Sweet - tempered and eager - to - please , Shetland sheepdog , or " Shelties " as they ’re dearly shout out , are a democratic hardworking , attentive , and affectionate strain .
While the angelic - tempered and eager - to - please Shetland sheep dog sheep dog would quickly forgive you for yell him a smallcollieor miniature Lassie , Shelties ( as they ’re affectionately called ) are their own discrete stock — anda democratic one at that .
Shelties have earned a report for being as affectionate as they are whiplash - smart . As their name suggests , they were in the beginning spawn to crowd sheep ( as well as other livestock ) in Scotland ’s Shetland Islands and are thus attentive , hardworking , andeasy to direct .
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They thrive with regular exercise and bodily function , but that does n’t mean they ’re opposed to unwinding . " Shelties are sensitive and adaptable , " says Meredith Hector , a second - generation Sheltie partisan and 25 - twelvemonth member of theAmerican Shetland Sheepdog Association(ASSA ) . " When it ’s time to act they are all in , and when it ’s clip to rest they enjoy unlax with you . "
Of course , we ’d be remiss if we did n’t observe thosegloriousShetland sheepdog locks . Theirdouble coatserved a very specific purpose when the breed spent its workday in the Shetland Islands ' cold , crocked , windy weather condition . And though most Shelties in all likelihood spend more time on cushioned rugs than on rugged paddock these days , even head of hair upkeep is a must .
Appearance
The Sheltie bears a striking resemblance to the rocky collie . standardised to their magniloquent cousins , Shelties have prospicient , slight , submarine sandwich - shaped heads that give them a refined appearance . But with their copious bagatelle ; their kind , Prunus dulcis - shaped eyes ; their minor , high , tumid ear bent slightly downward at the tips ; and what many owners cite to as the " Sheltie smile , " they certainly do n’t come off as being too twee and proper to be humankind ’s best Quaker . They look every bit as brilliant , favorable , and affectionate as they truly are .
TheShetland sheepdog is small — bear between 13–16 inches at the berm and weighing 20–25 pounds . ( For comparison , collie tend to be between 22–26 inches marvellous and can press up to 75 pounds . ) These two-fold - coated dog have a short , dense , wooly undercoat and an out level of long , unbowed , coarse hair . TheASSA notesthat the Sheltie ’s coat be given to boast a variety show of colors : sable ( array from golden brown to mahogany ) , blue merle , grim , tan , and white .
As you may have guessed from their impressive manes , Sheltie fur requires regular attention . While every dog is unlike , most will need to bebrushed once a week . However , brushing may need an extra hike in the fall and springwhen exuviate intensifies .
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Temperament
Beneath all of that flowing fur isa family - focused dogwith a centre of gold anda keen thinker . " Shelties arewonderful with childrenand get along well with other dog and with CAT , " Hector say . This is peculiarly true if they ’re raised with the other animals , contribute Mary Mahaffey , DVM , chair of the ASSA Research Advisory Committee .
Shetland sheep dog are not , however , known for being immediately keen on outsider , and might barkuntil they warm up up to novel friends . " They areloyal to their ownersand can be a bit set aside toward stranger , " Hector explain . " If you are n’t a member of their family , they apprize the opportunity to choose to get along to you first versus you running up to greet them . "
This make for us to another famed Sheltie trait : their inclination for communication . " They are a chatty breed originally used to keep farm animal away from the house , " Mahaffey says . " So they do like to skin . "
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But , Hector say , their barking should n’t be incessant . " They may do so to sound a warning or express excitement , " she explains . While chattiness can be hard to deal with ( especially if youlive in an apartment ) , you may also apply this bark bent to your advantage , as a Sheltie will always announce when your pizza pie has been delivered .
Because they were bred to work alongside their owners , Shetland shepherd dog are thinking , visceral , and tireless — a make headway combination when it fare to trainability . Hector depict them as " athletic and extremely acquiescent , excelling inactivities like agility , obedience , and exchange . " Shelties are eager to please and ready to play , but as long as theyget plenty of exerciseand genial stimulant , they ’re dead content to exchange rollick for unlax .
Living Needs
Shelties are easy and adaptable dog . " They can be indoor or out-of-door , but they favor to be with their possessor , " Mahaffey excuse . Again , this goes back to their DNA — Shetland shepherd dog were bred to be working companions and do n’t boom in position where they have to be left alone with nothing to do for long stretches . If you must give your Sheltie by himself , make trusted he has puzzlesorother interactive toysto keep him busy until you add up home .
Though a small yard will do just hunky-dory , Mahaffey saysa larger fenced - in spaceis better because Shelties need moderate daily exercise — particularly when they ’re young . However , urban residents need n’t reign out the breed as a potential pet . In fact , owning a Shetland sheepdog can be a boon to their health .
" flat dwellers can do well with Shelties as long asthe proprietor take the air them regularly , " Mahaffey explains . " This is honorable for both owners and dogs ! " Because Shetland sheepdogs are hold herders ( and are thus prone to chasing anything that locomote , include neighbourhood squirrels and even cars ) , it ’s recommended to keep them in a fence pace andon three when walk .
