Shetland Sheepdog Facts

Also commonly known as the “Sheltie”, the Shetland Sheepdog is a lively and affectionate dog that’s reserved with strangers. There’s a lot you’ll want to know about this one-of-a-kind breed. So here are the top Shetland Sheepdog facts.

Scottish Native

The Shetland Sheepdog originated on the Shetland Islands of Scotland. And it was named for its homeland. The Shetland Islands are made up of a total of one hundred individual islands, although most of these are uninhabited. And the Shetland Pony is another famous animal breed from the islands.

Several Eye-Catching Coat Colors  

One of the most distinguishing Sheltie characteristics is its attractive coat. According to the breed standard, the acceptable Shetland Sheepdog colors include sable, tri-color, black and white, and blue merle. Dogs that have a blue merle coat often have stunning blue eyes as well.

Lovable Herder

The Sheltie was developed as a sheep herding dog. Because most farmers lived on small plots of land, the dog’s main job was to keep the sheep from straying off of the property. However, it was also tough enough to be used to herd larger livestock such as cattle as well, along with being a lovable family pet.

A Big Barker

One of the Sheltie facts prospective owners need to know is that this is a breed that does like to bark. While it makes it an excellent watchdog a Sheltie is likely to bark at just about anyone or anything that passes by. Shetland Sheepdog barking can be a potential problem if you have neighbors living close by.

Mini-Collie

For those who are fans of the Rough Collie (the type of dog from Lassie) but prefer small dog breeds, the Sheltie is a natural choice. That’s because it looks just like a miniature Collie. Don’t be fooled however, despite looking so similar they are their own separate breed.

Small Was Functional

This breed is not small by chance it was bred to be that way. The sheep and other livestock on the Shetland Islands are actually all small themselves so there was no need for a large herding dog. Also, a smaller dog cost less to feed and maintain, and on the Islands, money was hard to come by so this was important.

From Collie To Sheepdog

The Sheltie was originally known as the Shetland Collie. However, when the dog was first officially recognized in 1914 it had its name changed to the Shetland Sheepdog. It was also listed in the “miscellaneous class,” along with breeds such as the Cairn Terrier and the Welsh Cocker Spaniel.

Kid Wrangler

Just because you take a Sheltie off of the farm and away from the sheep, doesn’t mean its herding instincts go away. It’s actually quite common for them to herd people and especially kids. They’ll often do this by circling around them and trying to keep them all together.

Long-Lived Pet

Some dog breeds, particularly the larger ones such as the Great Dane and Irish Wolfhound for example are quite short-lived. Fortunately for fans and owners of this breed, the average Shetland Sheepdog lifespan is fourteen years. That’s a long time to get to spend with your pooch!

The Toonie

On the Shetland Islands, the Shetland Sheepdog was nicknamed the “Toonie.” The islands’ dialect has a Norwegian influence because of its history. In Norwegian, “tun,” means “farm,” and the Sheltie was of course a farm dog. It’s also called the “Peerie,” which means “little,” or “fairy,” in the local dialect.

Obedience Standout

The intelligence, trainability, and workhorse attitude of the Sheltie make it an excellent competitor in obedience trials. Because they naturally excel at these types of activities it’s not uncommon to see many of them competing, scoring highly, or winning.

Cat-Like Cleanliness

One of the most interesting Shetland Sheepdog facts is that the breed is known for being cat-like. More specifically it has the habit of always keeping itself clean, which of course owners appreciate. Another breed famous for this is the Shiba Inu, one of the most popular of all Japanese dog breeds.

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