Shetland sheepdog - Appearance, Temperament, Health, History, Miscellaneous, Showing Requirements

A type of sheepdog developed in the Shetland Is, Scotland; resembles a small collie with a thick coat; also known as a Sheltie, or Shelty.

Portions of the summary below have been contributed by Wikipedia.

Shetland Sheepdog
Mahogany sable sheltie
Alternative names
Shetland Collie (obsolete) Dwarf Scotch Shepherd (obsolete) Toonie dog (obsolete) Apartment Collie (rare)
Country of origin
Scotland
Common nicknames
Sheltie
Classification and breed standards
FCI:	Group 1 Section 1 #88	Stds
AKC:	Herding	Stds
ANKC:	Group 5 (Working Dogs)	Stds
CKC:	Group 7 - Herding Dogs	Stds
KC (UK):	Pastoral	Stds
NZKC:	Working	Stds
UKC:	Herding Dogs	Stds

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Shetland Sheepdog

The Shetland Sheepdog (or Sheltie) is a breed of dog, originally bred to be small sheep dogs ideally suited for the terrain of the Shetland Islands.

Appearance

Shelties have a double coat consisting of long guard hairs covering a fluffy insulative undercoat.

Several coat colors exist. Double merles, the product of breeding two merle Shelties together, can be bred but have a higher incidence of deafness or blindness than the other coat colors.

There are few additional coat colors that are quite rare because they are unacceptable in the breed ring, such as color-headed white (majority of fur white, with the head 'normally' marked).

The size of a sheltie (at the withers) can range from being undersize (under 13 inches) to being oversize (over 16 inches.) The average height of a sheltie is 14-15 inches.

Temperament

The Shetland Sheepdog is an outstanding companion dog and is intensely loyal, with a pleasant temperament.

Shelties have a reputation as vocal dogs, but that might be undeserved.

Unlike some dog breeds, males and females make equally good pets.

The herding instinct is still strong in many Shelties.

Shelties usually love to play.

Health

Like the Rough Collie, there is a tendency toward inherited malformation and disease of the eyes.

As with all dog breeds, diet should be monitered and adjusted as needed as many nonworking Shelties can overeat and easily become obese.

Eyes

The two basic forms of inherited eye problems in shelties are SES (Sheltie Eye Syndrome) and progressive retinal atrophy (PRA).

Currently, there is no treatment for either disease.

Note: merles may have blue eyes.

Dermatomyositis (Sheltie Syndrome)

Dermatomyositis may occur at the age of 4 to 6 months, and is frequently misdiagnosed by general practice veterinarians as sarcoptic or demodectic mange.

Ears

Shelties' ears are required to bend slightly or "tip" at the top to be qualified to show in American Kennel Club (AKC) shows. If a dog's ears are not bent (referred to as prick ears) it is acceptable to help the ears along to the desired position by bracing them into the correct position and leaving them on for several weeks. It is easiest to train a dog's ears when the dog is a puppy.

There are also veterinary procedures to "fix" improper earsets, although any reputable breeder will not go to those extremes.

Von Willebrand Disease (vWD)

Von Willebrand disease is an inherited bleeding disorder. In Shelties, affected dogs as a general rule are not viable and do not live long.

Read this article for More information on von Willebrand's in Shelties.

Thyroid problems

Hypothyroidism (under-functioning of the thyroid) is being observed more frequently in Shelties.

History

The Sheltie came from the Shetland Islands off the coast of Scotland.

Its exact origins are not known, but the most-often cited ancestors of the breed include the Border Collie (or its ancestors), the Yakki (also Yakkie or Yakkin) dog (a dog kept and bred by Greenland whalers), and the Icelandic sheepdog.

The year 1909 marked the initial recognition of the Sheltie by the English Kennel Club and the first Sheltie to be registered by the American Kennel Club was "Lord Scott" in 1911.

Rather bizarrely, the Shetland Sheepdog is only rarely found in Shetland, having been replaced by the Border Collie.

Miscellaneous

Activities

In their size group, the breed dominates dog agility competitions.

Grooming

Shelties have a double coat. The Sheltie is usually a clean dog and should only need to be brushed once or twice a week (it is helpful to spray-mist with water when brushing).

Although its coat might appear to be a time-consuming task, a once-weekly, but thorough, brushing is all that is needed, though more frequent groomings will contribute to a beautiful and tidy coat.

It is easiest to teach a dog to tolerate, or even enjoy, grooming if they are shown that it is a pleasurable thing from a young age.

Toenails and hair between the pads need to be trimmed every couple of weeks.

Show dogs may require more frequent brushing to keep their coats in top condition.

Most Shelties learn to love the attention that grooming provides, if the routine is started when the dog is still young.

Breeding

When breeding the sheltie, both male and female should be tested for thyroid problems, von Willebrands disease and burcellosis.

When breeding the sheltie, color should be taken into account.

Showing Requirements

As with all breeds of dogs there is a certain set of rules that must be followed in order to show them and that varies by country.