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Which is Better between the Poodle and the Skye Terrier? A Very Detailed Review.

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Poodle versus Skye Terrier

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Poodle Versus Skye Terrier: Introduction

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

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

Note that there are 3 types of Poodles:

  • The Standard Poodle
  • The Miniature Poodle
  • The Toy Poodle


  • However, these 3 poodle `types` are basically the same. The only difference between them is size. Standard Poodles are big, toy poodles are small, and miniature poodles are medium-sized.

    Read more about the subtle differences between the standard poodle vs. miniature poodle here and the toy poodle versus miniature poodle here.

    In addition, we have articles on the detailed comparisons of the poodle to every other dog breed. Check out our articles on poodle versus other dog breeds here.

    Poodle versus Skye Terrier: Overview

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

    Furthermore, the Poodle 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.

    Poodle versus Skye Terrier: Comparison Table

    The table below compares the Poodle 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 Poodle and the Skye Terrier

    FactorPoodleSkye Terrier
    Tolerates Being Alone1/52/5
    Does NOT Shed5/53/5
    Does NOT Drool5/55/5
    Easy To Groom1/53/5
    Life Span12 to 15 years12 to 14 years
    General Health2/55/5
    Low Prey Drive4/52/5
    Does NOT Bark or Howl4/52/5
    Tolerates Cold Weather3/54/5
    Tendency NOT to Wander3/52/5
    Calmness/ Low Vigor3/52/5
    Weight
  • Standard Poodle: 38 to 70 pounds
  • Miniature Poodle: 10 and 20 pounds
  • Toy Poodle: 4.8 to 11.6 pounds
  • 25 to 40 pounds
    Easygoing2/53/5
    Tolerates Hot Weather4/54/5
    Dog Friendly4/52/5
    Friendly Toward Strangers4/55/5
    Potential NOT to Gain Weight2/53/5
    Does NOT chew on things2/53/5
    NOT Rambunctious2/53/5
    Minimal Exercise Needs2/53/5
    Adapts Well To Apartment Living5/54/5
    Good For Novice Owners5/54/5
    Affectionate With Family5/54/5
    Kid-Friendly5/54/5
    Easy To Train5/52/5
    Intelligence5/54/5
    Potential For Playfulness5/54/5
    Height
  • Standard Poodle: 24 to 27 inches
  • Miniature Poodle: 10 to 15 inches
  • Toy Poodle: less than 10 inches
  • 9 to 10 inches tall at the shoulder
    Average Lifespan13.5 years13.0 years
    Average Price
  • Standard Poodle: $1980
  • Miniature Poodle: $2500
  • Toy Poodle: $2760
  • $2000
    Price Range
  • Standard Poodle: $1400 – $2500
  • Miniature Poodle: $1500 – $3000
  • Toy Poodle: $1894 – $3500
  • $2000 – $2000
    Temperament Score87.2 percent37.5 percent
    Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests
  • Eye Examination
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Patellar Luxation
  • Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) DNA Test
  • No Data
    Popularity out of 200 Dog Breeds6176
    Intelligence Rank (out of 130 Dog Breeds)255
    *Data from AKC.org (The American Kennel Club),dogtime.com, OFA.org (The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals), petcalculator.com, wikipedia.org, ATTS.org (The American Temperament Test Society)

    Next, we added the scores of the factors that can be added together for the Poodle 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 Poodle is 88 out of 125 while the Better-Pet score for the Skye Terrier is 82 out of 125.

    Based on their Better-Pet scores, the Poodle is a better pet than the Skye Terrier. So, you should get a Poodle!

    The Most Remarkable Differences Between the Poodle and the Skye Terrier

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

  • Poodles 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
  • Poodles are very easy to train. However, Skye Terriers are not easy to train.
  • The Similarities Between the Poodle and the Skye Terrier

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

  • Both the Poodle and the Skye Terrier do not like to be left alone.
  • Both the Poodle and the Skye Terrier do not have the tendency to drool.
  • Both the Poodle 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 Poodle and the Skye Terrier can tolerate hot weather.
  • Both the Poodle and the Skye Terrier are very friendly towards strangers.
  • Both the Poodle and the Skye Terrier gain weight easily. You need to pay careful attention to what you feed them.
  • Both the Poodle and the Skye Terrier are prone to nip and chew at things.
  • Both the Poodle and the Skye Terrier have very high energy levels. They need a lot of exercise time to release their high energy.
  • Both the Poodle and the Skye Terrier require a lot of exercise. They are good for owners who like to exercise.
  • Both the Poodle and the Skye Terrier adapt well to apartment living.
  • Both the Poodle and the Skye Terrier are good for new dog owners.
  • Both the Poodle and the Skye Terrier are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
  • Both the Poodle and the Skye Terrier get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
  • Both the Poodle and the Skye Terrier are highly intelligent.
  • Both the Poodle and the Skye Terrier are very playful.
  • Size (Weight and Height) of Poodle versus Skye Terrier

