Tsuki Skye Terriers 
Thinking of buying a Skye puppy?
When buying a new pet it is very important to research the breed extensively first to ensure that you can provide the best possible home. We recommend that you find out as much as possible about the breed from books and websites before buying.
You should also get in touch with breeders and owners and ask questions about the breed – you will find that breeders are more that willing to answer any questions you have and Skye owners are always on hand to talk about their dogs. Visit the Skye Terrier Club website (http://www.skyeterrierclub.org.uk) and the Kennel Club website (http://www.thekennelclub.org.uk) as both have information to consider before buying a new pet. Finally, you should try and attend events or shows such as discover dogs or Crufts where you can meet Skye’s and their owners to get a real feel for the breed and their qualities.
If you have prepared and have decided that a Skye is definitely for you there are a few things you may wish to consider before purchasing a puppy:
- Skye’s are heavily coated and you must be prepared to put in the time to groom them at least three times a week, including trimming their paws and dew claws
- Like all puppies, your Skye will need socialising well with people, dogs and noises like washing machines, vacuum cleaners and car engines. This will take time but can be enjoyable for both you and your Skye
- It is easy to manage a Skye with the right training however, they are terriers and they can be a handful. You should enrol your new puppy in a training class as soon as they are vaccinated. Visit and Association of Pet Dog Trainers website (http://www.apdt.co.uk) for a list of training clubs in your area. This will not only ensure you have a well behaved puppy but will help you to bond as well
- With all dogs it is important that you know and it knows that it is a dog. Smaller dogs should be treated the same as larger dogs, they need the same input and you need the same output. Rules are to be adhered to and it is your responsibility as an owner to ensure that you can control your dog at all times, whether in or out of the house and it takes time and patience to develop this
If you have considered all of the above and are ready to purchase a new Skye puppy we would recommend that you visit the Skye Terrier Club website as they will have details of litters from Skye Club members. If you are able and wish to offer a home to an older Skye you can also contact the Skye Terrier Cub Rescue service, the details of which are on the Skye Club website.
You should also search the Kennel Club’s Puppy Register as they hold details of all of the litters registered within the UK. Kennel Club registration ensures that you are buying a pedigree dog and that certain criterion were met in the breeding which ensured the health and welfare of the puppies and their mother.
Puppies should not be advertised as ‘to go’ before 8-9 weeks of age as removal before this time could prove damaging to the puppy.
When viewing puppies you should be given the opportunity of seeing the mother. At viewing age (usually 7-9 weeks) the puppies should still be spending time with their mother but may not be suckling. If the father is also in residence you should be given the opportunity to see him. If neither parent can be seen it may be that the puppies are cross-bred or that you are dealing with a puppy farm in which case you should not purchase a puppy from the litter.
The puppies themselves should be active and happy. They should appear well fed (often having podgy stomachs) and be friendly to people. It is quite possible that there will be a lot of noise when new people enter the litter home and this is a good sign – the puppies are greeting you with enthusiasm.
You should be given the opportunity to think about whether you really do want a puppy and which one you would like and you should not be pressured into making a decision quickly. However, breeders cannot hold puppies without confirmation that you will be buying that puppy as it is a first-come first-served method of operation.
