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

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Scottish Deerhound Versus Skye Terrier: Introduction

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

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

Scottish Deerhound versus Skye Terrier: Overview

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

Furthermore, the Scottish Deerhound 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.

Scottish Deerhound versus Skye Terrier: Comparison Table

The table below compares the Scottish Deerhound 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 Scottish Deerhound and the Skye Terrier

Factor Scottish Deerhound Skye Terrier
Adapts Well To Apartment Living 1/5 4/5
Good For Novice Owners 1/5 4/5
Does NOT Drool 5/5 5/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl 5/5 2/5
Tolerates Being Alone 2/5 2/5
Dog Friendly 2/5 2/5
Easy To Groom 2/5 3/5
Easy To Train 2/5 2/5
Height 28 to 32 inches tall at the shoulder 9 to 10 inches tall at the shoulder
Easygoing 3/5 3/5
General Health 3/5 5/5
Intelligence 3/5 4/5
Tolerates Cold Weather 4/5 4/5
Tolerates Hot Weather 4/5 4/5
Kid-Friendly 4/5 4/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight 2/5 3/5
Does NOT chew on things 2/5 3/5
Tendency NOT to Wander 2/5 2/5
Affectionate With Family 5/5 4/5
Friendly Toward Strangers 5/5 5/5
Does NOT Shed 1/5 3/5
Low Prey Drive 1/5 2/5
NOT Rambunctious 1/5 3/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor 1/5 2/5
Minimal Exercise Needs 1/5 3/5
Potential For Playfulness 5/5 4/5
Weight 75 to 110 pounds 25 to 40 pounds
Life Span 8 to 11 years 12 to 14 years
Average Lifespan 9.5 years 13.0 years
Average Price $980 $2000
Price Range $975 – $975 $2000 – $2000
Temperament Score 85.3 percent 37.5 percent
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests
  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • FACTOR VII Deficiency DNA test
  • Serum Bile Acid Test
  • No Data
    Popularity out of 200 Dog Breeds 158 176
    Intelligence Rank (out of 130 Dog Breeds) 47 55

    Next, we added the scores of the factors that can be added together for the Scottish Deerhound 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 Scottish Deerhound is 67 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 Scottish Deerhound. 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 Scottish Deerhound 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 Scottish Deerhound and the Skye Terrier

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

  • Scottish Deerhounds do not adapt well to apartment living. However, Skye Terriers adapt well to apartment living.
  • Scottish Deerhounds are not the best dogs for new dog owners. However, Skye Terriers are good for new dog owners.
  • Scottish Deerhounds are not very vocal. They have very low tendency to bark and howl. However, Skye Terriers are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl.
  • The Similarities Between the Scottish Deerhound and the Skye Terrier

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

  • Both the Scottish Deerhound and the Skye Terrier do not have the tendency to drool.
  • Both the Scottish Deerhound and the Skye Terrier do not like to be left alone.
  • Both the Scottish Deerhound and the Skye Terrier do not get along well with other dogs.
  • Both the Scottish Deerhound and the Skye Terrier require a lot of grooming and are not very easy to groom.
  • Both the Scottish Deerhound and the Skye Terrier are not easy to train.
  • Both the Scottish Deerhound and the Skye Terrier can tolerate cold weather.
  • Both the Scottish Deerhound and the Skye Terrier can tolerate hot weather.
  • Both the Scottish Deerhound and the Skye Terrier get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
  • Both the Scottish Deerhound and the Skye Terrier gain weight easily. You need to pay careful attention to what you feed them.
  • Both the Scottish Deerhound and the Skye Terrier are prone to nip and chew at things.
  • Both the Scottish Deerhound and the Skye Terrier have a high tendency to wander. They are easily distracted by other animals or objects.
  • Both the Scottish Deerhound and the Skye Terrier are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
  • Both the Scottish Deerhound and the Skye Terrier are very friendly towards strangers.
  • Both the Scottish Deerhound and the Skye Terrier have a high prey drive. They do not get along well with other pets.
  • Both the Scottish Deerhound and the Skye Terrier do things with high intensity. They can be very forceful.
  • Both the Scottish Deerhound and the Skye Terrier are very playful.
  • Size (Weight and Height) of Scottish Deerhound versus Skye Terrier

