Which is Better between the Border Collie and the Skye Terrier?

Last Updated: Mar 09, 2022

Quick Links: Table of Contents

Border Collie Versus Skye Terrier: Introduction

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

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

Note that the border collie breed comes in two varieties based on coat texture. There is the smooth-coat border collie and the rough-coat border collie. Read our article on rough-coat border collie versus smooth-coat border collie.

Furthermore, the border collie dog breed is very different from the collie dog breed. Learn about the differences between these two dog breeds in our border collie versus collie article.

Finally, just like the border collie, the collie also comes in two varieties. There is the rough collie and the smooth collie. To learn about the differences and similarities between them, check out our article on rough collie versus smooth collie.

Border Collie versus Skye Terrier

Border Collie versus Skye Terrier: Overview

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

Furthermore, the Border Collie belongs to the Herding Dogs group. Herding Dogs were bred for moving livestock, including sheep, cattle, and even reindeer. Herding dogs work closely with their human shepherds, and their natural intelligence and responsiveness make them highly trainable. They have high levels of energy, which needs to be channeled properly to prevent destructive behavior. Herding breeds are protective of their people and property and make excellent watchdogs. Their intelligence, agility, and activity level make them well suited to dog sports.

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.

Border Collie versus Skye Terrier: Comparison Table

The table below compares the Border Collie 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 Border Collie and the Skye Terrier

FactorBorder CollieSkye Terrier
Tolerates Being Alone1/52/5
Does NOT Drool5/55/5
Life Span12 to 15 years12 to 14 years
Height18 to 22 inches tall at the shoulder9 to 10 inches tall at the shoulder
Adapts Well To Apartment Living2/54/5
Good For Novice Owners2/54/5
General Health2/55/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl4/52/5
Dog Friendly3/52/5
Does NOT Shed3/53/5
Easy To Groom3/53/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight3/53/5
Does NOT chew on things3/53/5
Low Prey Drive3/52/5
Tendency NOT to Wander3/52/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor3/52/5
Weight30 to 45 pounds25 to 40 pounds
Tolerates Cold Weather4/54/5
Tolerates Hot Weather4/54/5
Kid-Friendly4/54/5
Easygoing1/53/5
Affectionate With Family5/54/5
Friendly Toward Strangers5/55/5
Easy To Train5/52/5
Intelligence5/54/5
NOT Rambunctious1/53/5
Minimal Exercise Needs1/53/5
Potential For Playfulness5/54/5
Average Lifespan13.5 years13.0 years
Average Price$1000$2000
Price Range$600 – $1250$2000 – $2000
Temperament Score82.4 percent37.5 percent
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests
  • Autoimmune thyroiditis
  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Clear By Parentage
  • Collie Eye Anomaly
  • Congenital Deafness
  • DNA Repository
  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Eye Examination, recommended annually until age 7
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Neuronal Ceroid Lipofuscinosis
  • Shoulders
  • TNS Info
  • Trapped Neutrophil Syndrome
  • No Data
    Popularity out of 200 Dog Breeds37176
    Intelligence Rank (out of 130 Dog Breeds)155

    Next, we added the scores of the factors that can be added together for the Border Collie 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 Border Collie is 80 out of 125 while the Better-Pet score for the Skye Terrier is 82 out of 125.

    Despite the higher Better-Pet score of the Skye Terrier, we still believe that the Border Collie is a better pet than the Skye Terrier.

    This is because Border Collies are much cuter but you cannot put a score on cuteness. If you could put a score on cuteness, then the Border Collie will come out on top.

    Also, we are biased in favor of the Border Collie :-). We are for the Border Collie. So get a Border Collie!

    Border Collie versus Skye Terrier

    The Most Remarkable Differences Between the Border Collie and the Skye Terrier

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

  • Border Collies 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
  • Border Collies are very easy to train. However, Skye Terriers are not easy to train.
  • The Similarities Between the Border Collie and the Skye Terrier

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

  • Both the Border Collie and the Skye Terrier do not like to be left alone.
  • Both the Border Collie and the Skye Terrier do not have the tendency to drool.
  • Both the Border Collie and the Skye Terrier can tolerate cold weather.
  • Both the Border Collie and the Skye Terrier can tolerate hot weather.
  • Both the Border Collie and the Skye Terrier get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
  • Both the Border Collie and the Skye Terrier are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
  • Both the Border Collie and the Skye Terrier are very friendly towards strangers.
  • Both the Border Collie and the Skye Terrier are highly intelligent.
  • Both the Border Collie and the Skye Terrier are very playful.
  • Size (Weight and Height) of Border Collie versus Skye Terrier

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

    Border Collies weigh 30 to 45 pounds when fully grown. Border Collies are 18 to 22 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.

    Here is our article on Border Collie size, Border Collie growth, and Border Collie weight.

    Lifespan of Border Collie versus Skye Terrier

    The lifespan of Border Collies is between 12 to 15 years. The average lifespan of Border Collies is 13.5 years.

    The lifespan of Skye Terriers is between 12 to 14 years. The average lifespan of Skye Terriers is 13.0 years.

    Border Collies live longer than Skye Terriers.

    Go to this article to learn more about Border Collie lifespan and how long Border Collie live.

    Border Collie versus Skye Terrier

    Temperament of the Skye Terrier Versus the Border Collie

    The Border Collie has a better temperament than the Skye Terrier.

    This is because the temperament score for the Border Collie is 82.4 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 82.4 percent, the Border Collie has a below-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 Border Collie and the Skye Terrier by measuring the temperaments of 312 Border Collies and 8 Skye Terriers.

