The Shetland Sheepdog (also known as the "Sheltie") has its roots in the Shetland Islands off the coast of Scotland. Unlike most miniature breeds, the Shetland Sheepdog was not the result of selective breeding. Although its exact origins are unknown, its ancestors are likely to include the Border Collie, the Icelandic sheepdog, the Yakki (a dog kept and bred by Greenland whalers) and the Prince Charles Spaniel.
Temperament
The Sheltie is a herding breed, and like the other dogs in its group, needs a job to do. If there are no critters to herd, he'll round up the children. If he isn't given a job to do, he can become yappy and nervous in an attempt to dissipate his pent-up energy and drive.
Herding dogs have a great affinity for people as well as work, a connection confirmed by the great success of Shelties and Border Collies in the obedience ring. Shelties are almost always among the highest scorers in obedience trials.
Well-bred Shelties are bright, responsive, and devoted to the family. They are suspicious of strangers and so are good watchdogs. They love to play ball and Frisbee, so are wonderful children's companions. Their desire to please makes them easier than many other breeds to train, so they are a delight to take on walks in the park and they tend to travel well.
However, because the breed is in the top 20 in popularity, the Sheltie can be poorly bred in commercial kennels for pet store sales or by backyard breeders with little knowledge of breed temperament or health problems. A poorly bred Sheltie can be timid to the point of fearfulness, yappy, high-strung, and nippy. Well-bred Shelties are hardy and can withstand the attentions of well-behaved, active children; poorly bred specimens may be temperamentally unsuited for families with children.
Shelties are susceptible to progressive retinal atrophy and Collie eye anomaly, two eye diseases that cause blindness. Buyers should search for breeders who test for these diseases. The breed is also susceptible to heart disease, epilepsy, and von Willibrand's Disease, a bleeding disorder. Merle puppies with double merle inheritance may be deaf. Structural problems can include elbow and hock joint subluxation (looseness) and hip dysplasia is possible.
History and Origins
The Sheltie came from the Shetland Islands off the north coast of mainland Scotland. Unlike many miniature breeds that resemble their larger counterparts, this breed was not developed simply by selectively breeding the Rough Collie for smaller and smaller sizes. Rather, he is a descendant of the Collie and while the Sheltie's exact origins are not known it is believed that other types such as the extinct Greenland Yakki dog, the Kings Charles Spaniel (not the Cavalier), the Pomeranian, and possibly the Border Collie were utilized in their development.
During the early 20th century, additional crosses were made to Collies up until the 1940s to help retain the desired Collie type. In fact, the first AKC Sheltie champion's dam was a purebred Collie bitch. It was at this time that the Shetland Sheepdog was known as the Shetland Collie.
The year 1909 marked the initial recognition of the Sheltie by the English Kennel Club, with the first registered Sheltie being a female called Badenock Rose. The first Sheltie to be registered by the American Kennel Club was "Lord Scott" in 1911. Ironically, the Shetland Sheepdog is only rarely found in Shetland, having been replaced by the Border Collie. It was thought that the Sheltie herded the small sheep of the Shetland Islands, but many now feel that with their diminutive size they were used primarily to chase off scavengers, birds, pests, and wayward livestock which may have wandered into the crofter's gardens.
Size & Weight
Height for a mature Shetland Sheepdog ranges between 13 and 16 inches. Weight is proportionate to height.
Disqualification: Height above 16 inches or below 13 inches.
Grooming Requirements
Meticulous about its own cleanliness, the dog should be bathed only when absolutely necessary. Its coat should be brushed regularly, and mats should be tackled before they become unmanageable by lightly misting the coat and gently combing.
Exercise Needs
Highly active, the Shetland Sheepdog needs a lot of exercise. It will do well in an apartment if it is exercised well, though a place where it can run free is preferable. However, when allowing it to run, be sure it is in a safe area. Owners should be careful not to overfeed, as Shelties that are under-exercised may become obese.
Health Issues
Regrettably, in recent years, the excesses of top-ten popularity permitted a number of congenital/hereditary problems to proliferate in this basically healthy, long-lived breed. Fortunately, testing can identify many of these before they are passed on, and the ASSA is doing much to support research into some of the ailments that more commonly affect the breed. One hallmark of the responsible breeder is that they will have tested all their breeding stock for: (a) eye disease, which in Shelties includes Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA), Central PRA (CPRA), Collie Eye Anomaly (CEA) which is also called Sheltie Eye Syndrome (SES), and Corneal Dystrophy (CD); (b) von Willebrand's Disease (vWD) and other hereditary bleeding disorders; (c) Canine Hip dysplasia (CHD), and (d) Thyroid disease, which in Shelties has been linked to several other medical problems.
Trivia
Am/Can/Jap/Int'l Ch.Golden Hylites the Phantom ROM - One of the most expensive and campaigned Shetland Sheepdog sires, sold to a kennel Japan for a large amount.
