General Information About Those Lovable Shelties

Almost six years ago I found a special breeder of Shetland Sheepdogs. My little Bonnie was the smallest of the litter and the most beautiful. She is a sable Sheltie with loads of personality and is less then 14 inches tall at the shoulder. Sheltie families don't usually just have one Sheltie.

 
One year later, we added our second fur child, Bailey. He grew to 17 inches tall, just a bit bigger then most Shelties by an inch. He is gentle, never intrusive, laid back and loves to catch balls in mid-air.




Last, but not least, we brought Skippy home, aptly named because he literally skips around the house. He is exactly the right size for a Sheltie.

The Good and The Bad 

Shelties were originally bred to herd sheep and most Shelties like to herd anything they can find such as, little children and adults that come to the house. They will bark and nudge a visitor right to the sofa and then instruct them to sit. Shelties have a way to let others know exactly where on their bodies they want to be petted. What new acquaintance can keep themselves from running their fingers through those luxurious coats of fur?

Shelties are lovable, intelligent, loyal, and vocal pets. Shelties understand words and sentences. My oldest female even understands certain looks I give her and hand signals. They will nurse you when you are sick, play when you need exercise and warn you when there is danger.

The only negative about Shelties is the frequent need to bark about anything going on outside, unusual noises in the house, other dogs barking, someone ringing the doorbell, family or friends entering or leaving the house--well you get the idea--lots of barking. Shedding is the only other problem which increases as you add more Shelties to your family. So, you guessed it, I'm knee-deep in Sheltie fur. My hubby often says we should sell it so someone can weave a Sheltie jacket. By the way, I just read that people do weave dog fur into yarn. 

Recommended As

Pet, Working Dog

Shetland Sheepdog's Social Characteristics 

The Shetland Sheepdog dog breed is active, intelligent, and eager to please. They make delightful companions for singles and families. While being quite affectionate and loyal with their own families, they are aloof with strangers and will not like it if they are approached without being socialized first. Just the permission of a family member will encourage most Shelties to make friends with a new person. They make great companions for children growing up. If a Sheltie has not been around children he/she will be very shy at first and must have more interaction to become comfortable with children. Children should be taught to be careful due to the Sheltie's small size. Herding instincts are strong with them and they love to chase things. They can easily match their owners' own level of activity. Many owners love to train their Shelties for Agility courses, a sport in which these dogs can excel.

AKC Shetland Sheepdog Physical Characteristics

Shetland Sheepdog's Origin and History

Country/Region of Origin: Scotland

Original purpose: herding sheep

Name: derived from the Shetland Islands where it was developed, also known as the Sheltie

Historical notes: Whereas other small replicas of bigger breeds were bred by selecting smaller members, Shetland Sheepdogs were the result of the mingling of Border Collies with other herding dogs over the centuries. The Shetland Sheepdog is not a miniature Collie. The breed was first recognized as a breed by the AKC in 1911. 

Top Ten Brightest Dogs

1. Border Collie, 2. Poodle, 3. German Shepherd, 4. Golden Retriever, 5. Doberman Pinscher, 6. Shetland Sheepdogs, 7. Labrador Retriever, 8. Papillon, 9. Rottweiler, 10. Australian Cattle Dog

Recommended Books: See books below in the Amazon module