Quick Links: Table of Contents
- Flat-Coated Retriever Versus Skye Terrier: Introduction
- Flat-Coated Retriever versus Skye Terrier: Overview
- Flat-Coated Retriever versus Skye Terrier: Comparison Table
- The Most Remarkable Differences Between the Flat-Coated Retriever and the Skye Terrier
- The Similarities Between the Flat-Coated Retriever and the Skye Terrier
- Size (Weight and Height) of Flat-Coated Retriever versus Skye Terrier
- Temperament of the Flat-Coated Retriever Versus the Skye Terrier
- Price of Flat-Coated Retriever versus Price of Skye Terrier
- The Intelligence of the Flat-Coated Retriever versus the Intelligence of the Skye Terrier
- The Popularity of Flat-Coated Retriever versus Popularity of Skye Terrier
- Tolerates Being Alone: Flat-Coated Retriever versus Skye Terrier
- Which one drools more, the Flat-Coated Retriever or the Skye Terrier
- Do Flat-Coated Retrievers shed more than Skye Terriers?
- Does the Flat-Coated Retriever Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Skye Terrier?
- Can Flat-Coated Retrievers Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Skye Terriers Tolerate Cold Weather?
- Can Flat-Coated Retrievers Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Skye Terriers Tolerate Hot Weather?
- Which is Easier to Groom, the Flat-Coated Retriever or the Skye Terrier?
- Is the Flat-Coated Retriever Easier to Train than the Skye Terrier?
- Do Flat-Coated Retrievers Bark and Howl? What about Skye Terriers?
- Wanderlust Potential: Flat-Coated Retriever vs. Skye Terrier
- Are Flat-Coated Retrievers good family dogs? What about Skye Terriers?
- How Kid-friendly are Flat-Coated Retrievers and Skye Terriers?
- Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Flat-Coated Retriever or the Skye Terrier?
- Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Flat-Coated Retriever
- Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Skye Terrier
- Other Breed Comparisons that Might Interest You
- Conclusion: Flat-Coated Retriever versus Skye Terrier. Which One is a Better Pet?
Flat-Coated Retriever Versus Skye Terrier: Introduction
Are you thinking of getting a new pet dog, and you have narrowed down your choices to the Flat-Coated Retriever 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 Flat-Coated Retriever 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 Flat-Coated Retriever and the Skye Terrier.
Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Flat-Coated Retriever 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 Flat-Coated Retriever 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 Flat-Coated Retriever 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 Flat-Coated Retriever or the Skye Terrier
Flat-Coated Retriever versus Skye Terrier: Overview
A very important difference between the Flat-Coated Retriever and the Skye Terrier is the size difference between the two dog breeds. The Flat-Coated Retriever is a medium-sized dog while the Skye Terrier is a small-sized dog.
Furthermore, the Flat-Coated Retriever belongs to the Sporting Dogs group. Sporting Dogs were bred to help hunters catch and retrieve feathered game. Some sporting dog breeds such as Retrievers, which were built for swimming, were bred to hunt waterfowl in water. Whereas sporting dog breeds like setters, spaniels, and pointing breeds were bred to hunt quail, pheasant, and other game birds nest on grasslands. Many Sporting Group breeds have thick, water-repellent coats that protect them from harsh hunting conditions.
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.
