The Shetland Sheepdog or Sheltie is a small, beautiful and elegant dog, much like a long-haired collie but smaller in size. Originally born as a shepherd, this dog is a tireless worker. But today the Shetland Sheepdog is more appreciated as a pet due to its beauty and small size.
If you are thinking of adopting a Shetland Sheepdog, keep reading this breed file on our site to learn about the characteristics, character and care of the Shetland Sheepdog Shetland.
Shetland Sheepdog Origin
Although the exact origin of the Shetland Sheepdog is uncertain, recorded data show that the Shetland Sheepdog was first recognized on the islands bearing the same name, belonging to Scotland Although the breed was officially recognized in 1908, documents have been found that place it around 1800.
The sheltie arose as a result of the crossing of various collie-type dogs. So we can say that he and the current collie have ancestors in common, hence their remarkable resemblance both physically and at the character level. The cold environment and the scarce vegetation of the islands made it difficult for large animals to survive and favored that of small ones, so the farmyard animals were small and there were no large predators. Thus, herding dogs did not need to be large and small dogs were more favored because they ate less food. Therefore, the sheltie was more appreciated than the large breeds and was used to guide and protect sheep of dwarf breeds, ponies and even chickens For these same reasons, the Shetland Sheepdog is a robust, strong and very intelligent dog. However, due to its beauty, it quickly began to be adopted as a pet, as we know it today. So much so that most of them no longer act as sheepdogs, although there are some specimens that still accompany the shepherd to guide his flocks.
At the beginning of the 20th century Shelties were first presented at a dog show, under the name Shetland Collies, but Collie fanciers objected and the name was changed to Shetland Sheepdog.
Shetland Sheepdog Characteristics
The Shetland Sheepdog is a small dog with long hair and great beauty. His body is slightly longer than he is tall, though well proportioned and deep-chested. The legs are strong and muscular, as befits any shepherd dog. Much like a scaled collie's, the Shetland Sheepdog's head is refined and elegant in the shape of a truncated wedge. The Shetland Sheepdog's nose is black and the snout is rounded. The eyes, arranged obliquely, are medium, almond-shaped and dark brown. The exception is the blue merle specimens, in which one or both eyes may be blue or blue streaked. The ears of the Shetland Sheepdog are small, slightly long and moderately wide at the base.
The Shetland Sheepdog's tail is set low and long, reaching at least to the hock. It has abundant fur and its end curves slightly upwards, although the dog never carries it on the back. The sheltie's coat is double-layered, the coat being outer coat long, rough and smooth, and the undercoat soft, short and dense. The Accepted colors of the Shetland Sheepdog are as follows:
- Cibelina, from light gold to dark mahogany
- Tricolor
- Blackbird Blue
- Black & White
- Black and Tan
The ideal height at the withers for males is 37 centimeters, while for females it is36 centimeters The weight of the Shetland Sheepdog is not stated in the breed standard, but Shetland Sheepdogs usually weigh around 8 kilograms
Shetland Sheepdog Character
In general, Shelties are good natured dogs, loyal, intelligent and very affectionate with their human family. However, they tend to be rather shy around strangers and have strong herding instincts that can cause some conflict if they haven't been properly educated.
Therefore, it is essential to socialize the Shetland Sheepdog from the time they are puppies, both to reduce their shyness with strangers and to prevent them from not knowing how to interact with other animals.
Shetland Sheepdog Care
The Shetland Sheepdog's coat needs to be brushed and combed once or twice a week. Despite being long-haired, Shetland Sheepdogs tend to be clean and their coats don't tangle as easily as they might seem.
Despite being small dogs, Shelties are herding dogs that need good doses of physical and mental exercise A good daily walk and A game session can do the trick, but canine sports such as herding and canine freestyle can also be practiced. Agility can be a good option as long as joint problems such as hip dysplasia have been ruled out. On the other hand, as we mentioned, mental exercises are essential to stimulate the Shetland Sheepdog and avoid a possible picture of stress or anxiety due to boredom. To do this, we recommend you consult the article "Intelligence games for dogs at home".
If you are considering adopting a Shetland Sheepdog, these dogs can do well in an apartment as long as they get the necessary exercise. However, they tend to be barkers and that can cause conflicts with neighbors. It should also be taken into account that Shetland Sheepdogs tolerate temperate to cold climates well, but it is not a good idea for them to live isolated in the garden, since they need the company of their families.
Shetland Sheepdog Education
As we have said in previous sections, Shelties or Shetland Sheepdogs are very intelligent dogs and, therefore, They learn easily and quickly However, that does not mean that we can make use of traditional training, since it has been shown that the best results are obtained through positive training This is so because both traditional training and negative training can awaken fears and insecurities in the animal that end up generating conflicts between dog and person, ruining the bond that may have been created between them.
Among the behavioral problems common in Shelties are two behaviors caused by strong herding instincts. For one, they tend to be very barking dogs. On the other hand, Shetland Sheepdogs try to "herd" any moving individual (adult, child, dog or any pet) by biting on the ankles. These behaviors cannot be eliminated because they have a very strong genetic basis, but they can be channeled into activities that are not annoying or harmless games.
Shetland Sheepdogs can make excellent companion animals when properly cared for. They generally get along well with children. But, due to their small size, they can be easily hurt by very small creatures.
Shetland Sheepdog He alth
The Shetland Sheepdog is predisposed to a number of hereditary diseases, including the following:
- Dermatomyositis
- Collie eye anomaly
- Progressive Retinal Atrophy
- Waterfalls
- Hemophilia
- Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease
- Patellar dislocation
- Deafness
- Epilepsy
- von Willebrand disease
- Hip dysplasia
This last disease is more common in large dog breeds but, due to the process followed for years to obtain the breed we know today, it is also very common in the Shetland Sheepdog. To prevent the development or early detection of any of the above conditions, it is essential to go to the vet regularly, as well as administer the relevant vaccinations and deworming sessions to the Sheltie.
