Is the Leonberger Better than the Skye Terrier as a Pet? Answer…

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Leonberger Versus Skye Terrier: Introduction

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

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

Leonberger versus Skye Terrier: Overview

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

Furthermore, the Leonberger belongs to the Working Dogs group. Working Dogs were developed to assist humans in some capacity – including pulling sleds and carts, guarding flocks, guarding homes, and protecting their families. Breeds in the Working Group are known for their imposing stature, strength, intelligence, and fearless. Because of their size and strength, working dogs require a structured home life and firm, fair, consistent training by someone who can provide leadership without resorting to anger or physical force.

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.

Leonberger versus Skye Terrier: Comparison Table

The table below compares the Leonberger 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 Leonberger and the Skye Terrier

Factor Leonberger Skye Terrier
Adapts Well To Apartment Living 1/5 4/5
Good For Novice Owners 1/5 4/5
Tolerates Hot Weather 1/5 4/5
General Health 1/5 5/5
Life Span 10 to 12 years 12 to 14 years
Weight 120 to 170 pounds 25 to 40 pounds
Tolerates Being Alone 2/5 2/5
Friendly Toward Strangers 2/5 5/5
Easy To Train 2/5 2/5
Tendency NOT to Wander 4/5 2/5
Height 25 to 31 inches tall at the shoulder 9 to 10 inches tall at the shoulder
Dog Friendly 3/5 2/5
Does NOT Drool 3/5 5/5
Intelligence 3/5 4/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl 3/5 2/5
Easygoing 2/5 3/5
Kid-Friendly 4/5 4/5
Easy To Groom 4/5 3/5
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
NOT Rambunctious 2/5 3/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor 2/5 2/5
Minimal Exercise Needs 2/5 3/5
Potential For Playfulness 4/5 4/5
Tolerates Cold Weather 5/5 4/5
Affectionate With Family 5/5 4/5
Does NOT Shed 1/5 3/5
Average Lifespan 11.0 years 13.0 years
Average Price $870 $2000
Price Range $300 – $1150 $2000 – $2000
Temperament Score 96.0 percent 37.5 percent
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests
  • Autoimmune thyroiditis
  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • CGC
  • DNA Repository
  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Eye Examination
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Leonberger Polyneuropathy (LPN1)
  • Leonberger Polyneuropathy 2
  • Leukoencephalomyelopathy (LEMP)
  • No Data
    Popularity out of 200 Dog Breeds 97 176

    Next, we added the scores of the factors that can be added together for the Leonberger 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 Leonberger is 63 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 Leonberger. 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 Leonberger 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 Leonberger and the Skye Terrier

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

  • Leonbergers do not adapt well to apartment living. However, Skye Terriers adapt well to apartment living.
  • Leonbergers are not the best dogs for new dog owners. However, Skye Terriers are good for new dog owners.
  • Leonbergers cannot tolerate hot weather. They are not suited for hot environments. However, Skye Terriers can tolerate hot weather.
  • Leonbergers 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
  • Leonbergers are not very friendly towards strangers. However, Skye Terriers are very friendly towards strangers.
  • The Similarities Between the Leonberger and the Skye Terrier

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

  • Both the Leonberger and the Skye Terrier do not like to be left alone.
  • Both the Leonberger and the Skye Terrier are not easy to train.
  • Both the Leonberger 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 Leonberger and the Skye Terrier get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
  • Both the Leonberger and the Skye Terrier are very easy to groom.
  • Both the Leonberger and the Skye Terrier gain weight easily. You need to pay careful attention to what you feed them.
  • Both the Leonberger and the Skye Terrier are prone to nip and chew at things.
  • Both the Leonberger and the Skye Terrier have a high prey drive. They do not get along well with other pets.
  • Both the Leonberger and the Skye Terrier have very high energy levels. They need a lot of exercise time to release their high energy.
  • Both the Leonberger and the Skye Terrier do things with high intensity. They can be very forceful.
  • Both the Leonberger and the Skye Terrier require a lot of exercise. They are good for owners who like to exercise.
  • Both the Leonberger and the Skye Terrier are very playful.
  • Both the Leonberger and the Skye Terrier can tolerate cold weather.
  • Both the Leonberger and the Skye Terrier are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
  • Size (Weight and Height) of Leonberger versus Skye Terrier

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

    Leonbergers weigh 120 to 170 pounds when fully grown. Leonbergers are 25 to 31 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.

    Lifespan of Leonberger versus Skye Terrier

    The lifespan of Leonbergers is between 10 to 12 years. The average lifespan of Leonbergers is 11.0 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 Leonbergers.

    Temperament of the Skye Terrier Versus the Leonberger

    The Leonberger has a better temperament than the Skye Terrier.

    This is because the temperament score for the Leonberger is 96.0 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 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 96.0 percent, the Leonberger 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 Leonberger and the Skye Terrier by measuring the temperaments of 25 Leonbergers and 8 Skye Terriers.

    Price of Leonberger versus Price of Skye Terrier

    The average price of the Leonberger puppy is $870. The price of the Leonberger typically ranges from $300 – $1150. However, the price of a Leonberger can be as low as $300 and as high as $2000. We obtained this price information by reviewing the prices of 3 Leonberger 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 Leonberger.

