Author: Dan Stevens
Getting to know your dog starts by getting to know its breed,
and that includes getting a better idea about its appearance,
personality, and health requirements. Here's what you need to
know about Shetland Sheepdogs:
Also known as the "Sheltie," the Shetland Sheepdog originally
began life as a small herding dog for Shetland Island terrain.
When you first look at this breed, you will notice a strong
resemblance with the Collie although the Shetland Sheepdog is
smaller. While the exact origin of this breed remains unknown,
we do know that somewhere off the coast of Scotland the dog was
bred down to what we know it to be today.
To give you an idea of the makeup of the Shetland Sheepdog, you
have breeding from the Yakki, Icelandic Sheepdog, and Border
Collie. Then, it is believed that in the 19th century, this
breed could have been crossbred with other dogs to include the
Prince Charles Spaniel, Pomeranian, and perhaps even the King
Charles Spaniel. However, to add even more question to the mix
is that in the early part of the 20th century, the coat of the
Shetland Sheepdog came out brindle, which would indicate two
other breeds to include the Corgi and Terrier.
What we do know is that the American Kennel Club first
recognized the Shetland Sheepdog in 1911, which resulted from
the first registration of a dog named Lord Scott. Although the
Shetland Sheepdog was once a prominent breed in Shetland, today
you rarely see it. Instead, the Border Collie has taken its
place in importance and use.
This breed has an amazing ability to compete. As an agile dog,
they are outstanding when it comes to showmanship, obedience,
herding, tracking, and so on. Therefore, using the Shetland
Sheepdog in competitions or show is a satisfying decision.
Physical Appearance
The Sheltie has a graceful and sweet appearance. As far as the
breed's coat, there is a double coat with the topcoat being long
and straight and the undercoat being short and furry. In fact,
the topcoat is water-repellant while the undercoat is extremely
thick. To keep tangles at bay, it is important that the
Shetland Sheepdog be brushed and groomed on a regular basis.
Otherwise, you could be dealing with deeply matted hair in
places such as the hind legs, under the elbows, and even behind
the ears.
If you want to show your Sheltie through the American Kennel
Club, there is a definite height requirement. For instance,
the male and female dog would need to be between 13 and 16
inches at the withers. For weight, most males will fall
somewhere around 14 to 18 pounds with the females averaging 12
to 16 pounds. Another requirement includes ears that are
tipped or just slightly bent. Colors of this breed also vary
to include:
Sable (light gold to mahogany)
Tri-color (white, black, and tan)
Blue Merle (gray, black, white, and tan)
Bi-blues (gray, black, and some white)
Merle (not often seen in show but acceptable)
Double Merle (brings risk of blindness and deafness)
Temperament and Personality
When looking for a good family dog and companion, the Sheltie
is a great option to consider. This particular breed is
exceptionally bright, loyal, affectionate, and loving. The one
thing you need to be aware of is that the Sheltie can be wary of
strangers. Socializing this breed at a young age can help
overcome some of those types of unwanted behaviors. The
Shetland Sheepdog is great with adults but wait until you see
them with children. They are patient, protective, and
extremely gentle even with the smallest of child. This breed
also works well with other animals.
Some people believe that the Shetland Sheepdog barks too much
and while some can be a little on the yappy side, but with
proper training, this trait can be overcome. With most breeds,
you would find either the male or female having a slightly
better edge over the other. However, with the Sheltie, male
and female are equally great dogs. When choosing this breed,
just make sure you have adequate time for training and playing,
as well as room for running around.
Health
Unfortunately, the Shetland Sheepdog is prone to certain health
problems such as Epilepsy, Ophthalmologist, Hypothyroidism, and
various types of skin allergies. As far as the eyes, this
particular breed can inherit two problems. The first is called
Sheltie Eye Syndrome or SES, which affects all three layers of
the eye, resulting in a blind spot to full blindness. For
this, special testing can be performed while a puppy to
determine if the defect exists. The second is called
Progressive Retinal Atrophy or PRA. In this case, the dog
would begin to experience problems with night vision, which
would eventually lead to daytime problems and then blindness.
Dermatomyositis is another health risk associated specific to
the Sheltie. Unfortunately, this problem is often not
diagnosed until after six months or is even misdiagnosed. What
happens is that Dermatomyositis starts as Alopecia on the top of
the head, which means losing hair. Sometimes, the problem can
affect the dog's tail as well. Sadly, while this appears as a
skin problem, it is actually an autonomic nervous system
disease, eventually leading to the animal being humanely
euthanized.
Other possibilities although not as common, include Von
Willebrand Disease, a hereditary defect, and Hypothyroidism, a
condition in which the thyroid is not functioning as it should.
Typically, good grooming, diet, and exercise will go a long way
in keeping the Shetland Sheepdog healthy.
About The Author: Daniel Stevens is the renowned dog trainer
and author of SitStayFetch, a leading dog training guide having
sold over 21,000 copies. See
http://www.kingdomofpets.com/dogobediencetraining/dogbreeds/shetland-sheepdog.php
for more on dog breeds.
