About Shelties

"Sheltie" is the common nickname for the Shetland sheepdog, one of the smallest herding dog breeds in the world. The Shetland Island's climate is harsh, cold and very windy. Animals developed on the islands have to be low to the ground and long-hared in order to survive. Now, shelties can be found in homes all over the world.

  1. Appearance

    • Shelties look like smaller versions of rough collies ("Lassie dogs"). They have the same long, thick coats and color patterns that rough collies come in, including tan and white, blue merle and white, and tri-color (tan, black and white).

    History

    • According to "Encyclopedia of Dog Breeds, 2nd Edition" (D. Caroline Colie, Ph.D., 2005), shelties were originally called "toonie dogs" because "toonie" was the local word for a farm. The breed developed in the 1800s and first appeared in English dog shows in 1906.

    Temperament

    • Shelties are notoriously vocal and do not like strangers. However, they are very intelligent, willing to please and therefore trainable. They still retain their herding instincts and may round their people up as if they were sheep.

    Health

    • "Encyclopedia of Dog Breeds" notes that many shelties will not tolerate the common insecticide ivermectin. "ASPCA Complete Guide to Dogs" (Sheldon L. Gerstenfeld, VMD, 1999) notes that shelties can be prone to deafness, eye problems, bleeding disorders and thyroid problems.

    Grooming

    • Shelties need to be brushed every day to keep their coats from becoming a tangled mess. Many owners like to keep the coat trimmed to make grooming easier.