A Detailed Comparison of the Collie and the Skye Terrier.

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Collie Versus Skye Terrier: Introduction

Are you thinking of getting a new pet dog, and you have narrowed down your choices to the Collie and the Skye Terrier? Well, you have come to the right place. Because in this article, we will provide you with a detailed comparison of these two dog breeds to help you decide which of the Collie and the Skye Terrier better suits you.

We will provide you a detailed discussion and comparison of dog attributes such as intelligence, price, general health, friendliness, etc, for both the Collie and the Skye Terrier.

Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Collie and the Skye Terrier is better suited for new dog owners, for owners with kids, for owners that live in apartments, for owners with dog allergies, etc.

Importantly, we did some analysis and calculation and we obtained a number that we call the Better-Pet Score™ for both the Collie and for the Skye Terrier. The dog breed with the higher Better-Pet score is the `better` pet. We hope that these Better-Pet Scores will provide you with more insight into deciding which pet to get between the Collie and the Skye Terrier.

Our only goal here is to help you make a well-thought-out decision on your next long-term companion, be it the Collie or the Skye Terrier.

Collie versus Skye Terrier: Overview

A very important difference between the Collie and the Skye Terrier is the size difference between the two dog breeds. The Collie is a medium-sized dog while the Skye Terrier is a small-sized dog.

Furthermore, the Collie belongs to the Herding Dogs group. Herding Dogs were bred for moving livestock, including sheep, cattle, and even reindeer. Herding dogs work closely with their human shepherds, and their natural intelligence and responsiveness make them highly trainable. They have high levels of energy, which needs to be channeled properly to prevent destructive behavior. Herding breeds are protective of their people and property and make excellent watchdogs. Their intelligence, agility, and activity level make them well suited to dog sports.

On the other hand, the Skye Terrier belongs to the Terrier Dogs group. Terrier Dogs were originally bred to go underground to hunt rodents and other small wild animals (vermin). Terriers come in a wide range of sizes and shapes, but all terriers are energetic, highly intelligent, and territorial. Terries also have the tendency to escape. They require a securely fenced yard.

Collie versus Skye Terrier: Comparison Table

The table below compares the Collie to the Skye Terrier based on different important factors such as Price, Health, Kid-friendliness, etc.

When a dog breed scores higher for a factor than the other dog breed, the box of the breed that scores higher is shaded green and the box of the breed that scores lower is shaded red. When there is no difference between the breeds for a particular factor then the box is shaded gray for both pets. Also, when the factor is not important in picking a pet, or when the factor cannot be compared between two pets, the box for the factor is shaded gray for both pets

Most of the factors in the table for each dog breed are ranked on a scale of 1 to 5. “1” means “worst”, and “5” means “best”.

However, some factors such as “Price”, “Average Lifespan”, etc. cannot be on a scale of 1 to 5, so they are not on a scale of 1 to 5 in the comparison table.

Later in this article, we will further explain each factor as it applies to the Collie and the Skye Terrier

Factor Collie Skye Terrier
Does NOT Drool 5/5 5/5
Tendency NOT to Wander 5/5 2/5
Life Span 10 to 14 years 12 to 14 years
Tolerates Being Alone 2/5 2/5
Easy To Groom 2/5 3/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor 4/5 2/5
Height 22 to 26 inches all at the shoulder 9 to 10 inches tall at the shoulder
Adapts Well To Apartment Living 3/5 4/5
Tolerates Hot Weather 3/5 4/5
General Health 3/5 5/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight 3/5 3/5
Does NOT chew on things 3/5 3/5
NOT Rambunctious 3/5 3/5
Minimal Exercise Needs 3/5 3/5
Good For Novice Owners 4/5 4/5
Tolerates Cold Weather 4/5 4/5
Dog Friendly 4/5 2/5
Friendly Toward Strangers 4/5 5/5
Easy To Train 4/5 2/5
Intelligence 4/5 4/5
Low Prey Drive 2/5 2/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl 2/5 2/5
Potential For Playfulness 4/5 4/5
Easygoing 1/5 3/5
Affectionate With Family 5/5 4/5
Kid-Friendly 5/5 4/5
Does NOT Shed 1/5 3/5
Weight 50 to 70 pounds 25 to 40 pounds
Average Lifespan 12.0 years 13.0 years
Average Price $1480 $2000
Price Range $1000 – $1800 $2000 – $2000
Temperament Score 80.8 percent 37.5 percent
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests
  • Clear By Parentage
  • Dermatomyositis
  • Multiple Drug Sensitivity
  • Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) DNA Test
  • No Data
    Popularity out of 200 Dog Breeds 37 176
    Intelligence Rank (out of 130 Dog Breeds) 16 55

