Differences and Similarities between the Dachshund and the Skye Terrier.

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Dachshund Versus Skye Terrier: Introduction

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

Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Dachshund 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 Dachshund 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 more insight into deciding which pet to get between the Dachshund 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 Dachshund or the Skye Terrier

Dachshund versus Skye Terrier: Overview

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

Furthermore, the Dachshund belongs to the Hound Dogs group. Hound Dogs were bred to pursue and hunt warm-blooded animals. Hounds hunt by using their good sight or their good sense of smell. Dogs that belong to the Hound Group have strong prey drives and often will stop at nothing to catch what they are pursuing.

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.

Dachshund versus Skye Terrier: Comparison Table

The table below compares the Dachshund 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.

Factor Dachshund Skye Terrier
Tolerates Cold Weather 1/5 4/5
Friendly Toward Strangers 1/5 5/5
Does NOT Drool 5/5 5/5
Life Span 12 to 15 years 12 to 14 years
Weight 16 to 32 pounds 25 to 40 pounds
General Health 2/5 5/5
Easy To Train 2/5 2/5
Tolerates Being Alone 3/5 2/5
Tolerates Hot Weather 3/5 4/5
Dog Friendly 3/5 2/5
Does NOT Shed 3/5 3/5
Easy To Groom 3/5 3/5
NOT Rambunctious 3/5 3/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor 3/5 2/5
Minimal Exercise Needs 3/5 3/5
Good For Novice Owners 4/5 4/5
Easygoing 2/5 3/5
Affectionate With Family 4/5 4/5
Intelligence 4/5 4/5
Does NOT chew on things 2/5 3/5
Potential For Playfulness 4/5 4/5
Adapts Well To Apartment Living 5/5 4/5
Kid-Friendly 5/5 4/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight 1/5 3/5
Low Prey Drive 1/5 2/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl 1/5 2/5
Tendency NOT to Wander 1/5 2/5
Height 8 inches to 9 inches tall at the shoulder 9 to 10 inches tall at the shoulder
Average Lifespan 13.5 years 13.0 years
Average Price $1730 $2000
Price Range $1000 – $2000 $2000 – $2000
Temperament Score 69.4 percent 37.5 percent
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests
  • Autoimmune thyroiditis
  • Congenital Deafness
  • Eye Examination
  • Patellar Luxation
  • Progressive Retinal Atrophy
    		•  No Data
    Popularity out of 200 Dog Breeds 11 176
    Intelligence Rank (out of 130 Dog Breeds) 49 55

    *Data from dogtime.com, OFA.org (The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals), petcalculator.com, wikipedia.org, ATTS.org (the American Temperament Test Society)

    Next, we added the scores of the factors that can be added together for the Dachshund 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 a Dachshund is 69 out of 125 while the Better-Pet score for a Skye Terrier is 82 out of 125.

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

    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 Dachshund 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 Dachshund and the Skye Terrier

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

  • Dachshunds cannot tolerate cold weather. They are vulnerable to the cold. However, Skye Terriers can tolerate cold weather.
  • Dachshunds are not very friendly towards strangers. However, Skye Terriers are very friendly towards strangers.
  • Dachshunds have the tendency to develop certain health problems. However, Skye Terriers are very healthy. They do not suffer from a lot of health problems compared to other dog breeds

    • The Similarities Between the Dachshund and the Skye Terrier

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

  • Both the Dachshund and the Skye Terrier do not have the tendency to drool.
  • Both the Dachshund and the Skye Terrier are not easy to train.
  • Both the Dachshund and the Skye Terrier are good for new dog owners.
  • Both the Dachshund and the Skye Terrier are easily disturbed by noise in their environments. They are sensitive to human tone. They will understand the tone of your voice when you try to correct their behaviors with a firm tone.
  • Both the Dachshund and the Skye Terrier are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
  • Both the Dachshund and the Skye Terrier are highly intelligent.
  • Both the Dachshund and the Skye Terrier are prone to nip and chew at things.
  • Both the Dachshund and the Skye Terrier are very playful.
  • Both the Dachshund and the Skye Terrier adapt well to apartment living.
  • Both the Dachshund and the Skye Terrier get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
  • Both the Dachshund and the Skye Terrier have a high prey drive. They do not get along well with other pets.
  • Both the Dachshund and the Skye Terrier are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl.
  • Both the Dachshund and the Skye Terrier have a high tendency to wander. They are easily distracted by other animals or objects.

    • Size (Weight and Height) of Dachshund versus Skye Terrier

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

    Dachshunds weigh 16 to 32 pounds when fully grown. Dachshunds are 8 inches to 9 inches tall 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.

    Temperament of the Dachshund Versus the Skye Terrier

    The Dachshund has a better temperament than the Skye Terrier.

    This is because the temperament score for the Dachshund is 69.4 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 they 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 69.4 percent, the Dachshund 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 Dachshund and the Skye Terrier by measuring the temperaments of 49 Dachshunds and 8 Skye Terriers.