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

    Scottish Deerhounds weigh 75 to 110 pounds when fully grown. Scottish Deerhounds are 28 to 32 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 Scottish Deerhound versus Skye Terrier

    The lifespan of Scottish Deerhounds is between 8 to 11 years. The average lifespan of Scottish Deerhounds is 9.5 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 Scottish Deerhounds.

    Temperament of the Scottish Deerhound Versus the Skye Terrier

    The Scottish Deerhound has a better temperament than the Skye Terrier.

    This is because the temperament score for the Scottish Deerhound is 85.3 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 85.3 percent, the Scottish Deerhound 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 Scottish Deerhound and the Skye Terrier by measuring the temperaments of 34 Scottish Deerhounds and 8 Skye Terriers.

    Price of Scottish Deerhound versus Price of Skye Terrier

    The average price of the Scottish Deerhound puppy is $980. The price of the Scottish Deerhound typically ranges from $975 – $975. However, the price of a Scottish Deerhound can be as low as $975 and as high as $975. We obtained this price information by reviewing the prices of 1 Scottish Deerhound 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 Scottish Deerhound.

    Scottish Deerhound Skye Terrier
    Average Price $980 $2000
    Price Range $975 to $975 $2000 to $2000

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

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

    A breakdown of the prices of Scottish Deerhounds. 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 Scottish Deerhound 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 Scottish Deerhound versus the Intelligence of the Skye Terrier

    Scottish Deerhound Skye Terrier
    Intelligence Rank 47 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 Scottish Deerhound has an obedience intelligence rank of 47 out of 130 dog breeds. The Scottish Deerhound belongs to the `Average Working/Obedience Intelligence Dogs` category. This means that Scottish Deerhounds 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 Scottish Deerhound 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 Scottish Deerhound 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 Scottish Deerhound and the Skye Terrier over the years.

    Based on the AKC popularity data over the years, the Scottish Deerhound is more popular with dog owners than the Skye Terrier. This is because, over the years, the average popularity of the Scottish Deerhound is 158 out of about 200 dog breeds while the average popularity of the Skye Terrier is 176 out of about 200 dog breeds.

    Popularity of Scottish Deerhound

    Popularity of Scottish Deerhound

    Popularity of Skye Terrier

    Popularity of Skye Terrier

    Year Scottish Deerhound Popularity Rank Skye Terrier Popularity Rank
    2013 165 161
    2014 157 177
    2015 152 175
    2016 154 178
    2017 168 172
    2018 158 178
    2019 149 187
    2020 166 183

    Tolerates Being Alone: Scottish Deerhound versus Skye Terrier

    Scottish Deerhounds do not like to be left alone.

    Skye Terriers do not like to be left alone.

    Do Scottish Deerhounds shed more than Skye Terriers?

    Scottish Deerhounds shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.

    Skye Terriers shed moderately.

    Which one drools more, the Scottish Deerhound or the Skye Terrier

    Scottish Deerhounds do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Skye Terriers do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Which is Easier to Groom, the Scottish Deerhound or the Skye Terrier?

    Scottish Deerhounds require a lot of grooming and they are not very easy to groom.

    Skye Terriers are moderately easy to groom.

    Does the Scottish Deerhound Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Skye Terrier?

    Scottish Deerhounds 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 Scottish Deerhounds Bark and Howl? What about Skye Terriers?

    Scottish Deerhounds 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 Scottish Deerhounds Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Skye Terriers Tolerate Cold Weather?

    Scottish Deerhounds can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Skye Terriers can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Wanderlust Potential: Scottish Deerhound vs. Skye Terrier

    Scottish Deerhounds 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 Scottish Deerhounds Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Skye Terriers Tolerate Hot Weather?

