Content
- Shetland Shepherd: Origin
- Shetland Shepherd: Physical Characteristics
- Shetland Shepherd: personality
- Shetland Shepherd: care
- Shetland Shepherd: education
- Shetland Shepherd: health
The Shetland Shepherd or Sheltie is a small, cute and very intelligent dog. It's very similar to the long-haired Collie but smaller in size. Originally born as a shepherd dog, as this dog is a tireless worker, but nowadays it is very appreciated as a domestic animal for its beauty and small size.
If you want to know more about Shetland Shepherd, continue reading this article by PeritoAnimal and learn about its history, most striking physical characteristics, basic care, personality, how to properly educate it and what possible health problems it may present.
Source- Europe
- UK
- Group I
- Slender
- provided
- short ears
- toy
- Small
- Medium
- Great
- Giant
- 15-35
- 35-45
- 45-55
- 55-70
- 70-80
- more than 80
- 1-3
- 3-10
- 10-25
- 25-45
- 45-100
- 8-10
- 10-12
- 12-14
- 15-20
- Low
- Average
- High
- Shy
- Strong
- very faithful
- Intelligent
- Active
- Tender
- floors
- Houses
- Shepherd
- harness
- Cold
- Warm
- Moderate
- Long
- Smooth
- thick
Shetland Shepherd: Origin
Although the exact origin of this dog breed is uncertain, recorded data show that the Shetland Shepherd was first recognized on the island that bears the same name, Scotland. The breed was officially recognized in 1908, but documents have been declared since 1800.
The Shetland Shepherd came from crossing several Collie-type dogs, so you can tell that the current Collie and the Shetland Shepherd have common ancestors. That's why they are so similar physically and on a personality level. The cold and sparsely vegetated environment of the Scottish islands made it difficult for large animals to survive, and small dogs were favored because they consumed less food. That's why Sheltie was more desirable than large dogs, and it was used to guide and protect dwarf sheep, ponies and even chickens. For these same reasons, the Shetland Shepherd Dog is a robust, strong and very intelligent dog. However, and due to its beauty, it quickly began to be adopted as a companion animal, as it is known today.
In the early 20th century, Shetland Shepherds were first featured in a dog show under the name Shetland Collies, but Collie lovers changed their name to Shetland Shepherd dog
Shetland Shepherd: Physical Characteristics
Shetland Shepherd is a dog of small size, wide and lush beauty. The body is a little wider than it is tall, although it is well proportioned and has a deep chest. The legs are strong and muscular, like all other sheepdogs. The head of this dog is very similar to a Collie but on a smaller scale, it is elegant and shaped like a truncated wedge. The nose is black and the muzzle is round, the eyes are slanted, medium, almond-shaped and dark brown. With the exception of the blue mirle specimens, one of the eyes may be blue. The ears are small, large and wide at the base.
The tail of the Shetland Shepherd is set low and wide, reaching at least to the hock. has a coat abundant, double-layered, the outer layer being long, rough and smooth. The inner layer is soft, dry and dense. The accepted colors are:
- Tricolor;
- Blue blueberry;
- Black and white;
- Black and Cinnamon;
- Sable and white;
- Sable
The ideal height at the cross for males is 37 centimeters, while for females it is 36 centimeters. O Weight it is not indicated in the breed standard but the Shetland Shepherd usually weighs about 8 kilos.
Shetland Shepherd: personality
In general, Shetland Shepherds are dogs with the personality. quiet, are loyal, intelligent and very affectionate with the human family. However, they tend to be more shy with strangers and have a strong shepherding instinct, which can cause conflicts if they are not properly educated. For this, it is essential to socialize from the puppy both to reduce shyness with strangers and to relate to other animals.
Shetland Shepherd: care
This dog's coat should be brushed between once and twice a week. Despite being a broad-haired breed of dog, Shetland Shepherd Shepherds tend to be clean and have a coat that doesn't mat as easily as it may seem.
Despite being small puppies, the Sheltie are sheepdogs that need a good dose of physical and mental exercises. A good amount of daily walks and a game session can do, but you can also play dog sports like herding and canine freestyle. Agility can be a good option if the dog does not have joint problems such as hip dysplasia. On the other hand, as we mentioned, mental exercises are essential to stimulate the animal and avoid a possible situation of stress or anxiety due to boredom. For this, we recommend that you see some tips in our article on how to stimulate the dog's intelligence.
Due to their size, these dogs can live well in an apartment whenever they receive the necessary physical exercise. However, they tend to bark excessively and this can cause conflicts with neighbors. You should also take into account that these puppies can withstand cold climates well, but it is not recommended that they be isolated in the garden as they need the company of their relatives.
Shetland Shepherd: education
As we mentioned before, Shelties are very intelligent dogs, they learn basic commands easily and quickly. However, this does not mean that you should use traditional training methods, as the best results are obtained by training in positive. Traditional and negative training can trigger behavioral problems such as fear and insecurities that end up creating conflicts between the dog and people, ending the good bond you can build.
Among the most common behavior problems in this breed are behaviors caused by the strong herding instinct. On the one hand, they tend to be dogs that bark a lot and tend to "group" individuals who move (adults, children, dogs or any pet) by biting them on the ankles. These behaviors cannot be stopped because they have a very strong genetic basis, but they can be channeled through activities that don't hurt or games that aren't harmful.
Shetland Shepherds can be excellent pets when tutors provide all the necessary care. They usually get along well with children but, as they are small dogs, they can get hurt easily.
Shetland Shepherd: health
This breed of dog has a certain predisposition to hereditary diseases, among them are:
- Dermatomyositis in dogs;
- Collie's Eye Anomaly (CEA);
- Progressive retinal atrophy;
- Cataracts;
- Patellar Dislocation;
- Deafness;
- Epilepsy;
- Hip dysplasia;
- Von Willebrand Disease;
- Legg-Calvé-Perthes Disease;
- Hemophilia in dogs.
Hip dysplasia in dogs is a more frequent disease in large dog breeds, due to the continuous process of years of trying to obtain the breed we currently know, but it is also very common in the Shetland Shepherd Dog. To prevent it from developing or detecting any of the above diseases in time, it is essential that you see a veterinarian periodically, as well as vaccinate and deworm your Sheltie.