Schipperke versus Skye Terrier. Final Verdict on Which one is a Better Pet.

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Schipperke Versus Skye Terrier: Introduction

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

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

Schipperke versus Skye Terrier: Overview

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

Furthermore, the Schipperke belongs to the Companion Dogs group. Companion Dogs were bred to be companions for humans. Their main goal in life is to be with people, and they will be very sad if left to themselves for long hours day after day.

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.

Schipperke versus Skye Terrier: Comparison Table

The table below compares the Schipperke 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 Schipperke and the Skye Terrier

Factor Schipperke Skye Terrier
Does NOT Drool 5/5 5/5
Height 10 to 15 inches tall at the shoulder 9 to 10 inches tall at the shoulder
Weight 11 to 18 pounds 25 to 40 pounds
Life Span 13 to 15 years 12 to 14 years
Good For Novice Owners 2/5 4/5
Tolerates Hot Weather 2/5 4/5
Dog Friendly 2/5 2/5
Friendly Toward Strangers 2/5 5/5
Easy To Train 2/5 2/5
Low Prey Drive 4/5 2/5
Tolerates Being Alone 3/5 2/5
Tolerates Cold Weather 3/5 4/5
Does NOT Shed 3/5 3/5
Does NOT chew on things 3/5 3/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor 3/5 2/5
Adapts Well To Apartment Living 4/5 4/5
Easygoing 2/5 3/5
Affectionate With Family 4/5 4/5
General Health 4/5 5/5
Intelligence 4/5 4/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl 2/5 2/5
Kid-Friendly 5/5 4/5
Easy To Groom 5/5 3/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight 1/5 3/5
Tendency NOT to Wander 1/5 2/5
NOT Rambunctious 1/5 3/5
Minimal Exercise Needs 1/5 3/5
Potential For Playfulness 5/5 4/5
Average Lifespan 14.0 years 13.0 years
Average Price $1170 $2000
Price Range $900 – $1500 $2000 – $2000
Temperament Score 91.5 percent 37.5 percent
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests
  • Autoimmune thyroiditis
  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Eye Examination
  • Hips
  • Mucopolysaccharidosis type IIIB (MPS IIIB)
  • Patellar Luxation
  • PennGen
  • No Data
    Popularity out of 200 Dog Breeds 109 176
    Intelligence Rank (out of 130 Dog Breeds) 15 55

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

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

  • Schipperkes are not very friendly towards strangers. However, Skye Terriers are very friendly towards strangers.
  • The Similarities Between the Schipperke and the Skye Terrier

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

  • Both the Schipperke and the Skye Terrier do not have the tendency to drool.
  • Both the Schipperke and the Skye Terrier do not get along well with other dogs.
  • Both the Schipperke and the Skye Terrier are not easy to train.
  • Both the Schipperke and the Skye Terrier adapt well to apartment living.
  • Both the Schipperke 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 Schipperke and the Skye Terrier are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
  • Both the Schipperke and the Skye Terrier are very healthy. They do not suffer from a lot of health problems compared to other dog breeds
  • Both the Schipperke and the Skye Terrier are highly intelligent.
  • Both the Schipperke and the Skye Terrier are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl.
  • Both the Schipperke and the Skye Terrier get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
  • Both the Schipperke and the Skye Terrier have a high tendency to wander. They are easily distracted by other animals or objects.
  • Both the Schipperke and the Skye Terrier are very playful.
  • Size (Weight and Height) of Schipperke versus Skye Terrier

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

    Schipperkes weigh 11 to 18 pounds when fully grown. Schipperkes are 10 to 15 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 Schipperke versus Skye Terrier

    The lifespan of Schipperkes is between 13 to 15 years. The average lifespan of Schipperkes is 14.0 years.

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

    Schipperkes live longer than Skye Terriers.

    Temperament of the Schipperke Versus the Skye Terrier

    The Schipperke has a better temperament than the Skye Terrier.

    This is because the temperament score for the Schipperke is 91.5 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 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 91.5 percent, the Schipperke 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 Schipperke and the Skye Terrier by measuring the temperaments of 130 Schipperkes and 8 Skye Terriers.

    Price of Schipperke versus Price of Skye Terrier

    The average price of the Schipperke puppy is $1170. The price of the Schipperke typically ranges from $900 – $1500. However, the price of a Schipperke can be as low as $500 and as high as $2000. We obtained this price information by reviewing the prices of 60 Schipperke 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 Schipperke.

    Schipperke Skye Terrier
    Average Price $1170 $2000
    Price Range $900 to $1500 $2000 to $2000

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

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

    A breakdown of the prices of Schipperkes. 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 Schipperke 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.

    Adopting the Schipperke versus Adopting the Skye Terrier

    You may consider adopting a dog instead of buying a puppy. Many Schipperkes and many Skye Terriers are currently available for adoption.

    These adorable and cute dogs are waiting in dog shelters hoping that someday someone will rescue them. Furthermore, adoption costs are lesser than the cost of a new puppy. Dog adoption costs are usually around $300. In addition to your local dog shelter, a good place online to see dogs that are available for adoption is petfinder.com.

    Below is an adorable Male Schipperke named Jake that is currently available for adoption on Petfinder.com. You can find other lovely adoptable Schipperkes like Jake on pefinder.com.

    Also, like Schipperkes, Skye Terriers are also available for adoption. For example, Bill Bailey is a Male Skye Terrier that is currently available for adoption on petfinder.com. You can find more Skye Terriers like Bill Bailey that are up for adoption on petfinder.com.