Flat-Coated Retriever versus Skye Terrier: Comparison Table
The table below compares the Flat-Coated Retriever 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 | Flat-Coated Retriever | Skye Terrier |
|---|---|---|
| Adapts Well To Apartment Living | 1/5 | 4/5 |
| Tolerates Being Alone | 1/5 | 2/5 |
| Height | 1 foot, 10 inches to 2 feet tall at the shoulder | 9 to 10 inches tall at the shoulder |
| Life Span | 10 to 12 years | 12 to 14 years |
| Good For Novice Owners | 2/5 | 4/5 |
| Does NOT Drool | 4/5 | 5/5 |
| Does NOT Shed | 3/5 | 3/5 |
| Does NOT chew on things | 3/5 | 3/5 |
| Low Prey Drive | 3/5 | 2/5 |
| Tolerates Cold Weather | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| Tolerates Hot Weather | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| Easy To Groom | 4/5 | 3/5 |
| General Health | 4/5 | 5/5 |
| Potential NOT to Gain Weight | 2/5 | 3/5 |
| Easy To Train | 4/5 | 2/5 |
| Does NOT Bark or Howl | 2/5 | 2/5 |
| Tendency NOT to Wander | 2/5 | 2/5 |
| Calmness/ Low Vigor | 2/5 | 2/5 |
| Easygoing | 1/5 | 3/5 |
| Affectionate With Family | 5/5 | 4/5 |
| Kid-Friendly | 5/5 | 4/5 |
| Dog Friendly | 5/5 | 2/5 |
| Friendly Toward Strangers | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| Intelligence | 5/5 | 4/5 |
| NOT Rambunctious | 1/5 | 3/5 |
| Minimal Exercise Needs | 1/5 | 3/5 |
| Potential For Playfulness | 5/5 | 4/5 |
| Weight | 55 to 70 pounds | 25 to 40 pounds |
| Average Lifespan | 11.0 years | 13.0 years |
| Average Price | $1350 | $2000 |
| Price Range | $1150 – $1800 | $2000 – $2000 |
| Temperament Score | 92.0 percent | 37.5 percent |
| Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests |
|
No Data |
| Popularity out of 200 Dog Breeds | 94 | 176 |
| Intelligence Rank (out of 130 Dog Breeds) | 18 | 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 Flat-Coated Retriever 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 Flat-Coated Retriever is 78 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 Flat-Coated Retriever. 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 Flat-Coated Retriever 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 Flat-Coated Retriever and the Skye Terrier
Below is a list of where the Flat-Coated Retriever and the Skye Terrier are most different:
The Similarities Between the Flat-Coated Retriever and the Skye Terrier
The Flat-Coated Retriever and the Skye Terrier are very similar in certain aspects. Below is the list of where the Flat-Coated Retriever and the Skye Terrier are most similar:
Size (Weight and Height) of Flat-Coated Retriever versus Skye Terrier
Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the Flat-Coated Retriever and the Skye Terrier.
Flat-Coated Retrievers weigh 55 to 70 pounds when fully grown. Flat-Coated Retrievers are 1 foot, 10 inches to 2 feet 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 Flat-Coated Retriever Versus the Skye Terrier
The Flat-Coated Retriever has a better temperament than the Skye Terrier.
This is because the temperament score for the Flat-Coated Retriever is 92.0 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 92.0 percent, the Flat-Coated Retriever has an above-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 Flat-Coated Retriever and the Skye Terrier by measuring the temperaments of 87 Flat-Coated Retrievers and 8 Skye Terriers.
Price of Flat-Coated Retriever versus Price of Skye Terrier
The average price of the Flat-Coated Retriever puppy is $1350. The price of the Flat-Coated Retriever typically ranges from $1150 – $1800. However, the price of a Flat-Coated Retriever can be as low as $100 and as high as $2500. We obtained this price information by reviewing the prices of 8 Flat-Coated Retriever 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 Flat-Coated Retriever.
| Flat-Coated Retriever | Skye Terrier | |
|---|---|---|
| Average Price | $1350 | $2000 |
| Price Range | $1150 to $1800 | $2000 to $2000 |
The charts below show the price distribution for the Flat-Coated Retriever and Skye Terrier. For different price points, the charts show how many Flat-Coated Retriever puppies or how many Skye Terrier puppies are listed for sale at those price points.
A breakdown of the prices of Flat-Coated Retrievers. The typical price range is shaded Green.
A breakdown of the prices of Skye Terriers
Note that a lot of factors determine how much you can expect to pay for the Flat-Coated Retriever 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 Flat-Coated Retriever versus the Intelligence of the Skye Terrier
| Flat-Coated Retriever | Skye Terrier | |
|---|---|---|
| Intelligence Rank | 18 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:
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 Flat-Coated Retriever has an obedience intelligence rank of 18 out of 130 dog breeds. The Flat-Coated Retriever belongs to the `Excellent Working Dogs` category. This means that Flat-Coated Retrievers 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 Flat-Coated Retriever 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 Flat-Coated Retriever 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 Flat-Coated Retriever and the Skye Terrier over the years.
Based on the AKC popularity data over the years, the Flat-Coated Retriever is more popular with dog owners than the Skye Terrier. This is because, over the years, the average popularity of the Flat-Coated Retriever is 94 out of about 200 dog breeds while the average popularity of the Skye Terrier is 176 out of about 200 dog breeds.
