The Difference Between a Skye Terrier & a Wheaten Terrier

As different as their countries of origin -- the Wheaten terrier hails from Ireland, while the Skye terrier was bred in Scotland -- these dogs are distinctive in look and personality. Neither breed is the best choice for families with younger children; however, either dog can make an excellent pet for the right person who has patience and performed some background research on the breed.

  1. Build

    • Differences in their appearance make either dog easy to spot. A Skye terrier is low to the ground with a long body; the Wheaten terrier appears square and compact. Both breeds have a long head, but a Skye has a slight "stop" -- an indentation between the eyes -- while the Wheaten's rectangular-shaped head has a very defined stop. Ears are also definitive; a Skye has ears that are distinctly black, folded in appearance and covered in long, thick fur. A Wheaten also has folded ears, but shaped in a "V" with short hair the color of his coat. A Skye has medium-sized brown eyes; a Wheaten's brown eyes are almond-shaped. Their tails are also vastly different; while the Skye has long fur and a low tail, the Wheaten carries a tail that is usually docked, or cut, and remains upright.

    Size

    • Wheaten terriers are taller and heavier than their Skye counterparts. While a Skye can weigh up to 25 pounds for either gender, a Wheaten male usually ends up between 35 to 40 pounds; a female slightly lighter at 30 to 35 pounds. A Skye Terrier is also much shorter; both genders, at adulthood, are approximately 10 inches when measured at the shoulder. A Wheaten male, however, can be 19 inches, and a female 18 inches upon maturity.

    Coat

    • Their coats also make them stand out from each other. A Skye terrier has a long coat -- also known as a "waterfall" -- that requires serious grooming. Parted down the center of his entire body, the Skye sports a soft, thick undercoat with a long, straight outer coat, making it an obvious "show dog". A Wheaten has the shorter, wavy hair that is associated with terriers. While the Wheaten's fur will require cutting over the eyes, a Skye's face has long bangs that require being pulled back so the dog can see. Both may have a beard, but the Skye's is far longer and obvious. In color, the Skye's coat can range from cream, fawn, several shades of gray or silver, to black or "blue." But a Wheaten's coat will always be in shades of light beige to gold at adulthood -- what is specifically known as a "Wheaten" color.

    Grooming

    • While basic grooming needs -- brushing teeth and cleaning ears weekly, trimming nails monthly -- are the same, the dogs differ vastly on their grooming needs when it comes to their coats. Skye terriers require brushing at least once a week, more so if they are outside frequently. The coat needs to be lightly dampened before brushing to avoid hair breakage. Bathing must be every two or three weeks, although more frequent bathing is required if the dog is highly active. The dog's long hair can easily become knotted and dirty, requiring more vigilance to keep it looking clean. A Wheaten terrier, in contrast, requires baths only as needed. Brushing the dog daily to remove any shedding hair keeps the dog's fur silky, but dogs who are not being shown professionally do not require this; they can merely be groomed as needed, making them easier to care for.