How long does a Skye Terrier live?

The listed lifespan for a Skye Terrier is 12–14 years.

How tall is a Skye Terrier?

The listed height for a Skye Terrier is 10 in (male), 9.5 in (female).

Is a Skye Terrier good with children?

The AKC good-with-children score for a Skye Terrier is 3 out of 5.

What is the energy level of a Skye Terrier?

The AKC energy score for a Skye Terrier is 3 out of 5.

Terrier Group

Skye Terrier

Skye Terrier is a medium dog in the Terrier Group. Adult weight is 35–45 lb, height is 10 in (male), 9.5 in (female), and the listed lifespan is 12–14 years. AKC describes the temperament as Courageous, Good-tempered, Canny.

Last reviewed November 1, 2026.

Skye Terrier dog — Photo: Sagaciousphil · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Lifespan12–14 years

Weight35–45 lb

SizeMedium GroupTerrier Group

Height

10 in (male), 9.5 in (female)

Energy

3 / 5

Shedding

3 / 5

Grooming

3 / 5

Trainability

3 / 5

Good with kids

3 / 5

The breed record

Across 59 single-size medium breeds, a lifespan midpoint of 13 years is about the same as the 13.3-year average. A midpoint adult weight of 40 lb is about 5.9 lb heavier than the 34.1 lb average for those medium breeds.

The listed origin is Scotland. The coat is described as double, long. The AKC energy score is 3 out of 5, 0.6 points below the group average of 3.6 for the Terrier Group. Shedding scores 3 out of 5. Grooming scores 3 out of 5. Trainability scores 3 out of 5. Good with children scores 3 out of 5. Good with other dogs scores 3 out of 5. AKC ranked this breed number 181 in 2025.

AKC parent-club recommended health screenings: No recommended health tests. These are screening tests, not a list of diseases the breed is guaranteed to develop.

Frequently asked

Questions from the breed record

The verified adult weight for a Skye Terrier is 35–45 lb.

Sources

AKC breed page

More Terrier Group breeds

All Terrier Group breeds

Glen of Imaal Terrier
32–40 lb · 10–15 years
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Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier
35–40 lb (male), 30–35 lb (female) · 12–14 years
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Staffordshire Bull Terrier
28–38 lb (male), 24–34 lb (female) · 12–15 years
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Kerry Blue Terrier
26.5–33.1 lb (male), 22–28.7 lb (female) · 12–15 years
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More medium breeds

All medium dog breeds

American Water Spaniel
30–45 lb (male), 25–40 lb (female) · 10–14 years
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Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog
38–45 lb (male), 32–35 lb (female) · 12–15 years
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German Pinscher
25–45 lb · 12–14 years
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Grand Basset Griffon Vendéen
40–45 lb · 13–15 years
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