    Price of Border Collie versus Price of Skye Terrier

    The average price of the Border Collie puppy is $1000. The price of the Border Collie typically ranges from $600 – $1250. However, the price of a Border Collie can be as low as $100 and as high as $5500. We obtained this price information by reviewing the prices of 1009 Border Collie 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 Border Collie.

    `
    Border Collie Skye Terrier
    Average Price $1000 $2000
    Price Range $600 to $1250 $2000 to $2000

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

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

    A breakdown of the prices of Border Collies. 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 Border Collie 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.

    Go to this article to learn more about Border Collie cost and price.

    Check out our list of best Border Collie breeders here

    Border Collie versus Skye Terrier

    Adopting the Border Collie versus Adopting the Skye Terrier

    You may consider adopting a dog instead of buying a puppy. Many Border Collies and many Skye Terriers are currently available for adoption.

    These adorable and cute dogs are waiting in dog shelters hoping that someday someone will rescue them. Furthermore, adoption costs are lesser than the cost of a new puppy. Dog adoption costs are usually around $300. In addition to your local dog shelter, a good place online to see dogs that are available for adoption is petfinder.com.

    Below is an adorable Male Border Collie named Tip that is currently available for adoption on Petfinder.com. You can find other lovely adoptable Border Collies like Tip on pefinder.com.

    Also, like Border Collies, Skye Terriers are also available for adoption. For example, Charlie Daniels is a Male Skye Terrier that is currently available for adoption on petfinder.com. You can find more Skye Terriers like Charlie Daniels that are up for adoption on petfinder.com.

    The Border Collie and the Skye Terrier can both be adopted. Images from petfinder.com

    Leon is the name of another Border Collie (Male) on petfinder.com that is looking for a new home.

    You can find more Border Collies and Skye Terriers that are available for adoption on petfinder.

    The Intelligence of the Border Collie versus the Intelligence of the Skye Terrier

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    Border Collie Skye Terrier
    Intelligence Rank 1 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 Border Collie has an obedience intelligence rank of 1 out of 130 dog breeds. The Border Collie belongs to the `Brightest Dogs` category. This means that Border Collies 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 Border Collie 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 Border Collie 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 Border Collie and the Skye Terrier over the years.

    Based on the AKC popularity data over the years, the Border Collie is more popular with dog owners than the Skye Terrier. This is because, over the years, the average popularity of the Border Collie is 37 out of about 200 dog breeds while the average popularity of the Skye Terrier is 176 out of about 200 dog breeds.

    Popularity of Border Collie

    Popularity of Border Collie

    Popularity of Skye Terrier

    Popularity of Skye Terrier

    `
    Year Border Collie Popularity Rank Skye Terrier Popularity Rank
    2013 44 161
    2014 40 177
    2015 38 175
    2016 38 178
    2017 38 172
    2018 35 178
    2019 33 187
    2020 32 183

    Tolerates Being Alone: Border Collie versus Skye Terrier

    Border Collies do not like to be left alone.

    Skye Terriers do not like to be left alone.

    Do Border Collies shed more than Skye Terriers?

    Border Collies shed moderately.

    Check out our articles to learn more on how to minimize shedding in Border Collies, and on how to groom a Border Collie

    Skye Terriers shed moderately.

    Which is Easier to Groom, the Border Collie or the Skye Terrier?

    Border Collies are moderately easy to groom.

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

    Learn more on how to take care of a Border Collie here.

    Skye Terriers are moderately easy to groom.

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

    Border Collies get along fairly well with other dogs.

    Skye Terriers do not get along well with other dogs.

    Are Border Collies good family dogs? What about Skye Terriers?

    Border Collies are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

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

    Learn about Border Collie temperament here.

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

    Is the Border Collie Easier to Train than the Skye Terrier?

    Border Collies are very easy to train.

    Skye Terriers are not easy to train.

    Which one drools more, the Border Collie or the Skye Terrier

    Border Collies do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Skye Terriers do have a very low tendency to drool.

    How Kid-friendly are Border Collies and Skye Terriers?

    Border Collies get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.

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

    Does the Border Collie Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Skye Terrier?

    Border Collies have a moderate prey drive. They can sometimes chase after smaller animals and 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 Border Collies Bark and Howl? What about Skye Terriers?

    Border Collies 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 Border Collies Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Skye Terriers Tolerate Cold Weather?

    Border Collies can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Skye Terriers can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Wanderlust Potential: Border Collie vs. Skye Terrier

    Border Collies 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 Border Collies Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Skye Terriers Tolerate Hot Weather?

    Border Collies can tolerate hot weather.

    Skye Terriers can tolerate hot weather.

    Is the Border Collie Better for Apartment Owners than the Skye Terrier?

    Border Collies do not adapt well to apartment living.

    Skye Terriers adapt very well to apartment living.

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

    Border Collies are not the best dogs for new dog owners.

    Skye Terriers are very good for new dog owners.

    Border Collie Versus Other Dog Breeds

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

    Border Collie versus Golden Cocker Retriever     Border Collie versus Entlebucher Mountain Dog     Border Collie versus Curly-Coated Retriever     Border Collie versus Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen     Border Collie versus Kuvasz     Border Collie versus Shiba Inu     Border Collie versus Caucasian Shepherd Dog     Border Collie versus Pekingese     Border Collie versus Japanese Spitz     Border Collie versus Irish Terrier     Border Collie versus German Shepherd Dog     Border Collie versus Pembroke Welsh Corgi     Border Collie versus Black and Tan Coonhound     

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