Breed Comparison: Greyhound Versus Skye Terrier

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Greyhound Versus Skye Terrier: Introduction

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

Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Greyhound 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 Greyhound 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 Greyhound 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 Greyhound or the Skye Terrier.

Greyhound versus Skye Terrier: Overview

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

Furthermore, the Greyhound 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.

Greyhound versus Skye Terrier: Comparison Table

The table below compares the Greyhound 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 Greyhound and the Skye Terrier

Factor Greyhound Skye Terrier
Tolerates Being Alone 1/5 2/5
Tolerates Cold Weather 1/5 4/5
Life Span 12 to 15 years 12 to 14 years
Good For Novice Owners 2/5 4/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl 4/5 2/5
Height 2 feet, 1 inch to 2 feet, 6 inches tall at the sho 9 to 10 inches tall at the shoulder
Calmness/ Low Vigor 3/5 2/5
Adapts Well To Apartment Living 4/5 4/5
Dog Friendly 4/5 2/5
Does NOT Shed 2/5 3/5
General Health 4/5 5/5
Does NOT chew on things 2/5 3/5
Potential For Playfulness 4/5 4/5
Easygoing 1/5 3/5
Tolerates Hot Weather 5/5 4/5
Affectionate With Family 5/5 4/5
Kid-Friendly 5/5 4/5
Friendly Toward Strangers 5/5 5/5
Does NOT Drool 1/5 5/5
Easy To Groom 5/5 3/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight 1/5 3/5
Easy To Train 5/5 2/5
Intelligence 5/5 4/5
Low Prey Drive 1/5 2/5
Tendency NOT to Wander 1/5 2/5
NOT Rambunctious 1/5 3/5
Minimal Exercise Needs 1/5 3/5
Weight 50 to 85 pounds 25 to 40 pounds
Average Lifespan 13.5 years 13.0 years
Average Price $660 $2000
Price Range $500 – $800 $2000 – $2000
Temperament Score 79.7 percent 37.5 percent
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests
  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • DNA Repository
  • No Data
    Popularity out of 200 Dog Breeds 149 176
    Intelligence Rank (out of 130 Dog Breeds) 46 55

    Next, we added the scores of the factors that can be added together for the Greyhound 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 Greyhound is 73 out of 125 while the Better-Pet score for the Skye Terrier is 82 out of 125.

    Based on their Better-Pet scores, the Skye Terrier is a better pet than the Greyhound. 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 Greyhound 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 Greyhound and the Skye Terrier

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

  • Greyhounds cannot tolerate cold weather. They are vulnerable to the cold. However, Skye Terriers can tolerate cold weather.
  • Greyhounds have a very high tendency to drool. However, Skye Terriers do not have the tendency to drool.
  • Greyhounds are very easy to train. However, Skye Terriers are not easy to train.
  • The Similarities Between the Greyhound and the Skye Terrier

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

  • Both the Greyhound and the Skye Terrier do not like to be left alone.
  • Both the Greyhound and the Skye Terrier adapt well to apartment living.
  • Both the Greyhound and the Skye Terrier shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.
  • Both the Greyhound and the Skye Terrier are very healthy. They do not suffer from a lot of health problems compared to other dog breeds
  • Both the Greyhound and the Skye Terrier are prone to nip and chew at things.
  • Both the Greyhound and the Skye Terrier are very playful.
  • Both the Greyhound and the Skye Terrier can tolerate hot weather.
  • Both the Greyhound and the Skye Terrier are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
  • Both the Greyhound and the Skye Terrier get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
  • Both the Greyhound and the Skye Terrier are very friendly towards strangers.
  • Both the Greyhound and the Skye Terrier are highly intelligent.
  • Both the Greyhound and the Skye Terrier have a high prey drive. They do not get along well with other pets.
  • Both the Greyhound and the Skye Terrier have a high tendency to wander. They are easily distracted by other animals or objects.
  • Size (Weight and Height) of Greyhound versus Skye Terrier

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

    Greyhounds weigh 50 to 85 pounds when fully grown. Greyhounds are 2 feet, 1 inch to 2 feet, 6 inches tall at the sho 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 Greyhound versus Skye Terrier

    The lifespan of Greyhounds is between 12 to 15 years. The average lifespan of Greyhounds is 13.5 years.

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

    Greyhounds live longer than Skye Terriers.

    Temperament of the Skye Terrier Versus the Greyhound

    The Greyhound has a better temperament than the Skye Terrier.

    This is because the temperament score for the Greyhound is 79.7 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 79.7 percent, the Greyhound 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 Greyhound and the Skye Terrier by measuring the temperaments of 69 Greyhounds and 8 Skye Terriers.

    Price of Greyhound versus Price of Skye Terrier

    The average price of the Greyhound puppy is $660. The price of the Greyhound typically ranges from $500 – $800. However, the price of a Greyhound can be as low as $400 and as high as $1100. We obtained this price information by reviewing the prices of 20 Greyhound 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 Greyhound.

    Greyhound Skye Terrier
    Average Price $660 $2000
    Price Range $500 to $800 $2000 to $2000

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

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

    A breakdown of the prices of Greyhounds. 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 Greyhound 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.