    The Schipperke and the Skye Terrier can both be adopted. Images from petfinder.com

    Urchin is the name of another Schipperke (Male) on petfinder.com that is looking for a new home.

    You can find more Schipperkes and Skye Terriers that are available for adoption on petfinder.

    The Intelligence of the Schipperke versus the Intelligence of the Skye Terrier

    Schipperke Skye Terrier
    Intelligence Rank 15 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:

  • 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 Schipperke has an obedience intelligence rank of 15 out of 130 dog breeds. The Schipperke belongs to the `Excellent Working Dogs` category. This means that Schipperkes 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 Schipperke 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 Schipperke 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 Schipperke and the Skye Terrier over the years.

    Based on the AKC popularity data over the years, the Schipperke is more popular with dog owners than the Skye Terrier. This is because, over the years, the average popularity of the Schipperke is 109 out of about 200 dog breeds while the average popularity of the Skye Terrier is 176 out of about 200 dog breeds.

    Popularity of Schipperke

    Popularity of Schipperke

    Popularity of Skye Terrier

    Popularity of Skye Terrier

    Year Schipperke Popularity Rank Skye Terrier Popularity Rank
    2013 109 161
    2014 109 177
    2015 109 175
    2016 112 178
    2017 110 172
    2018 105 178
    2019 106 187
    2020 114 183

    Tolerates Being Alone: Schipperke versus Skye Terrier

    Schipperkes can be left alone only for a short time.

    Skye Terriers do not like to be left alone.

    Do Schipperkes shed more than Skye Terriers?

    Schipperkes shed moderately.

    Skye Terriers shed moderately.

    Which one drools more, the Schipperke or the Skye Terrier

    Schipperkes do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Skye Terriers do have a very low tendency to drool.

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

    Schipperkes are very easy to groom.

    Skye Terriers are moderately easy to groom.

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

    Schipperkes have a very low prey drive. This means they get won`t chase after smaller pets. They tend to 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 Schipperkes Bark and Howl? What about Skye Terriers?

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

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

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

    Schipperkes can moderately tolerate cold weather.

    Skye Terriers can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Wanderlust Potential: Schipperke vs. Skye Terrier

    Schipperkes 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 Schipperkes Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Skye Terriers Tolerate Hot Weather?

    Schipperkes 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 Schipperke or the Skye Terrier?

    Schipperkes do not get along well with other dogs.

    Skye Terriers do not get along well with other dogs.

    Are Schipperkes good family dogs? What about Skye Terriers?

    Schipperkes 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 Schipperkes and Skye Terriers?

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

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

    Is the Schipperke Easier to Train than the Skye Terrier?

    Schipperkes are not easy to train.

    Skye Terriers are not easy to train.

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

    Schipperkes adapt very well to apartment living.

    Skye Terriers adapt very well to apartment living.

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

    Schipperkes 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 Schipperke

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

  • Bluetick Coonhound (75 percent match with Schipperke). Here is our comparison of the Skye Terrier vs Bluetick Coonhound.
  • Lancashire Heeler (74 percent match with Schipperke). Here is our comparison of the Skye Terrier vs Lancashire Heeler.
  • Miniature Pinscher (75 percent match with Schipperke). 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 Schipperke vs Lakeland Terrier.
  • Other Breed Comparisons that Might Interest You

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

    Schipperke Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Schipperke versus Leonberger     Schipperke versus Irish Setter     Schipperke versus Bouvier des Flandres     Schipperke versus Newfoundland     Schipperke versus West Highland White Terrier     Schipperke versus Carolina Dog     Schipperke versus Whoodle     Schipperke versus Golden Cocker Retriever     Schipperke versus Spinone Italiano     Schipperke versus Australian Cattle Dog     Schipperke versus Border Collie     Schipperke versus Pyredoodle     Schipperke versus Belgian Tervuren     Schipperke versus Cavalier King Charles Spaniel     Schipperke versus Jack Russell Terrier     Schipperke versus Beagle     Schipperke versus Greater Swiss Mountain Dog     Schipperke versus Xoloitzcuintli     Schipperke versus Japanese Chin     Schipperke versus Brittany     Schipperke versus Black Mouth Cur     Schipperke versus Whippet     Schipperke versus Basenji     Schipperke versus Treeing Walker Coonhound     Schipperke versus Miniature Poodle     

    Skye Terrier Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Skye Terrier versus Catahoula Leopard Dog     Skye Terrier versus Pug     Skye Terrier versus Welsh Springer Spaniel     Skye Terrier versus Ibizan Hound     Skye Terrier versus Chi-Poo     Skye Terrier versus King Shepherd     Skye Terrier versus Lagotto Romagnolo     Skye Terrier versus Black and Tan Coonhound     Skye Terrier versus English Toy Spaniel     Skye Terrier versus Cane Corso     Skye Terrier versus French Bulldog     Skye Terrier versus Treeing Tennessee Brindle     Skye Terrier versus Giant Schnauzer     Skye Terrier versus Border Terrier     Skye Terrier versus Bichon Frise     Skye Terrier versus Irish Water Spaniel     Skye Terrier versus Carolina Dog     Skye Terrier versus Chesapeake Bay Retriever     Skye Terrier versus Mountain Cur     Skye Terrier versus Saint Bernard     Skye Terrier versus Great Pyrenees     Skye Terrier versus Chesapeake Bay Retriever     Skye Terrier versus Chow Chow     Skye Terrier versus Australian Cattle Dog     

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