    Next, we added the scores of the factors that can be added together for the Collie in the table (that is, `Ease of Grooming` score + `General Health` score + `Calmness` score + …etc) and we compared it to the corresponding total score for the Skye Terrier. We call these total scores the Better-Pet Scores, as we mentioned earlier. We called this score the Better-Pet score because the better dog breed will have a higher score. This is because the pet will the higher score will have minimal needs and be easier to have as a pet.

    The Better-Pet score for the Collie is 83 out of 125 while the Better-Pet score for the Skye Terrier is 82 out of 125.

    Based on their Better-Pet scores, the Collie is a better pet than the Skye Terrier. So, you should get the Collie!

    Although we have done our best to analyze these two dog breeds in a very unbiased way, however, we will like to let you know that there are some dog attributes that cannot be assigned a number for comparison. We cannot put a number on how cute a dog breed is, for example. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

    Also, the dog breed that best suits you will depend on your peculiar lifestyle, your taste, and your priorities, which we do not know. So, for you to decide on which breed is right for you, read through the rest of the article to further understand both the Collie and the Skye Terrier so that you can make your own well-informed decision on which pet to get.

    The Most Remarkable Differences Between the Collie and the Skye Terrier

    Below is a list of where the Collie and the Skye Terrier are most different:

  • Collies do not have the potential to wander after things that capture their attention. They tend to stay around where you leave them. However, Skye Terriers have a high tendency to wander. They are easily distracted by other animals or objects.
  • The Similarities Between the Collie and the Skye Terrier

    The Collie and the Skye Terrier are very similar in certain aspects. Below is the list of where the Collie and the Skye Terrier are most similar:

  • Both the Collie and the Skye Terrier do not have the tendency to drool.
  • Both the Collie and the Skye Terrier do not like to be left alone.
  • Both the Collie and the Skye Terrier require a lot of grooming and are not very easy to groom.
  • Both the Collie and the Skye Terrier are good for new dog owners.
  • Both the Collie and the Skye Terrier can tolerate cold weather.
  • Both the Collie and the Skye Terrier are very friendly towards strangers.
  • Both the Collie and the Skye Terrier are highly intelligent.
  • Both the Collie and the Skye Terrier have a high prey drive. They do not get along well with other pets.
  • Both the Collie and the Skye Terrier are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl.
  • Both the Collie and the Skye Terrier are very playful.
  • Both the Collie and the Skye Terrier are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
  • Both the Collie and the Skye Terrier get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
  • Size (Weight and Height) of Collie versus Skye Terrier

    Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the Collie and the Skye Terrier.

    Collies weigh 50 to 70 pounds when fully grown. Collies are 22 to 26 inches all at the shoulder when fully grown.

    On the other hand, Skye Terriers weigh 25 to 40 pounds when fully grown. Skye Terriers are 9 to 10 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.

    Lifespan of Collie versus Skye Terrier

    The lifespan of Collies is between 10 to 14 years. The average lifespan of Collies is 12.0 years.

    The lifespan of Skye Terriers is between 12 to 14 years. The average lifespan of Skye Terriers is 13.0 years.

    Skye Terriers live longer than Collies.

    Temperament of the Skye Terrier Versus the Collie

    The Collie has a better temperament than the Skye Terrier.

    This is because the temperament score for the Collie is 80.8 percent while the temperament score for the Skye Terrier is 37.5 percent, according to the American Temperament Test Society (ATTS).

    The American Temperament Test Society (ATTS) is a non-profit organization whose mission is to provide fair and objective evaluations of the temperaments of dog breeds.

    Dog breeds with low temperament scores tend to show unprovoked aggression, they easily panic without quickly recovering from the panic, and they tend to avoid people. However, dog breeds with high temperament scores are not aggressive and are not shy. Also, these dogs are generally friendly and are protective of their owners.

    The average temperament score across all dog breeds (over 250 breeds) is 83.7 percent.

