Shetland Sheepdog Breed Profile
Website design By BotEap.comDescription: The Shetland Sheepdog is a small dog measuring approximately 13 to 16 at the withers. He will weigh between 14 and 26 pounds, depending on the sex of the dog. Also known as a Sheltie, he has a double coat consisting of long, coarse hairs over a shorter, softer undercoat. The Shetland Sheepdog’s head is wedge-shaped and tapers towards the nose. The ears are what is called 3/4 erect, with the tips folded down. The most common coat color is sable, but blue-black, tan and white, and black and white are also common. The Shetland Sheepdog usually lives between 12 and 15 years.
Website design By BotEap.comHistory: Although many people consider the Shetland Sheepdog to resemble a miniature wire-haired collie, it is actually descended from the border collie. Brought to the island of Shetland, the Border Collie was bred with a dog called the Icelandic Yakkin, which is now extinct. The Collie was also crossed with the dog to produce the Sheltie, which was recognizable as a breed in the early 18th century. Flocks of sheep in the Shetland Islands needed a guard and herding dog and the Shetland Sheepdog fulfilled this task admirably.
Website design By BotEap.comTemperament: The Shetland Sheepdog is a gentle and docile dog who makes an excellent and loyal companion to his human family. As the Shetland Sheepdog was developed as a herding and guard dog, he still manifests these qualities to his human friends, and will prove to be a good watchdog, alerting the family with barks if a stranger comes into the house. The Sheltie is a friendly dog that gets along very well with children. A word of caution would be that because this dog is small, he could inadvertently hurt himself if children are too rough with him.
Website design By BotEap.comHealth problems: the most frequent problem in the Shetland Sheepdog is the possibility of diseases or structural malformations of the eyes. Another serious problem is Von Willebrand disease, a type of hemophilia. Unlike other breeds, where an affected dog can often live a normal life, a Sheltie with this condition will usually succumb at a young age. Hip dysplasia is found in this breed as are problems with the patella.
Website design By BotEap.comGrooming: It would probably be considered that, given the Shetland Sheepdog’s long coat, it would take a great deal of time to groom this dog. Surprisingly, the coat only needs brushing once a week, except during spring and fall sheds. The Shetland Sheepdog should only be bathed when absolutely necessary. Toenails should be kept short and care should be taken to ensure that the hair between the toes does not grow too long.
Website design By BotEap.comLiving conditions: The Shetland Sheepdog is an intelligent and loyal little dog who wants to be close to his human friends. He is a dog that requires a lot of exercise, so an active family is best. A large yard is probably best for the Sheltie, as it gives her ample room to play and run. This dog can live in an apartment as long as its owner gives it enough opportunities to exercise.