    The Intelligence of the Greyhound versus the Intelligence of the Skye Terrier

    Greyhound Skye Terrier
    Intelligence Rank 46 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 Greyhound has an obedience intelligence rank of 46 out of 130 dog breeds. The Greyhound belongs to the `Average Working/Obedience Intelligence Dogs` category. This means that Greyhounds 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 Greyhound 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 Greyhound 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 Greyhound and the Skye Terrier over the years.

    Based on the AKC popularity data over the years, the Greyhound is more popular with dog owners than the Skye Terrier. This is because, over the years, the average popularity of the Greyhound is 149 out of about 200 dog breeds while the average popularity of the Skye Terrier is 176 out of about 200 dog breeds.

    Popularity of Greyhound

    Popularity of Greyhound

    Popularity of Skye Terrier

    Popularity of Skye Terrier

    Year Greyhound Popularity Rank Skye Terrier Popularity Rank
    2013 148 161
    2014 147 177
    2015 147 175
    2016 151 178
    2017 156 172
    2018 145 178
    2019 162 187
    2020 142 183

    Tolerates Being Alone: Greyhound versus Skye Terrier

    Greyhounds do not like to be left alone.

    Skye Terriers do not like to be left alone.

    Do Greyhounds shed more than Skye Terriers?

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

    Skye Terriers shed moderately.

    Which one drools more, the Greyhound or the Skye Terrier

    Greyhounds have a very high tendency to drool.

    Skye Terriers do have a very low tendency to drool.

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

    Greyhounds are very easy to groom.

    Skye Terriers are moderately easy to groom.

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

    Greyhounds 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 Greyhounds Bark and Howl? What about Skye Terriers?

    Greyhounds are not very vocal. They do not tend to bark and howl.

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

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

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

    Skye Terriers can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Wanderlust Potential: Greyhound vs. Skye Terrier

    Greyhounds 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 Greyhounds Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Skye Terriers Tolerate Hot Weather?

    Greyhounds can tolerate hot weather.

    Skye Terriers can tolerate hot weather.

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

    Greyhounds get along very well with other dogs.

    Skye Terriers do not get along well with other dogs.

    Are Greyhounds good family dogs? What about Skye Terriers?

    Greyhounds 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 Greyhounds and Skye Terriers?

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

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

    Is the Greyhound Easier to Train than the Skye Terrier?

    Greyhounds are very easy to train.

    Skye Terriers are not easy to train.

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

    Greyhounds adapt very well to apartment living.

    Skye Terriers adapt very well to apartment living.

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

    Greyhounds are not the best dogs for new dog owners.

    Skye Terriers are very good for new dog owners.

    Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Greyhound

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

  • German Shorthaired Pointer (70 percent match with Greyhound). Here is our comparison of the Skye Terrier vs German Shorthaired Pointer.
  • Bull Terrier (71 percent match with Greyhound). Here is our comparison of the Skye Terrier vs Bull Terrier.
  • Weimaraner (69 percent match with Greyhound). Here is our comparison of the Skye Terrier vs Weimaraner.
  • 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 Greyhound vs Lakeland Terrier.
  • Other Breed Comparisons that Might Interest You

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

    Greyhound Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Greyhound versus Mastiff     Greyhound versus Ibizan Hound     Greyhound versus Airedale Terrier     Greyhound versus Belgian Tervuren     Greyhound versus Briard     Greyhound versus American Foxhound     Greyhound versus Boxer     Greyhound versus Bulldog     Greyhound versus Belgian Sheepdog     Greyhound versus French Bulldog     Greyhound versus Beaglier     Greyhound versus Chorkie     Greyhound versus Borzoi     Greyhound versus Pyredoodle     Greyhound versus Scottish Terrier     Greyhound versus Standard Poodle     Greyhound versus German Shepherd Dog     Greyhound versus Coton de Tulear     Greyhound versus Lagotto Romagnolo     Greyhound versus Alaskan Malamute     Greyhound versus Boxerdoodle     Greyhound versus Xoloitzcuintli     Greyhound versus Bich Poo     Greyhound versus Canaan Dog     

    Skye Terrier Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Skye Terrier versus Bernese Mountain Dog     Skye Terrier versus Cane Corso     Skye Terrier versus Maltipoo     Skye Terrier versus Hovawart     Skye Terrier versus Belgian Malinois     Skye Terrier versus Carolina Dog     Skye Terrier versus Schipperke     Skye Terrier versus Treeing Tennessee Brindle     Skye Terrier versus Chinese Shar-Pei     Skye Terrier versus Rhodesian Ridgeback     Skye Terrier versus Border Terrier     Skye Terrier versus Yorkipoo     Skye Terrier versus Borzoi     Skye Terrier versus Goldendoodle     Skye Terrier versus Pembroke Welsh Corgi     Skye Terrier versus Aussiedoodle     Skye Terrier versus Pomsky     Skye Terrier versus Goldador     Skye Terrier versus Shichon     Skye Terrier versus Irish Setter     Skye Terrier versus Belgian Tervuren     Skye Terrier versus West Highland White Terrier     Skye Terrier versus Lakeland Terrier     Skye Terrier versus Cockalier     Skye Terrier versus Saint Bernard     

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