Dog Breed Guide

Shetland Sheepdog

Profile

Size

Small

Country of origin

United Kingdom (Scotland)

Origin

19th century

Bred for

Sheep herding, Companion

Height

male about 37cm (15in), female about 35.5cm (14in)

Weight

7 - 11kg (15 - 24lb)

Life span

12 - 14 years

A small dog with the elegant look of a miniature Collie. It has a long, abundant coat, a magnificent frill around the neck and a refined head. Colors include sable, tricolor and blue merle.

The Sheltie is intelligent, gentle and very obedient. It is sensitive to its family's feelings and takes to training well. Because it is sensitive and delicate, it learns best through praise rather than scolding. It is a little reserved with strangers and barks to announce noises.

Small as it is, it is a herding dog, so it needs a lot of exercise, and daily walks and play are a must. The thick coat needs brushing several times a week, and it sheds an astonishing amount during shedding season. Like the Collie, some individuals have a sensitivity to certain medications.

Good to know

The breed comes from the Shetland Islands in the North Sea, north of Scotland. The islands are home to many animals that grew small to suit the harsh environment and scarce food, such as Shetland ponies and Shetland sheep, and the Sheltie is thought to be one of them.

On the islands it was once called the "toonie dog," from a Norse word for "farm." Visitors who took a liking to the little dogs carried them home almost as souvenirs, and that is how they became known on the British mainland.

It was first registered as the Shetland Collie, but Collie fanciers objected fiercely to the use of the Collie name, and it was renamed the Shetland Sheepdog. The Kennel Club recognized it in 1909. Its nickname is "Sheltie."