    Price of Dachshund versus Price of Skye Terrier

    The average price of the Dachshund puppy is $1730. The price of the Dachshund typically ranges from $1000 – $2000. However, the price of a Dachshund can be as low as $200 and as high as $24000. We obtained this price information by reviewing the prices of 698 Dachshund 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 a 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 Dachshund.

    Dachshund Skye Terrier
    Average Price $1730 $2000
    Price Range $1000 to $2000 $2000 to $2000

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

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

    A breakdown of the prices of Dachshunds. 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 Dachshund 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 from 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 one of those puppy mills that mass-produce puppies in bad living conditions for maximum profit.

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

    The Intelligence of the Dachshund versus the Intelligence of the Skye Terrier

    Dachshund Skye Terrier
    Intelligence Rank 49 out of 130 dog breeds 55 out of 130 dog breeds
    Trainability Tend To Learn New Commands After 25 To 40 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 Dachshund has an obedience intelligence rank of 49 out of 130 dog breeds. The Dachshund belongs to the `Average Working/Obedience Intelligence Dogs` category. This means that Dachshunds tend to learn new commands after 25 to 40 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 Dachshund 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 Dachshund 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 Dachshund and the Skye Terrier over the years.

    Based on the AKC popularity data over the years, the Dachshund is more popular with dog owners than the Skye Terrier. This is because, over the years, the average popularity of the Dachshund is 11 out of about 200 dog breeds while the average popularity of the Skye Terrier is 176 out of about 200 dog breeds.

    Popularity of Dachshund

    Popularity of Dachshund

    Popularity of Skye Terrier

    Popularity of Skye Terrier

    Year Dachshund Popularity Rank Skye Terrier Popularity Rank
    2013 10 161
    2014 11 177
    2015 13 175
    2016 13 178
    2017 13 172
    2018 12 178
    2019 11 187
    2020 10 183

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

    Dachshunds cannot tolerate cold weather. They are vulnerable to the cold.

    Skye Terriers can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Which one drools more, the Dachshund or the Skye Terrier

    Dachshunds do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Skye Terriers do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Is the Dachshund Easier to Train than the Skye Terrier?

    Dachshunds are not easy to train.

    Skye Terriers are not easy to train.

    Tolerates Being Alone: Dachshund versus Skye Terrier

    Dachshunds can be left alone only for a short time.

    Skye Terriers do not like to be left alone.

    Can Dachshunds Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Skye Terriers Tolerate Hot Weather?

    Dachshunds 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 Dachshund or the Skye Terrier?

    Dachshunds get along fairly well with other dogs.

    Skye Terriers do not get along well with other dogs.

    Do Dachshunds shed more than Skye Terriers?

    Dachshunds shed moderately.

    Skye Terriers shed moderately.

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

    Dachshunds are moderately easy to groom.

    Skye Terriers are moderately easy to groom.

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

    Dachshunds are very good for new dog owners.

    Skye Terriers are very good for new dog owners.

    Are Dachshunds good family dogs? What about Skye Terriers?

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

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

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

    Dachshunds adapt very well to apartment living.

    Skye Terriers adapt very well to apartment living.

    How Kid-friendly are Dachshunds and Skye Terriers?

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

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

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

    Dachshunds 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 Dachshunds Bark and Howl? What about Skye Terriers?

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

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

    Wanderlust Potential: Dachshund vs. Skye Terrier

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

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

    Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Dachshund

    Furthermore, there are other dog breeds that are very similar to the Dachshund 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 Dachshund:

  • Dandie Dinmont Terrier (71 percent match with Dachshund). Here is our comparison of the Skye Terrier vs Dandie Dinmont Terrier.
  • Lhasa Apso (71 percent match with Dachshund). Here is our comparison of the Skye Terrier vs Lhasa Apso.
  • Manchester Terrier (75 percent match with Dachshund). Here is our comparison of the Skye Terrier vs Manchester Terrier.
  • Miniature Pinscher (72 percent match with Dachshund). Here is our comparison of the Skye Terrier vs Miniature Pinscher.

    • 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 Dachshund vs Lakeland Terrier.

    • Other Breed Comparisons that Might Interest You

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

    Dachshund Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Dachshund versus Berger Picard     Dachshund versus Polish Lowland Sheepdog     Dachshund versus Ibizan Hound     Dachshund versus Appenzeller Sennenhunde     Dachshund versus Pug     Dachshund versus Pharaoh Hound     Dachshund versus Catahoula Bulldog     Dachshund versus Curly-Coated Retriever     Dachshund versus Akita     

    Skye Terrier Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Skye Terrier versus Lancashire Heeler     Skye Terrier versus Pointer     Skye Terrier versus Tibetan Spaniel     Skye Terrier versus Scottish Deerhound     Skye Terrier versus Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier     Skye Terrier versus Pug     Skye Terrier versus Chinese Crested     Skye Terrier versus Icelandic Sheepdog     Skye Terrier versus Shih Tzu     Skye Terrier versus Cavachon     

    Conclusion: Dachshund 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 Dachshund and the Skye Terrier better suits you and your family.