A member of the AKC Herding Group, The Shetland Sheepdog, also called the Sheltie, originated in the Shetland Islands as a small herding dog - used primarily for herding and guarding.
These Shetland Islands are 100 or so miles above Scotland, a very rough place to call home. These little dogs were simply perfect to handle the islands smaller than average Shetland Sheep and were especially well suited to the rocky terrain of the islands.
Overall, they can work for years beyond most other breeds and their desire to work doesn't diminish once a Sheltie passes it's prime. The Sheltie is a small, alert, rough-coated, longhaired working dog. He must be sound, agile, and sturdy. Their underlying work ethic can rarely be stopped - they always "give it their all."
One of the wonderful attributes of the Sheltie is its beautiful long harsh coat. They might look like a rough coated collie and herd like a rough coated collie, but they ARE NOT a miniature rough coated collie. One other thing, lots of grooming is required to keep that beautiful coat in proper shape.
The Shetland Sheepdog is a "watch" dog, not a guard dog - it is not visually frightening. It will bark at intruders, but after giving warning, may either retreat or escort them through your house.
Shelties are usually affectionate with his owners but can be very suspicious of strangers. Socialization and handling of this dog breed is absolutely crucial and should start from puppy hood. They don't respond well to "harsh handling" methods.
The Sheltie stands about 13 to 16 inches in height at the shoulder and weighs between 14 to 25 pounds. Because of its small size, the Sheltie is very adaptable to city living, as long as he is given plenty of exercise.
A daily brushing is needed to prevent their silky coat from matting. I would suggest you use a comb to avoid tangles, especially behind their ears. Frequent bathing may also necessary for this little dog breed.
Enjoy a short dog breed video
Shelties are good with children and make wonderful family companions although this breed may bark a lot. Remember, the Sheltie barks a lot. The ideal place for this dog breed is a house with a securely fenced yard. An apartment would also be adequate provided that he gets enough exercise. Dogs should appear masculine, bitches feminine.
Due to their compact size and activity levels, this breed dominates dog agility competitions and excel at herding, competitive obedience, flyball, and tracking. Participating in any of these sports will easily satisfy a Sheltie's needs for mental and physical exercise.
The Shetland Sheepdog is very versatile and are highly motivated to please their owners. This breed is also well known for its trainability and willingness to help their owners.
Country of origin: Shetland Islands Lifespan: 12-15 years Colors: Blue merle, sable and black with various amounts of white and/or tan Known health problems: Hypothyroidism, eye disease, luxating patellas, Deafness occasionally in the blue merles
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