Brief History of the Shetland Sheepdog:
The Shetland Sheepdog originated in the Shetland Islands off the northeast coast of Scotland and was bred as a working dog, primarily to herd and protect the livestock. The Shetland Sheepdog was once called the "Toonie", taken from the word "tun" which is the Norwegian word for farm. It is believed that the Shetland Sheepdog and the larger herding Collie have a common ancestor, a herding dog bred in the British Highlands, believed to be similar to today's Border Collie. The dogs that stayed on the Scottish mainland eventually developed into the Rough Collie and those that were taken to the Shetland Isles were downsized to meet the needs of the island and developed into the Shetland Sheepdog. Today, the Shetland Sheepdog has the same relationship in size and appearance to the Rough Collies as the Shetland Pony has to some larger breeds of horses. There are, however, other differences between the breeds. The Kennel Club (UK) recognized the breed in 1909 as the Shetland Collie and, in 1914, the breed became a completely separate breed known as the Shetland Sheepdog.
For more information on the history of the Shetland Sheepdog, see:
Breed Profile:
The Sheltie is intensely loyal, affectionate and responsive with a very strong desire to please, making him a wonderful companion. His devotion usually extends to all family members, including children and other dogs. With his high intelligence, the Sheltie has become one of the leading breeds for obedience competition and he also excels in agility, herding and tracking. While the Sheltie is adaptable to different living environments, he is an active, working breed and needs regular, daily exercise.
The Sheltie may be reserved toward strangers and is very protective of his family, making him a good watch dog who will alert to any intrusion with enthusiastic barking. Shyness, timidity, or nervousness, however, are not characteristic of the breed.
The Shetland Sheepdog can be a barker. However, the amount of barking varies with the individual as well as with the number of dogs. Barking is often learned from other dogs but, with persistence, this can be taught out of the dog. See Barking Dogs — an article on how to train your dog not to bark.
In appearance, the Sheltie is a small, rough-coated, long haired dog. He is alert, agile and sturdy with no parts appearing out of proportion. Dogs are visibly masculine while females are more feminine. The Sheltie has a double coat, consisting of a long, straight and harsh outer coat and a short, furry and very dense undercoat. He has an abundant mane and frill which is particularly impressive in males. Shelties come in a wide variety of coat colours stemming from either sable or black. Sable colour ranges from golden through red, to deep mahogany with an overlay of black. The most common coat colour is the Mahogany Sable. Generally, pure sable coloured dogs are lighter in colour, while the black-factored dogs are heavily shaded with black. The tri-colour dog is black with tan points on the eyes, cheeks, and usually on the legs. Tri-colours also have varying amounts of white markings on the face, collar, legs and tail tip. The bi-black Sheltie is black with white markings. The blue merle Sheltie can range from silver to steel-blue with varying amounts of black and tan patches throughout. Blue merles also have the tan markings on the face and legs.
The Shetland Sheepdog is a very popular breed. — According to CKC 2005 registrations, the Sheltie is the 5th most registered breed in Canada. In the U.S., according to AKC registration statistics for 2005, the Sheltie ranks number 18. Unfortunately, with this popularity comes the issue of irresponsible breeders attempting to cash in. If you are considering the purchase of a Shetland Sheepdog puppy, be especially selective in choosing a responsible and reputable breeder. (For more information on selecting a breeder, see the articles on the main Breed Listing and Breeders page.)
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Health Issues:
Like all breeds, the Shetland Sheepdog is susceptible to some health problems, including: Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA), Central PRA, Collie Eye Anomaly (also known as Sheltie Eye Syndrome), Corneal Dystrophy, Hip Dysplasia, Thyroid problems, and von Willebrand's Disease.
If you are considering the adoption of a Shetland Sheepdog puppy, or any breed, it is very important to be selective in choosing a responsible and reputable breeder. Ensure that the prospective puppy's parents have all health clearances. Breeding of any dog should not be done until after they have been proven to be free of evidence of significant hereditary diseases. (For more information on selecting a breeder, see the articles on the main Breed Listing and Breeders page.)
Additional Health Resources:
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Breed Standards:
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Grooming Information:
- Grooming — This section of Canada's Guide to Dogs includes tips, articles and information covering all aspects of dog grooming along with a listing of Groomers from across Canada.
- Grooming Reference Books/Videos:
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Illustrated Guide to Sheltie Grooming
by Barb Ross
ISBN: 093186660X
Sheltie grooming from head to toe with step by step illustrations! Useful for collie owners, too! Includes information on developing correct earset on puppies.
— Available from Amazon.ca and Dogwise.com
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SHOW GROOMING THE COLLIE AND SHETLAND SHEEPDOG VIDEO
2 Hr. Video Edition, Published by Sonnen Productions
The groomer featured is Greg Reyna. He is a breeder, professional handler and groomer. Note that this is show grooming.
— Available from Dogwise.com
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Training Resources:
- Barking Dogs — An article on how to train your dog not to bark.
- Training — For information on training your Shetland Sheepdog, see this growing section of Canada's Guide to Dogs for tips, articles, as well as listings of training centres across Canada.
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Additional Information:
