Sheltie Diet

The Sheltie, or Shetland sheepdog, is a high-energy working dog that needs a nutritious diet to keep him in the best of physical and mental health. Bred to herd sheep on the Shetland Islands, the Sheltie has become a favorite family pet. Its size, energy level, and breed origin dictates the best diet to keep this active, agile dog in the peak of health from the correct portion size to the best sources of protein and calcium.

  1. Natural Diet

    • The grey wolf (purported to be the primary ancestor of the Sheltie and all other dog breeds) is primarily a carnivore, though it will eat vegetation on occasion. The majority of a wolf̵7;s diet is made up of small game like rabbits, mice, and birds, as well as insects, like grubs and grasshoppers. Some dog owners contend that a dog should eat as closely to its natural diet as possible, but others assert that this diet does not contain the nutritional advantages that home-prepared cooked or raw food diets do.

    Sheltie-Specific Diet

    • According to canine nutrition expert William D. Cusick, a Shetland sheepdog requires specific sources of the nutrients all dogs need (e.g., protein and calcium) because of the unique environment of the Shetland Islands where the Sheltie originated. Give your Sheltie oyster-shell-based calcium and protein from pork, lamb and fish. Feed your Sheltie potatoes, barley, carrots, and cabbage, but stay away from beef, soy, yellow corn and beets. Cusick does not recommend feeding a Sheltie a commercial dog food, but urges dog owners to prepare Sheltie-specific foods for their pets at home.

    Raw Diet

    • In an attempt to mimic a canine̵7;s ancestral diet but still offer balanced nutrition, some breeders, such as the Raw Dog Ranch, advocate a raw preparation. A mixture of 75 percent protein from sources like organs and muscle meats and 25 percent vegetables and fruits, such as potatoes and cabbage, is recommended for most dogs. The best method is to make the vegetables and fruit into a grated, pureed mush and then add ground meat, like human-grade lamb, pork or fish. Portion the mush into serving sizes and then freeze it for later use. Vitamin E, wheat germ, and digestive enzymes are sometimes added.

    Home-Cooked Diet

    • Though commercial dog food is more convenient, some dog owners, like California veterinarian Paula Terifaj prefer to feed dogs home-cooked meals. Terifaj̵7;s recipe for a 20-pound dog includes 1/4 pound cooked chicken, 1 cup brown rice and 1/2 cup of peas and carrots, supplemented with vitamins and minerals. This is a suitable portion size for the average adult Sheltie. Substitute the proteins and vegetables specific to a Sheltie̵7;s needs and weigh your Sheltie often to make sure he is not gaining or losing too much weight, adjusting portion size as needed.

    Commercial Dog Foods

    • Though home-cooked and raw food diets may be optimal, you may not be able to pursue these options. In this case, try to find the most nutritious commercial dog food possible. The Whole Dog Journal advises reading labels carefully and rejecting products containing byproducts, meal, unidentified fats and artificial sweeteners or coloring. The rule of thumb is to choose dog food with the least number of ingredients̵2;whole meats, grains and vegetables. Remember to look for Sheltie-specific nutrients and avoid commercial products with beef, corn and soy.