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

    Poodles come in three main size categories. These three size categories are referred to as the three varieties of the poodle. Poodles of different varieties are basically the same except for their size differences. The poodle varieties based on size categorization are:

  • Standard Poodles: Standard Poodles are the biggest of the poodle varieties. Adult Standard Poodles are 24 inches to 27 inches tall and weigh between 38 pounds and 70 pounds. To learn more about Standard Poodle Growth, Weight, and Height, check out our article on Standard Poodle growth, weight and height.
  • Miniature Poodles: Miniature Poodles are mid-sized poodles. An adult miniature poodle grows to weigh between 10 and 20 pounds (4.5 kg to 9 kg) and stands between 10 to 15 inches tall (25.4 cm to 38.1 cm). To learn more about Miniature Poodle Growth, Weight and Height, check out our article on Miniature Poodle growth, weight and height.
  • Toy Poodles: The Toy Poodle is the smallest official member of the poodle club. Although there is a smaller poodle variety that is smaller than the toy poodle. This tiny poodle variety is called the micro/teacup poodle. However, this micro/teacup poodle size category is not recognized by the official poodle association, The Poodle Club of America. Adult toy poodles are no more than ten inches tall withers. In weight, a toy poodle will grow to be about 4.8 to 11.6 pounds in weight. To learn more about Toy Poodle Growth, Weight and Height, check out our article on Toy Poodle growth, weight and height.
  • There is another variety of poodle that is not recognized in the USA but is recognized in Europe. This poodle size variety is called the Moyen Poodle. In size, the Moyen Poodle is smaller than the Standard poodle but bigger than the miniature poodle.

    See below the figure that compares the different poodle sizes:

    Poodle Sizes

    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.

    Temperament of the Poodle Versus the Skye Terrier

    The Poodle has a better temperament than the Skye Terrier.

    This is because the temperament score for the Poodle is 87.2 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 87.2 percent, the Poodle 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 Poodle and the Skye Terrier by measuring the temperaments of 266 Poodles and 8 Skye Terriers.

    Price of Poodle versus Price of Skye Terrier

    The average price of the Standard Poodle puppy is $1980. The price of the Standard Poodle typically ranges from $1400 – $2500. However, the price of a Standard Poodle can be as low as $200 and as high as $15000. We obtained this price information by reviewing the prices of 2524 Standard Poodle puppies listed for sale from various sources.
    The average price of the Miniature Poodle puppy is $2500. The price of the Miniature Poodle typically ranges from $1500 – $3000. However, the price of a Miniature Poodle can be as low as $350 and as high as $15000. We obtained this price information by reviewing the prices of 1190 Miniature Poodle puppies listed for sale from various sources.
    The average price of the Toy Poodle puppy is $2760. The price of the Toy Poodle typically ranges from $1894 – $3500. However, the price of a Toy Poodle can be as low as $450 and as high as $9835. We obtained this price information by reviewing the prices of 872 Toy Poodle puppies listed for sale from various sources.

    To know about standard poodle prices and standard poodle buying advice, check out our article on standard poodle cost.

    To know about miniature poodle prices, check out this article on miniature poodle price.

    To learn more about toy poodle price and for toy poodle buying advice, check out this article on toy poodle price.

    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 a 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 Poodle is more expensive than the Skye Terrier.

    Poodle Skye Terrier
    Average Price $2260 $2000
    Price Range $1500 to $2800 $2000 to $2000

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

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

    A breakdown of the prices of Poodles. 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 Poodle 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 from 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 one of those puppy mills that 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 Poodle versus the Intelligence of the Skye Terrier

    Poodle Skye Terrier
    Intelligence Rank 2 out of 130 dog breeds 55 out of 130 dog breeds
    Trainability Tend To Learn New Commands After Fewer Than 5 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 Poodle has an obedience intelligence rank of 2 out of 130 dog breeds. The Poodle belongs to the `Brightest Dogs` category. This means that Poodles tend to learn new commands after fewer than 5 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 Poodle 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 Poodle 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 Poodle and the Skye Terrier over the years.