Popularity of Flat-Coated Retriever
Popularity of Skye Terrier
| Year | Flat-Coated Retriever Popularity Rank | Skye Terrier Popularity Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 94 | 161 |
| 2014 | 92 | 177 |
| 2015 | 86 | 175 |
| 2016 | 89 | 178 |
| 2017 | 96 | 172 |
| 2018 | 91 | 178 |
| 2019 | 104 | 187 |
| 2020 | 102 | 183 |
Is the Flat-Coated Retriever Better for Apartment Owners than the Skye Terrier?
Flat-Coated Retrievers do not adapt well to apartment living.
Skye Terriers adapt very well to apartment living.
Tolerates Being Alone: Flat-Coated Retriever versus Skye Terrier
Flat-Coated Retrievers do not like to be left alone.
Skye Terriers do not like to be left alone.
Which is Better for New Dog Owners, the Flat-Coated Retriever or the Skye Terrier?
Flat-Coated Retrievers are not the best dogs for new dog owners.
Skye Terriers are very good for new dog owners.
Which one drools more, the Flat-Coated Retriever or the Skye Terrier
Flat-Coated Retrievers do have a very low tendency to drool.
Skye Terriers do have a very low tendency to drool.
Do Flat-Coated Retrievers shed more than Skye Terriers?
Flat-Coated Retrievers shed moderately.
Skye Terriers shed moderately.
Does the Flat-Coated Retriever Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Skye Terrier?
Flat-Coated Retrievers have a moderate prey drive. They can sometimes chase after smaller animals and 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.
Can Flat-Coated Retrievers Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Skye Terriers Tolerate Cold Weather?
Flat-Coated Retrievers can very well tolerate cold weather.
Skye Terriers can very well tolerate cold weather.
Can Flat-Coated Retrievers Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Skye Terriers Tolerate Hot Weather?
Flat-Coated Retrievers can tolerate hot weather.
Skye Terriers can tolerate hot weather.
Which is Easier to Groom, the Flat-Coated Retriever or the Skye Terrier?
Flat-Coated Retrievers are very easy to groom.
Skye Terriers are moderately easy to groom.
Is the Flat-Coated Retriever Easier to Train than the Skye Terrier?
Flat-Coated Retrievers are very easy to train.
Skye Terriers are not easy to train.
Do Flat-Coated Retrievers Bark and Howl? What about Skye Terriers?
Flat-Coated Retrievers 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: Flat-Coated Retriever vs. Skye Terrier
Flat-Coated Retrievers 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.
Are Flat-Coated Retrievers good family dogs? What about Skye Terriers?
Flat-Coated Retrievers 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 Flat-Coated Retrievers and Skye Terriers?
Flat-Coated Retrievers 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 Flat-Coated Retriever or the Skye Terrier?
Flat-Coated Retrievers get along very well with other dogs.
Skye Terriers do not get along well with other dogs.
Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Flat-Coated Retriever
Furthermore, there are other dog breeds that are very similar to the Flat-Coated Retriever 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 Flat-Coated Retriever:
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:
Other Breed Comparisons that Might Interest You
You may also be interested in how the Flat-Coated Retriever and how the Skye Terrier compares to other breeds. So, see below the comparison of the Flat-Coated Retriever and of the Skye Terrier to other breeds:
Flat-Coated Retriever Versus Other Dog Breeds
Flat-Coated Retriever versus Puli Flat-Coated Retriever versus Bedlington Terrier Flat-Coated Retriever versus American Water Spaniel Flat-Coated Retriever versus Great Pyrenees Flat-Coated Retriever versus Keeshond Flat-Coated Retriever versus Bolognese Flat-Coated Retriever versus Barbet Flat-Coated Retriever versus Basenji Flat-Coated Retriever versus Stabyhoun Flat-Coated Retriever versus Central Asian Shepherd Dog
Skye Terrier Versus Other Dog Breeds
Skye Terrier versus Bulldog Skye Terrier versus Dogue de Bordeaux Skye Terrier versus West Highland White Terrier Skye Terrier versus Cockalier Skye Terrier versus Greater Swiss Mountain Dog Skye Terrier versus Manchester Terrier Skye Terrier versus Gordon Setter Skye Terrier versus Chorkie Skye Terrier versus Maltese Skye Terrier versus Kuvasz
Conclusion: Flat-Coated Retriever 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 Flat-Coated Retriever and the Skye Terrier better suits you and your family.