Breed Comparison: Finnish Lapphund Versus Skye Terrier

by

Quick Links: Table of Contents

Finnish Lapphund Versus Skye Terrier: Introduction

Are you thinking of getting a new pet dog, and you have narrowed down your choices to the Finnish Lapphund 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 Finnish Lapphund 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 Finnish Lapphund and the Skye Terrier.

Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Finnish Lapphund 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 Finnish Lapphund 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 Finnish Lapphund 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 Finnish Lapphund or the Skye Terrier

Finnish Lapphund versus Skye Terrier: Overview

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

Furthermore, the Finnish Lapphund 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.

Finnish Lapphund versus Skye Terrier: Comparison Table

The table below compares the Finnish Lapphund 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 Finnish Lapphund Skye Terrier
Does NOT Drool 5/5 5/5
Life Span 12 to 15 years 12 to 14 years
Height 17 to 20 inches tall at the shoulder 9 to 10 inches tall at the shoulder
Tolerates Being Alone 2/5 2/5
Tolerates Hot Weather 2/5 4/5
Does NOT Shed 3/5 3/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl 3/5 2/5
Weight 33 to 53 pounds 25 to 40 pounds
Adapts Well To Apartment Living 4/5 4/5
Good For Novice Owners 4/5 4/5
Easygoing 2/5 3/5
Friendly Toward Strangers 4/5 5/5
Easy To Groom 4/5 3/5
General Health 4/5 5/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight 2/5 3/5
Does NOT chew on things 2/5 3/5
Low Prey Drive 2/5 2/5
Tendency NOT to Wander 2/5 2/5
Minimal Exercise Needs 2/5 3/5
Tolerates Cold Weather 5/5 4/5
Affectionate With Family 5/5 4/5
Kid-Friendly 5/5 4/5
Dog Friendly 5/5 2/5
Easy To Train 5/5 2/5
Intelligence 5/5 4/5
NOT Rambunctious 1/5 3/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor 1/5 2/5
Potential For Playfulness 5/5 4/5
Average Lifespan 13.5 years 13.0 years
Price Range No Data $2000 – $2000
Average Price No Data $2000
Temperament Score 62.5 percent 37.5 percent
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests
  • Degenerative Myelopathy
  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Eye Examination
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Patellar Luxation
  • Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) DNA Test
    		•  No Data
    Popularity out of 200 Dog Breeds 168 176

    *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 Finnish Lapphund 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 Finnish Lapphund is 84 out of 125 while the Better-Pet score for a Skye Terrier is 82 out of 125.

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

    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 Finnish Lapphund 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 Finnish Lapphund and the Skye Terrier

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

  • Finnish Lapphunds get along well with other dogs. However, Skye Terriers do not get along well with other dogs.
  • Finnish Lapphunds are very easy to train. However, Skye Terriers are not easy to train.

    • The Similarities Between the Finnish Lapphund and the Skye Terrier

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

  • Both the Finnish Lapphund and the Skye Terrier do not have the tendency to drool.
  • Both the Finnish Lapphund and the Skye Terrier do not like to be left alone.
  • Both the Finnish Lapphund and the Skye Terrier adapt well to apartment living.
  • Both the Finnish Lapphund and the Skye Terrier are good for new dog owners.
  • Both the Finnish Lapphund 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 Finnish Lapphund and the Skye Terrier are very friendly towards strangers.
  • Both the Finnish Lapphund and the Skye Terrier are very easy to groom.
  • Both the Finnish Lapphund and the Skye Terrier are very healthy. They do not suffer from a lot of health problems compared to other dog breeds
  • Both the Finnish Lapphund and the Skye Terrier gain weight easily. You need to pay careful attention to what you feed them.
  • Both the Finnish Lapphund and the Skye Terrier are prone to nip and chew at things.
  • Both the Finnish Lapphund and the Skye Terrier have a high prey drive. They do not get along well with other pets.
  • Both the Finnish Lapphund and the Skye Terrier have a high tendency to wander. They are easily distracted by other animals or objects.
  • Both the Finnish Lapphund and the Skye Terrier require a lot of exercise. They are good for owners who like to exercise.
  • Both the Finnish Lapphund and the Skye Terrier can tolerate cold weather.
  • Both the Finnish Lapphund and the Skye Terrier are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
  • Both the Finnish Lapphund and the Skye Terrier get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
  • Both the Finnish Lapphund and the Skye Terrier are highly intelligent.
  • Both the Finnish Lapphund and the Skye Terrier do things with high intensity. They can be very forceful.
  • Both the Finnish Lapphund and the Skye Terrier are very playful.

    • Size (Weight and Height) of Finnish Lapphund versus Skye Terrier

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

    Finnish Lapphunds weigh 33 to 53 pounds when fully grown. Finnish Lapphunds are 17 to 20 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 Skye Terrier Versus the Finnish Lapphund

    The Finnish Lapphund has a better temperament than the Skye Terrier.