    Based on the AKC popularity data over the years, the Poodle is more popular with dog owners than the Skye Terrier. This is because, over the years, the average popularity of the Poodle is 6 out of about 200 dog breeds while the average popularity of the Skye Terrier is 176 out of about 200 dog breeds.

    Popularity of Poodle

    Popularity of Poodle

    Popularity of Skye Terrier

    Popularity of Skye Terrier

    Year Standard Poodle Popularity Rank Skye Terrier Popularity Rank
    2013 8 161
    2014 7 177
    2015 8 175
    2016 7 178
    2017 7 172
    2018 7 178
    2019 6 187
    2020 6 183
    2021 5 181

    Tolerates Being Alone: Poodle versus Skye Terrier

    Poodles do not like to be left alone.

    Poodles, by nature, are companion dogs. They like and thrive on human companionship more than most dog breeds. Poodles do not like to be left alone. Leaving a poodle alone for more than 4 hours day after day will cause separation anxiety and isolation distress in a poodle. If you plan to get a poodle, make sure you can be around your poodle most of the time, or arrange for a dog walker.

    See our article on how long you can leave a poodle alone.

    Skye Terriers do not like to be left alone.

    Do Poodles shed more than Skye Terriers?

    Poodles do not shed a lot. They are good for people with dog allergies.

    Although all dogs shed, and poodles are no different in this regard. But poodles shed less than many other breeds of dogs. However, if you own a poodle, you will not have the problem of having balls of dog hair on your couch and over your house. This is because the curly coat of the poodle traps the hair and other things that the poodle sheds. Therefore, people that are allergic to dogs tend to tolerate poodles better.

    Check out our articles to learn more on why poodles do not shed, and on standard poodle shedding, and on shedding in toy poodles

    Skye Terriers shed moderately.

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

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

    To learn more about how to properly groom a poodle, check out our article on how to groom a poodle.

    Learn more on how to take care of a poodle here.

    Skye Terriers are moderately easy to groom.

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

    Poodles get along very well with other dogs.

    Poodles get along very well with other dogs. Poodles are very friendly. However, it is up to the other dog to reciprocate the friendliness. Some dog breeds are just unfriendly and aggressive.

    Read this article to learn about the dog breeds that get along well with poodle and the dog breeds that do not along with poodles.

    Skye Terriers do not get along well with other dogs.

    Are Poodles good family dogs? What about Skye Terriers?

    Poodles are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

    Poodles make a good addition to a family. They love kids and kids love them.

    Learn about standard poodles as family dogs here, and about how family-friendly are toy poodles here..

    Skye Terriers are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

    Is the Poodle Easier to Train than the Skye Terrier?

    Poodles are very easy to train.

    Poodles are easy to train because they are intelligent and eager to please their owners. However, it is important that you begin training a poodle to make the most out of their natural intelligence. Moreover, training your Poodle should be based on positive reinforcement and repetition. Be sure to give your Poodle praise when he obeys a command and ignores your poodle`s bad behavior.

    To learn more, check out our article on how to train a poodle.

    Skye Terriers are not easy to train.

    Which one drools more, the Poodle or the Skye Terrier

    Poodles do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Skye Terriers do have a very low tendency to drool.

    How Kid-friendly are Poodles and Skye Terriers?

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

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

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

    Poodles 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 Poodles Bark and Howl? What about Skye Terriers?

    Poodles 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 Poodles Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Skye Terriers Tolerate Cold Weather?

    Poodles can moderately tolerate cold weather.

    Skye Terriers can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Wanderlust Potential: Poodle vs. Skye Terrier

    Poodles have a moderate tendency to wander. This means that they sometimes get distracted by other animals or objects.

    Skye Terriers have a high tendency to wander. They are easily distracted by other animals or objects.

    Can Poodles Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Skye Terriers Tolerate Hot Weather?

    Poodles can tolerate hot weather.

    Skye Terriers can tolerate hot weather.

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

    Poodles adapt very well to apartment living.

    Skye Terriers adapt very well to apartment living.

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

    Poodles are very good for new dog owners.

    Skye Terriers are very good for new dog owners.

    Poodle Versus Other Dog Breeds

    You may also be interested in how the poodle compares to other breeds aside from the Skye Terrier. So, see below the links to the comparison of the poodle to other breeds:

    poodle versus Labrador Retriever     poodle versus Bedlington Terrier     poodle versus Boerboel     poodle versus Basenji     poodle versus Scottish Terrier     poodle versus American Bulldog     poodle versus American Hairless Terrier     poodle versus Norwich Terrier     poodle versus German Shepherd Dog     poodle versus Chi-Poo     

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