    With its temperament score of 80.8 percent, the Collie has a below-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.

    With its temperament score of 37.5 percent, the Skye Terrier has a below-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.

    The ATTS obtained the temperament scores of the Collie and the Skye Terrier by measuring the temperaments of 896 Collies and 8 Skye Terriers.

    Price of Collie versus Price of Skye Terrier

    The average price of the Collie puppy is $1480. The price of the Collie typically ranges from $1000 – $1800. However, the price of a Collie can be as low as $300 and as high as $15000. We obtained this price information by reviewing the prices of 356 Collie puppies listed for sale from various sources.

    The average price of the Skye Terrier puppy is $2000. The price of the Skye Terrier typically ranges from $2000 – $2000. However, the price of the Skye Terrier can be as low as $2000 and as high as $2000. We obtained this price information by collecting and reviewing the prices of 1 Skye Terrier puppies listed for sale from various sources.

    The Skye Terrier is more expensive than the Collie.

    Collie Skye Terrier
    Average Price $1480 $2000
    Price Range $1000 to $1800 $2000 to $2000

    The charts below show the price distribution for the Collie and Skye Terrier. For different price points, the charts show how many Collie puppies or how many Skye Terrier puppies are listed for sale at those price points.

    A breakdown of the prices of Collies. The typical price range is shaded Green.

    A breakdown of the prices of Collies. The typical price range is shaded Green.

    A breakdown of the prices of Skye Terriers

    A breakdown of the prices of Skye Terriers

    Note that a lot of factors determine how much you can expect to pay for the Collie puppy or the Skye Terrier puppy. This includes if health screening tests have been performed on the puppy, if the puppy is from a famous pedigree, the US State where the puppy is bred, etc.

    Nevertheless, when looking to buy a puppy, look at buying a puppy only from well-established breeders that breed puppies primarily for the love of dogs, and secondarily for profit. Do not buy a puppy from a puppy mill. Puppy mills mass-produce puppies in bad living conditions for maximum profit.

    You may also consider adopting a dog instead of buying a dog.

    Adopting the Collie versus Adopting the Skye Terrier

    You may consider adopting a dog instead of buying a puppy. Many Collies and many Skye Terriers are currently available for adoption.

    These adorable and cute dogs are waiting in dog shelters hoping that someday someone will rescue them. Furthermore, adoption costs are lesser than the cost of a new puppy. Dog adoption costs are usually around $300. In addition to your local dog shelter, a good place online to see dogs that are available for adoption is petfinder.com.

    Below is an adorable Male Collie named Bernard (20211219-05) that is currently available for adoption on Petfinder.com. You can find other lovely adoptable Collies like Bernard (20211219-05) on pefinder.com.

    Also, like Collies, Skye Terriers are also available for adoption. For example, Bill Bailey is a Male Skye Terrier that is currently available for adoption on petfinder.com. You can find more Skye Terriers like Bill Bailey that are up for adoption on petfinder.com.

    The Collie and the Skye Terrier can both be adopted. Images from petfinder.com

    Merks is the name of another Collie (Male) on petfinder.com that is looking for a new home.

    You can find more Collies and Skye Terriers that are available for adoption on petfinder.

    The Intelligence of the Collie versus the Intelligence of the Skye Terrier

    Collie Skye Terrier
    Intelligence Rank 16 out of 130 dog breeds 55 out of 130 dog breeds
    Trainability Tend To Learn New Commands After 5 To 15 Repetitions Tend To Learn New Commands After 40 To 80 Repetitions!

    Professor Stanley Coren, the famous psychology/neuropsychological professor and, dog lover/trainer measured and ranked the intelligence of about 130 different dog breeds.

