At a first glance, the Shetland Sheepdog (Sheltie) looks like a smaller copy of a rough-coated Collie. Although the two breeds are related, the Sheltie wasnt born from the desire to have a smaller Collie. The original breed was a Spitz type dog, which was crossed with different local breeds from Scotland and, later, with the Rough Collie. The breed was finally recognized officially in the first decade of the 1900s.
This small to medium sized dog has a head resembling a blunt wedge when looking at it from the side, with a muzzle slightly tapered from the ears to the nose. The teeth meet in a traditional scissors bite or, sometimes, in a leveled bite. The dogs have a black nose and small, dark, almond shaped eyes. The small ears are three quarters erect, with the tips slightly folding forward.
The Shetland Sheepdog (Sheltie) has an abundant, double coat, shorter on the legs and the head. Around the neck and the chest, the coat forms a mane. The outer layer is harsh to the touch and straight, while the second layer, the undercoat is shorter and soft to the touch. The coat coloration varies from blue merle, black and sable, with some amounts of tan or sable.
Contrary of what you may expect, the coat is really easy to care for. Regular brushing is important for keeping the dogs coat looking its best. You can slightly mist the coat with water before grooming, and gently take out the mats, if they appear. The dog should be bathed only when it is absolutely necessary.
The Sheltie is an intelligent and loyal dog and always eager to please its owner. It is always alert and docile. They make great guard dogs or watch dogs, becoming very attached to their family and property. With the great intelligence that these dogs show comes greater responsibility to keep that mind busy. They need a lot of attention and are always eager to learn new tricks and play games.
Shelties need an owner who is firm but gentle, as the dog needs to understand that the owner is the pack leader. If the owner fails to become the dogs pack leader, behavioral problems are bound to appear. The dog may become suspicious towards unknown people, especially with children. Shelties will become more aggressive towards strangers, even leading to biting. In this case, the only one to blame is the owner, as all of these problems can easily be avoided if the dog receives all the attention and exercise it needs.
The breed needs a lot of exercise, to satisfy that energetic temperament, including a daily walk or jog. They can adapt to living in an apartment, as they are rather inactive indoors, but be sure you provide the needed amount of exercise.
The Shetland Sheepdog (Sheltie) will quickly become your best friend, as long as you give it just the simple things it needs: love and daily exercise.
