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Shetland Sheepdog puppies
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buying Shetland Sheepdog puppies?
Height: Males: 37cms (14.5 inches); Females: 36cms (14 inches) Group Lifespan: 12-16 years Tell me about Shetland Sheepdog puppiesA highly intelligent, loyal and affectionate dog, the Shetland Sheepdog ('Sheltie') excels at herding and obedience work. History of the Shetland SheepdogAlthough the Shetland Sheepdog looks very much like a miniature Rough Collie (and is often – wrongly – called a ‘miniature collie’) it is in fact a completely different breed of dog. The original Shetland Sheepdog was probably a Spitz-type dog from Scandinavia that was crossed with local Shetland Island dogs. In the early 20th century, a small Rough Collie was added to the breed, resulting in the colouring we associate today with the Sheltie.
It’s believed several other breeds had also been introduced to the original Spitz-type dog over time, including perhaps Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, Border Collies and Pomeranians. The original Sheltie was used on the Shetland Islands as a herding dog but the more modern style of dog is not used there (having been replaced by the Border Collie). Today the Sheltie is one of the most popular small dog breeds in America. The modern dog retains the strong herding instinct and intelligence of its forebears. Shetland Sheepdog puppies come in a variety of colours: sable, ranging from golden to reddish; tri-colour, made up of black, white and tan; and blue merle. Personality
Good with children?Yes - but children should be introduced to Shetland Sheepdog puppies at a young age as the dogs' small size makes them vulnerable to injury. Shelties become extremely loyal to their families and will adore joining in with games. Exercise needsThe Sheltie is an active dog and needs plenty of exercise, both for physical health and mental health. They love to run and, like many of the herding breeds, will cheerfully round up anything they can find, including other pets, children or unwary adults! Shetland Sheepdog puppies are highly intelligent and should not be expected to stay in a backyard for hours at a time without stimulation. Shelties will excel at obedience, agility, herding competitions and flyball. HealthShelties can live long lives (12–16 years) and are generally a hardy breed – after all, they were originally bred to spend almost all year outside on the Shetland Islands looking after the sheep! However, in common with other Collie-type breeds they can suffer from a number of health problems. Possible health problemsTransitional cell carcinoma (TCC) – a cancer of the bladder Hypothyroidism - insufficient production of thyroid hormones by the thyroid gland Epilepsy Hip dysplasia - a disease that can cause lameness and arthritis in the hips Skin allergies Dermatomyositis – a connective-tissue disease characterized by inflammation of the muscles and the skin. It is often misdiagnosed as mange, since its symptoms include hair loss on the head, forearms and the tip of the tail. It can progress to affecting the autonomic nervous system – if this happens, unfortunately the dog will need to be euthanized (put to sleep). Von Willebrand disease – an inherited bleeding disorder. The Sheltie carries type III of von Willebrands, which is the most severe of the three levels and is usually fatal. Collie eye anomaly (CEA) - an inherited disease causing defects in the formation of the eye. Most affected dogs have only mild vision impairment. Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) - a retinal disease that can affect all breeds of dogs, leading to night blindness and gradual loss of day vision GroomingLike many dogs bred to withstand living outdoors with sheep, Shetland Sheepdog puppies have a double coat. The undercoat protects the dog from extremes of heat and cold, while the beautiful long top coat is water-repellent. Despite its long coat, the Sheltie usually needs only one good brush a week to remove matting, knots and dead hair. Shelties usually shed twice a year (spring and autumn) and may need extra brushing during that time to remove the loose hair. More information for new puppy owners:Want to know more about buying, raising and caring for a puppy? Check out these PuppyPrimer.com pages: Ideal ownerThe ideal Shetland Sheepdog owner will give their dog plenty of exercise and mental stimulation. Ideally, Shelties should be involved in activities such as obedience work, agility competition and flyball. They should never be left alone in the backyard for hours at a time, as they can become problem barkers. Shetland Sheepdog puppies are affectionate, family-loving dogs and will repay their owner’s attention with lifelong loyalty. Return to the top of Shetland Sheepdog puppies Go back to Puppy Breeds |
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