    According to Prof. Stanley Coren, the total intelligence that a dog demonstrates is the addition of three types of intelligence. These intelligence types are:

  • Instinctive Intelligence: This is the natural intelligence a dog has because of what the dog was bred for. This type of intelligence comes from instinct. For example, dog breeds that were bred for guarding will have high `guarding` instinctive intelligence, while dog breeds that were bred for hunting will what high `hunting` instinctive intelligence. However, you cannot compare the intelligence of dog breeds based on instinctive intelligence because such a comparison will not make sense.
  • Adaptive Intelligence (learning and problem-solving ability): This indicates what a dog can learn to do for himself or herself. It includes learning and benefiting from experience with his environment, solving new problems, and so forth. Adaptive intelligence is specific to each dog, and not breed specific. Thus, two dogs can have remarkably different levels of adaptive intelligence even if they are of the same breed.
  • Working/Obedience Intelligence: This intelligence is the closest to what we might call school-learning ability and it is based upon what the dog can learn to do when instructed by humans. Importantly, different dog breeds have different learning abilities. Also, science has shown that some dog breeds can learn faster than some other breeds. This means certain dog breeds tend to have higher working/obedience intelligence than some other breeds. Dogs with high Working/Obedience Intelligence are smart and easy to train.
  • Prof. Coren showed that the Working/Obedience Intelligence of different dog breeds can be measured reliably. Thus, he was able to rank different dog breeds based on their Working/Obedience Intelligence.

    This is important because according to Prof. Coren, 51 percent of a dog`s intelligence comes from its genes while 49 percent of a dog`s intelligence comes from the dog`s environmental circumstances.

    To rank the intelligence of dog breeds, Prof. Coren employed the help of 208 dog obedience judges in North America to fill out a detailed survey on dog obedience. This number represented more than half of all of these judges in North America at the time. He also employed 63 veterinarians and 14 guard dog experts to collect data on the personality of different dog breeds.

    Prof. Coren found that the Collie has an obedience intelligence rank of 16 out of 130 dog breeds. The Collie belongs to the `Excellent Working Dogs` category. This means that Collies tend to learn new commands after 5 to 15 repetitions.

    The Skye Terrier has an obedience intelligence rank of 55 out of 130 dog breeds. The Skye Terrier belongs to the `Fair Working/Obedience Intelligence Dogs` category. This means that Skye Terriers tend to learn new commands after 40 to 80 repetitions!.

    The Collie is more intelligent than the Skye Terrier.

    However, Prof. Coren noted that a dog should not be judged based on its intelligence alone, that other factors such as sociability, adorability, and compatibility with the owner are other very important factors that new dog owners need to consider when deciding on a new dog.

    The Popularity of Collie versus Popularity of Skye Terrier

    Every year, the American Kennel Club (AKC) publishes information on how popular a dog breed is in that particular year. The AKC gets the popularity information of a breed from how many dogs of that breed the owners register with the AKC every year. The AKC collects this data for about 200 dog breeds. The AKC collects this data for purebred dogs only(no mixed or hybrid dogs).

    The graphs and the table below show the popularity of the Collie and the Skye Terrier over the years.

    Based on the AKC popularity data over the years, the Collie is more popular with dog owners than the Skye Terrier. This is because, over the years, the average popularity of the Collie is 37 out of about 200 dog breeds while the average popularity of the Skye Terrier is 176 out of about 200 dog breeds.

    Popularity of Collie

    Popularity of Collie

    Popularity of Skye Terrier

    Popularity of Skye Terrier

    Year Collie Popularity Rank Skye Terrier Popularity Rank
    2013 35 161
    2014 36 177
    2015 36 175
    2016 37 178
    2017 40 172
    2018 38 178
    2019 38 187
    2020 40 183

    Tolerates Being Alone: Collie versus Skye Terrier

    Collies do not like to be left alone.

    Skye Terriers do not like to be left alone.

    Do Collies shed more than Skye Terriers?

    Collies shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.

    Skye Terriers shed moderately.

    Which one drools more, the Collie or the Skye Terrier

    Collies do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Skye Terriers do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Which is Easier to Groom, the Collie or the Skye Terrier?

    Collies require a lot of grooming and they are not very easy to groom.

    Skye Terriers are moderately easy to groom.

    Does the Collie Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Skye Terrier?

    Collies have a high prey drive. They have the tendency to chase after smaller animals and pets. They do not get along well with other pets.

    Skye Terriers have a high prey drive. They have the tendency to chase after smaller animals and pets. They do not get along well with other pets.

    Do Collies Bark and Howl? What about Skye Terriers?

    Collies are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl.

    Skye Terriers are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl.

    Can Collies Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Skye Terriers Tolerate Cold Weather?

    Collies can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Skye Terriers can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Wanderlust Potential: Collie vs. Skye Terrier

    Collies do not have the potential to wander after things that capture their attention. They tend to stay around where you leave them.