    Scottish Deerhounds can tolerate hot weather.

    Skye Terriers can tolerate hot weather.

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

    Scottish Deerhounds do not get along well with other dogs.

    Skye Terriers do not get along well with other dogs.

    Are Scottish Deerhounds good family dogs? What about Skye Terriers?

    Scottish Deerhounds 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 Scottish Deerhounds and Skye Terriers?

    Scottish Deerhounds get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.

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

    Is the Scottish Deerhound Easier to Train than the Skye Terrier?

    Scottish Deerhounds are not easy to train.

    Skye Terriers are not easy to train.

    Is the Scottish Deerhound Better for Apartment Owners than the Skye Terrier?

    Scottish Deerhounds do not adapt well to apartment living.

    Skye Terriers adapt very well to apartment living.

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

    Scottish Deerhounds 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 Scottish Deerhound

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

  • Alaskan Malamute (70 percent match with Scottish Deerhound). Here is our comparison of the Skye Terrier vs Alaskan Malamute.
  • Icelandic Sheepdog (75 percent match with Scottish Deerhound). Here is our comparison of the Skye Terrier vs Icelandic Sheepdog.
  • Rhodesian Ridgeback (73 percent match with Scottish Deerhound). Here is our comparison of the Skye Terrier vs Rhodesian Ridgeback.
  • 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 Scottish Deerhound vs Lakeland Terrier.
  • Other Breed Comparisons that Might Interest You

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

    Scottish Deerhound Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Scottish Deerhound versus Goldendoodle     Scottish Deerhound versus American Bulldog     Scottish Deerhound versus Basset Fauve de Bretagne     Scottish Deerhound versus Great Dane     Scottish Deerhound versus Miniature Poodle     Scottish Deerhound versus Sealyham Terrier     Scottish Deerhound versus Bracco Italiano     Scottish Deerhound versus English Toy Spaniel     Scottish Deerhound versus Westiepoo     Scottish Deerhound versus Goldador     Scottish Deerhound versus Field Spaniel     Scottish Deerhound versus German Shorthaired Pointer     Scottish Deerhound versus Glen of Imaal Terrier     Scottish Deerhound versus Boston Terrier     Scottish Deerhound versus American Foxhound     Scottish Deerhound versus French Bulldog     Scottish Deerhound versus Tibetan Terrier     Scottish Deerhound versus Sussex Spaniel     Scottish Deerhound versus Cocker Spaniel     Scottish Deerhound versus Irish Water Spaniel     Scottish Deerhound versus Basenji     Scottish Deerhound versus Miniature Pinscher     Scottish Deerhound versus Frenchton     Scottish Deerhound versus Treeing Tennessee Brindle     Scottish Deerhound versus Greater Swiss Mountain Dog     

    Skye Terrier Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Skye Terrier versus Catahoula Leopard Dog     Skye Terrier versus American Bulldog     Skye Terrier versus Boykin Spaniel     Skye Terrier versus Bracco Italiano     Skye Terrier versus Caucasian Shepherd Dog     Skye Terrier versus Lagotto Romagnolo     Skye Terrier versus Dachshund     Skye Terrier versus Maremma Sheepdog     Skye Terrier versus Welsh Terrier     Skye Terrier versus German Shepherd Dog     Skye Terrier versus Golden Cocker Retriever     Skye Terrier versus Alaskan Malamute     Skye Terrier versus Toy Poodle     Skye Terrier versus Clumber Spaniel     Skye Terrier versus Weimaraner     Skye Terrier versus Korean Jindo Dog     Skye Terrier versus Vizsla     Skye Terrier versus Keeshond     Skye Terrier versus Swedish Vallhund     Skye Terrier versus Norwegian Buhund     Skye Terrier versus Border Collie     Skye Terrier versus Giant Schnauzer     Skye Terrier versus Westiepoo     Skye Terrier versus Pug     Skye Terrier versus Black Russian Terrier     

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