Shetland Sheepdog Breed

The furry, smart, Scottish miniature collie

Shetland Sheepdog Puppies for Sale

Shetland Sheepdog Breed Description

Life Expectancy
12-15 years
Learning Rate
Very high
Litter Size
4 to 6
Size
Medium
Weight
Dogs: 14-18 pounds
Bitches: 12-16 pounds
Height
Dogs: 13-15 inches
Bitches: 12-14 inches
Country of Origin
Scotland
Groups
AKC Herding Dogs
FCI Group I.: Sheepdogs and Cattle Dogs (except Swiss Cattle Dogs)
TKC Pastoral
Other Names
Apartment Collie, Dwarf Scotch Shepherd, Mini Lassie, Miniature Collie, Sheltie
Shetland Sheepdog

The Shetland Sheepdog resembles to the Rough Collie. It is strong, nimble and lightly built. It is a beautiful dog, with a long, wedge-shaped head. It is a fast runner and good jumper, agile and swift. Puppies are beguiling and exhibit a desire to please from a very young age. It is an outstanding companion dog with a delightful temperament.

Shetland Sheepdog dog

For centuries this little dog was used to herd and guard the sheep flocks of the Shetlands, those rugged islands off the Scottish coast where many of the animals are rather small in stature. It is an intelligent herder, capable both of commanding large cattle and holding small sheep in check.

Temperament

Shetland Sheepdog dog

The Sheltie is gentle, sensitive, and dainty. This breed is intensely loyal, affectionate, and responsive to his owner. It is very lively, intelligent and trainable. The Shetland Sheepdog is one of the smartest breeds, very willing to please and obey. This breed is so smart that many fanciers consider it to have almost human intelligence. It makes an excellent, charming family dog.

It makes a good watchdog. This dog is suspicious with strangers, especially with children, but will put up with a lot from children in the family. This dog needs human companionship. It is known to not allow itself to be touched by strangers and will display noisy persistent barking. It may bark a lot.

Shetland Sheepdog dog

Extensive socialization at an early age is a must. It is not difficult to train; it will enjoy time spent in obedience or agility classes, it likes to be kept busy. The herding instinct is still very strong in many of them; it loves to chase things. Unfortunately and often disastrously it loves to chase cars.

This dog should not be allowed to run free near a road as it may decide to chase a car or something else it sees across the road, running a high risk of getting hit by a car. This active, graceful dog needs lots of exercise. Dogs should appear masculine and bitches, feminine. Some say males make better and more affectionate pets.

Colors

Shetland Sheepdog colors

Sable, tricolor, blue merle, black and white and black and tan.

Coat

Shetland Sheepdog coat

Outer coat of long, straight, harsh-textured hair; soft, short-haired close undercoat. Regular brushing is important. Mist the coat lightly with water before you begin and tease out the mats before they get bad, but use the comb sparingly. This breed is quite fastidious about its cleanliness; bathe or dry shampoo only when absolutely necessary. This breed is a seasonally heavy shedder.

Health Issuess

Health Issues

There is a tendency toward inherited malformation and disease of the eyes. Some lines may be prone to hypothyroidism. It is prone to displacement of the patella (kneecap), which is thought to be inherited. Do not overfeed your Sheltie as it can exacerbate these problems! To minimize the risk of your dog developing any hereditary health issues, you should buy a Shetland Sheepdog puppy from a reputable breeder.

Living Environment

The Shetland Sheepdog can easily adapt to small spaces, as they are relatively active indoors. A moderately sized yard will be ideal to provide them with more exercise.

Living environment

If you are looking for Shetland Sheepdog for sale, you've come to the perfect place! Our team of experts is here to help you choose a puppy that suits your lifestyle and meets your expectations. Our Shetland Sheepdog puppies are carefully selected and are bred by reputable breeders, who live up to our high standards.

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