    Leonberger Skye Terrier
    Average Price $870 $2000
    Price Range $300 to $1150 $2000 to $2000

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

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

    A breakdown of the prices of Leonbergers. 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 Leonberger 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 Popularity of Leonberger 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 Leonberger and the Skye Terrier over the years.

    Based on the AKC popularity data over the years, the Leonberger is more popular with dog owners than the Skye Terrier. This is because, over the years, the average popularity of the Leonberger is 97 out of about 200 dog breeds while the average popularity of the Skye Terrier is 176 out of about 200 dog breeds.

    Popularity of Leonberger

    Popularity of Leonberger

    Popularity of Skye Terrier

    Popularity of Skye Terrier

    Year Leonberger Popularity Rank Skye Terrier Popularity Rank
    2013 98 161
    2014 104 177
    2015 93 175
    2016 95 178
    2017 100 172
    2018 93 178
    2019 95 187
    2020 98 183

    Tolerates Being Alone: Leonberger versus Skye Terrier

    Leonbergers do not like to be left alone.

    Skye Terriers do not like to be left alone.

    Do Leonbergers shed more than Skye Terriers?

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

    Skye Terriers shed moderately.

    Which one drools more, the Leonberger or the Skye Terrier

    Leonbergers drool moderately.

    Skye Terriers do have a very low tendency to drool.

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

    Leonbergers are very easy to groom.

    Skye Terriers are moderately easy to groom.

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

    Leonbergers 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 Leonbergers Bark and Howl? What about Skye Terriers?

    Leonbergers bark and howl, but not very much.

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

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

    Leonbergers can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Skye Terriers can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Wanderlust Potential: Leonberger vs. Skye Terrier

    Leonbergers 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 Leonbergers Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Skye Terriers Tolerate Hot Weather?

    Leonbergers cannot tolerate hot weather. They are not suited for hot environments.

    Skye Terriers can tolerate hot weather.

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

    Leonbergers get along fairly well with other dogs.

    Skye Terriers do not get along well with other dogs.

    Are Leonbergers good family dogs? What about Skye Terriers?

    Leonbergers 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 Leonbergers and Skye Terriers?

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

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

    Is the Leonberger Easier to Train than the Skye Terrier?

    Leonbergers are not easy to train.

    Skye Terriers are not easy to train.

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

    Leonbergers do not adapt well to apartment living.

    Skye Terriers adapt very well to apartment living.

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

    Leonbergers 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 Leonberger

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

  • Bernese Mountain Dog (75 percent match with Leonberger). Here is our comparison of the Skye Terrier vs Bernese Mountain Dog.
  • Greater Swiss Mountain Dog (75 percent match with Leonberger). Here is our comparison of the Skye Terrier vs Greater Swiss Mountain Dog.
  • Mastiff (73 percent match with Leonberger). Here is our comparison of the Skye Terrier vs Mastiff.
  • 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 Leonberger vs Lakeland Terrier.
  • Other Breed Comparisons that Might Interest You

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

    Leonberger Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Leonberger versus American Pit Bull Terrier     Leonberger versus Coton de Tulear     Leonberger versus Black Russian Terrier     Leonberger versus Bich Poo     Leonberger versus Cavapoo     Leonberger versus Greater Swiss Mountain Dog     Leonberger versus Shiba Inu     Leonberger versus Karelian Bear Dog     Leonberger versus Xoloitzcuintli     Leonberger versus Boxer     Leonberger versus Australian Kelpie     Leonberger versus Miniature Schnauzer     Leonberger versus Frenchton     Leonberger versus Swedish Vallhund     Leonberger versus Kooikerhondje     Leonberger versus Goldendoodle     Leonberger versus Mastiff     Leonberger versus Welsh Springer Spaniel     Leonberger versus Bearded Collie     Leonberger versus Lagotto Romagnolo     Leonberger versus Norwegian Buhund     Leonberger versus Rottweiler     Leonberger versus Australian Kelpie     Leonberger versus Rhodesian Ridgeback     Leonberger versus Pekingese     

    Skye Terrier Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Skye Terrier versus Greyhound     Skye Terrier versus Pomchi     Skye Terrier versus Yorkipoo     Skye Terrier versus Black Russian Terrier     Skye Terrier versus Harrier     Skye Terrier versus Stabyhoun     Skye Terrier versus Belgian Malinois     Skye Terrier versus Lakeland Terrier     Skye Terrier versus Chi-Poo     Skye Terrier versus Bordoodle     Skye Terrier versus Spinone Italiano     Skye Terrier versus Toy Poodle     Skye Terrier versus Polish Lowland Sheepdog     Skye Terrier versus Norwegian Buhund     Skye Terrier versus Schipperke     Skye Terrier versus West Highland White Terrier     Skye Terrier versus Belgian Sheepdog     Skye Terrier versus Morkie     Skye Terrier versus French Spaniel     Skye Terrier versus Pharaoh Hound     Skye Terrier versus Cockalier     Skye Terrier versus Morkie     Skye Terrier versus Entlebucher Mountain Dog     Skye Terrier versus Border Collie     Skye Terrier versus Polish Lowland Sheepdog     

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