Which long, low terrier breed originated on Scotland's Isle of Skye?

The long, low terrier breed associated with Scotland’s Isle of Skye is the Skye Terrier.

The Skye Terrier is a hardy, short-legged Scottish terrier with an unusually elongated body and a flowing double coat. Its low profile was useful for a working terrier: the breed could pursue vermin into rocky ground and narrow underground spaces. The coat may be fawn, cream, or silver-gray, with black points on the ears, muzzle, and nose.

The breed’s name reflects its long association with the Isle of Skye, although the exact early development of Scottish terriers is not documented in a simple modern pedigree. It was also known historically as the Scotch Terrier. The Skye became familiar in Britain through 19th-century illustrations, including a color lithograph in Vero Shaw’s 1881 book The Illustrated Book of the Dog.

The Skye Terrier is often confused with other small Scottish terriers, especially the Cairn Terrier, but its combination of great length, low height, and veil-like coat is distinctive. It is also associated with Greyfriars Bobby, Edinburgh’s famous loyal dog, traditionally identified as a Skye Terrier. Today the breed is considered one of Britain’s vulnerable native breeds.