    Skye Terriers have a high tendency to wander. They are easily distracted by other animals or objects.

    Can Collies Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Skye Terriers Tolerate Hot Weather?

    Collies can tolerate hot weather as long as the weather is not too hot.

    Skye Terriers can tolerate hot weather.

    Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Collie or the Skye Terrier?

    Collies get along very well with other dogs.

    Skye Terriers do not get along well with other dogs.

    Are Collies good family dogs? What about Skye Terriers?

    Collies are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

    Skye Terriers are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

    How Kid-friendly are Collies and Skye Terriers?

    Collies get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.

    Skye Terriers get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.

    Is the Collie Easier to Train than the Skye Terrier?

    Collies are very easy to train.

    Skye Terriers are not easy to train.

    Is the Collie Better for Apartment Owners than the Skye Terrier?

    Collies adapt moderately well to apartment living.

    Skye Terriers adapt very well to apartment living.

    Which is Better for New Dog Owners, the Collie or the Skye Terrier?

    Collies are very good for new dog owners.

    Skye Terriers are very good for new dog owners.

    Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Collie

    Furthermore, there are other dog breeds that are very similar to the Collie that you can consider on your quest to get the best pet.

    We crunched the numbers and found that the following dog breeds have similar personality and temperament as the Collie:

  • Keeshond (84 percent match with Collie). Here is our comparison of the Skye Terrier vs Keeshond.
  • Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Skye Terrier

    Furthermore, there are other dog breeds that are very similar to the Skye Terrier that you can consider on your quest to get the best pet.

    We crunched the numbers and found that the following dog breeds have similar personality and temperament as the Skye Terrier:

  • Lakeland Terrier (78 percent match with Skye Terrier). Here is our comparison of the Collie vs Lakeland Terrier.
  • Other Breed Comparisons that Might Interest You

    You may also be interested in how the Collie and how the Skye Terrier compares to other breeds. So, see below the comparison of the Collie and of the Skye Terrier to other breeds:

    Collie Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Collie versus Norwegian Lundehund     Collie versus Dutch Shepherd     Collie versus Irish Setter     Collie versus West Highland White Terrier     Collie versus Lhasa Apso     Collie versus Chow Chow     Collie versus Shih Tzu     Collie versus Spinone Italiano     Collie versus Braque du Bourbonnais     Collie versus Lhasapoo     Collie versus Aussiedoodle     Collie versus Alaskan Malamute     Collie versus Harrier     Collie versus Whoodle     Collie versus Sloughi     Collie versus Azawakh     Collie versus Doberman Pinscher     Collie versus Labrador Retriever     Collie versus Boerboel     Collie versus Chinese Shar-Pei     Collie versus Dachshund     Collie versus Karelian Bear Dog     Collie versus American Eskimo Dog     Collie versus Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever     Collie versus Jack Russell Terrier     

    Skye Terrier Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Skye Terrier versus Valley Bulldog     Skye Terrier versus Boykin Spaniel     Skye Terrier versus Brussels Griffon     Skye Terrier versus Catahoula Leopard Dog     Skye Terrier versus Cockapoo     Skye Terrier versus Ibizan Hound     Skye Terrier versus French Spaniel     Skye Terrier versus American Foxhound     Skye Terrier versus American Bulldog     Skye Terrier versus Karelian Bear Dog     Skye Terrier versus Lagotto Romagnolo     Skye Terrier versus Kooikerhondje     Skye Terrier versus French Bulldog     Skye Terrier versus Norfolk Terrier     Skye Terrier versus Stabyhoun     Skye Terrier versus Chow Chow     Skye Terrier versus German Pinscher     Skye Terrier versus Sussex Spaniel     Skye Terrier versus Portuguese Pointer     Skye Terrier versus Belgian Tervuren     Skye Terrier versus American Staffordshire Terrier     Skye Terrier versus Australian Cattle Dog     Skye Terrier versus Papillon     Skye Terrier versus Kerry Blue Terrier     Skye Terrier versus Alaskan Malamute     

    Conclusion: Collie versus Skye Terrier. Which One is a Better Pet?

    In summary, there is nothing like a better dog breed or a worse dog breed. The important question to ask is which dog breed better matches your interests and lifestyle. We hope our discussion above will help you in deciding which dog breed between the Collie and the Skye Terrier better suits you and your family.