavaigh, Kirkleyditch and the more recent and renowned Mariquita. Their girl Flashback to this day is a record holder with the highest CCs to her credit.  Their american import Elissa's Alexander (grandson of eagle black of morningsky) has his name behind all the top winners of the UK. Another line that grew out of Alexander is the blending of the famous Acheo dogs and Alexander himself. Acheo Aly Bain and his sister Acheo Alexina are only a small example of the classic blend of american lines blending back to older UK and continental lines.

In the USA however, the basic two to one ratio was maintained- twice as long as high and a chance was given to the breed to 'do its own thing.' Keeping within the AKC standard guidelines a bigger skye terrier began to show up on the scene. Bringing with it the strength of bones and head shapes. Some of these dogs went on to produce the gene pool that is still coveted to this day!! The biggest credit for this goes to none other than Mrs. Olga Smid of Olivia fame. Her dogs carry the credit of being ancestors of all lines today. Namely, the famous Olivia Wild West, Olivia Vino Veritas, Olivia Vamp, Olivia Silver Solo to name a few of my favorites. Of course, the list is endless! Under the guidance of Adele Goodman and her son Walter Goodman, the affix Glamoor flurished and the skye terrier gained a new status in the United States. Glamoor is the ONLY affix that ever won the coveted Best in Show at the prestigious Westminster Kennel Club Show, in 1969 with Glamoor Good News. From the foundation of Glamoor, came a new chapter in the history of breed, led by Donna and Ben Dale. Their affix Gleanntan has produced some of the most amazing and winning skye terriers of their times. Sadly, Donna's untimely passing left a deep sense of loss, but the dream she carried is seen alive each day in the devotion and dedication of Micheal Pesare and Maida Connor.

Just as we are in debt to Olivia skyes, another north american breeder, Mrs. Adams of Canada deserves our credit.
Under the ever famous Talisker lines skye terriers traveled the world and gained recognition and admirers wherever they went. The soundness of character that was in her skyes is a goal we all can strive for. A devotion and love for the breed that began in her childhood in the early 1900s and lasted a lifetime only goes to prove the expression we take for granted - once a skye, always a skye. In some cases the love this breed commands is truly a gift and blessing.

No mention is complete without giving credit to the mainland European breeders. They all deserve credit for taking the best of the UK and USA dogs and creating a melange' that is to this day the reigning glory of skye terriers. To this fame the name of Elke Spinnrock of Morningsky shines foremost. Keeping to her vision of low and long skyes, breeding for quality and personality, Mrs. Spinnrock has bred the world famous Alpha of Morningsky, Eagle Black of Morningsky, Fluer of Morningsky, What a Feeling of Morningsky and many more!! Her creams are well known too. The younger generation of close to perfect pigmentation combined with the classic beauty of Morningsky is a shining example of devotion and commitment.

Another great place to find ones true skye terrier is the famous Finnish kennel, Finnsky. The world famous Finnsky Tazzee was a vision to see in the ring. Perfect in grace and movement, taking back her lines to Olivia Vino Veritas and Eagle Black of Morningsky, again she shines as an example of the best mix of the two types of skyes. Her brother Teamwork with Mariquita is yet to find a rival. 

Rannoch in its short span in the breed bred one of my favorite girls. Daughter of Olivia Vamp, the legendary Rannoch Skye Olivia. Her status of dam was elevated when she went on to produce some of the most famous winners and conforming skyes of our times. Each an example of what the standard so proudly guides us to achieve!! Again, a blend of American and famous European dogs and bloodlines.

Of late however, the skye terrier and its place in the canine world is being re-evaluated. It is the accepted consensus that the breed has been deviating greatly from its purpose and its original standard. The heads are too big, sizes and weight are at the extremes of the standards and the overall breed is changing too much from what it used to be and SHOULD be. An active interest is being taken to bring it back to its original look and standard, keeping in mind its purpose. That of being delicate and small enough to sit as a lap dog and be spoilt but be able to go to ground should the need be there. Hence a smaller dog is being actively sought as the future skye terrier.

The trend is also to return to the ORIGINAL breed ear set which was the drop. The theory that the armada brought with it dogs that bred and added to the native scottish terrier gene pool, is usually given as the reason for the addition of the prick ear set. As breeders are trying to breed back the classic ancestor look in their lines, the merging of the lines is bringing back the drop ear set which due to fashion was totally bred out. In some kennel clubs at the local level, it is not even accepted as a true skye. In the name of fashion the drop ear set was bred out but now it is the same fashion that is bringing it back. We hope it stays and becomes part of the breed instead of the rarity it is.

 Their beauty and grace is their own and somewhere in there they add to the gene pool of our heavenly breed. 

The breed standards for all three, the USA, UK and FCI are given below.

UK Kennel Club Breed Standard

American Kennel Club Breed Standard

FCI Breed Standard

Take each dog for its elegance and beauty and see the grace in them. You will realize the breed is called 'heavenly' for a reason. Each skye champion or pet, shines out for its charm. That is the magic of the skye terrier!!

And if for a moment you think you have seen, owned or bred the perfect skye terrier, stop and look around. Perfection is in every dog for some reason or another. After all that is what the breed name means. Skye terrier = PERFECT!!
It is as simple as that!!