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Shelties are know to savor a variety of fellow traveller . The ASSA describes the breed as seeming to have a " natural kinship for child , " and both Hector and Mahaffey say Shetland sheepdogs canget along well with catsand other dogs , especially when raise with them .
Care
Groomingis clearly a big flock when it comes to caring for Shetland shepherd dog . " Shelties have a double pelage , " Hector says . " They need to be brushed once a week to avoid matt-up . " She notes that it ’s peculiarly important to focus on the pelt behind the ears , under the elbows , and in the wench ( the long hair that fall between the front and back legs ) . Working with a off-white - dry coat is n’t a good estimation , so be certain to spray a mist of H2O on the surface area you ’re brushing . And as for your Sheltie ’s nails , Hector advocate fora bring down every two weeks .
The earlier you start with a dress regime , the salutary . Sheltie puppies who are used to being on a regular basis handled and examined are n’t just easier to train — they make excellent veterinary patient role , as well . Withpositive education and encouragement , groom can become an enjoyable activity for Shetland sheepdogs and their owners .
In addition to daily , moderate exercise , socializing Sheltie puppiesis extremely important and require call for them out of their normal environment and exposing them to new experience , the great unwashed , and places . This might look like a walk to the park or a sojourn to a friend ’s plate . These seemingly innocuous excursion are in reality fun , low - pressure training school term where Sheltie puppies can get a line how to adjust to and interact with new the great unwashed , animals , and situations . Socialization does n’t end in puppyhood , and proprietor should call up that it is a lifelong process .
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Health
The Sheltie tends tobe a healthy breedandcan live as long as 14 age . Like all breeds , however , Shetland sheepdogs are predisposed to sure health term . Mahaffey lists gallbladder mucoceles , hypothyroidism , and dermatomyositis as the top three breed - specific wellness conditions in Shetland sheepdogs ( though it ’s of import to note that these conditions are n’t needs coarse in the breed , in general ) .
Gallbladder mucocelesare characterized by an accumulation of sludge and mucus in the gallbladder that can do the Hammond organ to become obstructed or even rupture . If present , it ’s typically fancy in older Shelties , though young single can be affected . Clinical signs include puking , departure of appetency , and abdominal pain , and a diagnosis is typically reached via ultrasonography or exploratory operation . While the accurate cause of gall bladder mucoceles is unknown , the treatment is square : gallbladder remotion surgery .
Hypothyroidismis a condition in which the thyroid gland does n’t produce enough thyroid hormone . Because it touch so many body systems , the clinical sign of an underactive thyroid gland can vary a caboodle but often include languor , weight unit gain , corpulency , and changes in skin and haircoat . Most grammatical case of hypothyroidism involve lifelong medicament .
Dermatomyositisis an autoimmune disease that affect both skin and muscular tissue tissue paper . Shetland sheepdogs and collie are the most common breeds to be diagnosed with the condition . Clinical signs include crusty sore on the skin in areas with very niggling muscularity , such as the brass , ear peak , legs , feet , and the gratuity of the butt . The muscles of Shelties typically are n’t affected . Dermatomyositis ca n’t be cured , but it can be managed with the assist of medication .
Every Sheltie is unlike , so the unspoiled way to promote an item-by-item dog ’s health is to partner with a veterinarian who can allow regular preventive precaution and targeted counselling regarding diet , employment , and other needs from puppyhood to maturity .
History
There are some thing we know about the rootage of Shelties … and others we do n’t . For example , we bonk they beat their kickoff in theShetland Islands , a Scots archipelago of around 100 island ( only 16 of which are inhabited ) in the North Sea . But the exact combination of strain that go into developing the Sheltie remains unknown . TheASSA listsNorthern spitz - type dogs from Scandinavia , Cavalier King Charles spaniels , Pomeranians , Scotch collies , and other indigenous island click as likely contributor .
Shelties were bred to study , and their modest height meant they were high in agility and low in food needs — major fringe benefit on remote island with broken terrain and sparse botany . The ASSA draw the stock as " an all - around farm dog . " Early Shetland sheepdogs serve their farming owners with various tasks , including keeping livestock out of the garden and round off up sheep . They also serve well as associate and watchdogs .
Though a visitor to the island trace the cad as early as 1844 , the ASSA say the breed did n’t become prescribed until 1908 , when the dogs were first registered in Lerwick , the Shetland Islands ' primary townspeople and embrasure . Shelties were next register with the Scottish Shetland Sheepdog Club in 1909 , and both of these registries and the breed were recognize by the United Kennel Club ( UKC ) afterward that same year . The UKC in the first place referred to Shelties as Shetland collies , but soon switched to their current appellation after collie enthusiast objected to the title of respect .
Shetland sheepdogs made their debut in the U.S. in 1908 and get American Kennel Club credit in 1911 . The ASSA , which was form in 1929 , notes that both WWI and WWII had an effect on what was import to the States and what was kept in the U.K. As a outcome , small differences between American Shelties and English Shelties remain to this day .
