Information About Blue Merle Shelties

The Shetland Sheepdog or "Sheltie," as it is also referred to, is a small dog breed that was first developed to work as a herding dog and watch dog in Scotland. The breed is related to the Border collie and the rough collie according to the American Kennel Club. The Shetland can be found sporting a variety of coat colors, including blue merle. If you are planning to bring a blue merle sheltie into your home, research the breed beforehand to ensure that it is suitable for your family and lifestyle.

  1. Physical Characteristics

    • With its small build, the Shetland Sheepdog looks like a smaller version of the rough collie. It has a long double coat that forms a mane around the dog's neck and chest. The ears are pricked and fold forward at the tip. The almond-shaped eyes can be black or blue in coloration; this is a characteristic that is unique to the blue merle sheltie. The blue merle coat has a mottled appearance and is made up of speckles of black, blue-grey and white. Large areas of white are undesirable in a show blue merle sheltie, according to the American Kennel Club.

    Temperament

    • The Shetland Sheepdog is a sweet-natured dog that is known to make a loyal companion, according to the Dog Breed Info Center. Because this breed was developed to be a watchdog it must be socialized from an early age to prevent it from becoming anxious or shy around strangers.

    Intelligence and Training

    • The Shetland is an intelligent breed that is easy to train using positive reinforcement. This dog will be extremely sensitive to your tone of voice. Maintain a calm yet assertive tone to get your dog's attention without being overly harsh. The Shetland will not listen to you if it does not see you as its pack leader. Achieve this by preventing your dog from jumping on the furniture or on guests. Do not allow the dog to sleep on your bed as this is a position of dominance.

    Herding and Working Instinct

    • This breed has a natural herding instinct, which means that they enjoy chasing things, including other pets, children and cars. This behavior can be the dog's way of giving itself a job, as it is a working breed that needs to be given a task to feel contented. Other behaviors that can develop if this dog does not receive adequate mental stimulation include excessive barking and snapping. Prevent this undesirable behavior by taking the dog on a long walk every day and by practicing obedience, trick training and agility with your sheltie.