    This is because the temperament score for the Finnish Lapphund is 62.5 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 62.5 percent, the Finnish Lapphund 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 Finnish Lapphund and the Skye Terrier by measuring the temperaments of 8 Finnish Lapphunds and 8 Skye Terriers.

    The Popularity of Finnish Lapphund 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 Finnish Lapphund and the Skye Terrier over the years.

    Based on the AKC popularity data over the years, the Finnish Lapphund is more popular with dog owners than the Skye Terrier. This is because, over the years, the average popularity of the Finnish Lapphund is 168 out of about 200 dog breeds while the average popularity of the Skye Terrier is 176 out of about 200 dog breeds.

    Popularity of Finnish Lapphund

    Popularity of Finnish Lapphund

    Popularity of Skye Terrier

    Popularity of Skye Terrier

    Year Finnish Lapphund Popularity Rank Skye Terrier Popularity Rank
    2013 171 161
    2014 173 177
    2015 169 175
    2016 173 178
    2017 173 172
    2018 161 178
    2019 165 187
    2020 165 183

    Which one drools more, the Finnish Lapphund or the Skye Terrier

    Finnish Lapphunds do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Skye Terriers do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Tolerates Being Alone: Finnish Lapphund versus Skye Terrier

    Finnish Lapphunds do not like to be left alone.

    Skye Terriers do not like to be left alone.

    Can Finnish Lapphunds Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Skye Terriers Tolerate Hot Weather?

    Finnish Lapphunds cannot tolerate hot weather. They are not suited for hot environments.

    Skye Terriers can tolerate hot weather.

    Do Finnish Lapphunds shed more than Skye Terriers?

    Finnish Lapphunds shed moderately.

    Skye Terriers shed moderately.

    Do Finnish Lapphunds Bark and Howl? What about Skye Terriers?

    Finnish Lapphunds bark and howl, but not very much.

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

    Is the Finnish Lapphund Better for Apartment Owners than the Skye Terrier?

    Finnish Lapphunds adapt very well to apartment living.

    Skye Terriers adapt very well to apartment living.

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

    Finnish Lapphunds are very good for new dog owners.

    Skye Terriers are very good for new dog owners.

    Which is Easier to Groom, the Finnish Lapphund or the Skye Terrier?

    Finnish Lapphunds are very easy to groom.

    Skye Terriers are moderately easy to groom.

    Does the Finnish Lapphund Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Skye Terrier?

    Finnish Lapphunds 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.

    Wanderlust Potential: Finnish Lapphund vs. Skye Terrier

    Finnish Lapphunds 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.

    Can Finnish Lapphunds Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Skye Terriers Tolerate Cold Weather?

    Finnish Lapphunds can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Skye Terriers can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Are Finnish Lapphunds good family dogs? What about Skye Terriers?

    Finnish Lapphunds 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 Finnish Lapphunds and Skye Terriers?

    Finnish Lapphunds get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.

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

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

    Finnish Lapphunds get along very well with other dogs.

    Skye Terriers do not get along well with other dogs.

    Is the Finnish Lapphund Easier to Train than the Skye Terrier?

    Finnish Lapphunds are very easy to train.

    Skye Terriers are not easy to train.

    Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Finnish Lapphund

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

  • American Eskimo Dog (79 percent match with Finnish Lapphund). Here is our comparison of the Skye Terrier vs American Eskimo Dog.
  • Bearded Collie (80 percent match with Finnish Lapphund). Here is our comparison of the Skye Terrier vs Bearded Collie.
  • English Cocker Spaniel (79 percent match with Finnish Lapphund). Here is our comparison of the Skye Terrier vs English Cocker Spaniel.
  • Jack Russell Terrier (80 percent match with Finnish Lapphund). Here is our comparison of the Skye Terrier vs Jack Russell Terrier.

    • 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 Finnish Lapphund vs Lakeland Terrier.

    • Other Breed Comparisons that Might Interest You

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

    Finnish Lapphund Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Finnish Lapphund versus Xoloitzcuintli     Finnish Lapphund versus Polish Lowland Sheepdog     Finnish Lapphund versus Valley Bulldog     Finnish Lapphund versus Catahoula Leopard Dog     Finnish Lapphund versus Bouvier des Flandres     Finnish Lapphund versus Caucasian Shepherd Dog     Finnish Lapphund versus Carolina Dog     Finnish Lapphund versus Bluetick Coonhound     Finnish Lapphund versus Bullmastiff     Finnish Lapphund versus English Toy Spaniel     

    Skye Terrier Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Skye Terrier versus Tibetan Mastiff     Skye Terrier versus American Staffordshire Terrier     Skye Terrier versus Giant Schnauzer     Skye Terrier versus Puli     Skye Terrier versus Kuvasz     Skye Terrier versus Boston Terrier     Skye Terrier versus Norfolk Terrier     Skye Terrier versus Toy Fox Terrier     Skye Terrier versus Havanese     Skye Terrier versus Chinese Crested     

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