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What Is A Sheltie? ~
You may review the Standard for the Shetland Sheepdog - the "Sheltie" - on AKC's web page for the Shetland Sheepdog
History: Shetland Sheepdogs, or "Shelties," resemble the Rough Collie in miniature, but are a distinctly separate breed evolved from hardy ancestors on the Shetland Islands. Although Shelties are often called "Miniature Collies" or "Toy Collies," the Sheltie is not a Collie at all. In fact, there is no such breed as a "Mini Collie" or "Toy Collie!"
The Sheltie was developed to herd small flocks of sheep tended by residents of the Shetland Islands, and as guard dogs and companions. The breed's attentiveness and willingness to obey, as well as the level of intelligence and willingness to please, were qualities desired by the early developers of the breed, who specifically selected for these traits during the breed's development in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It is these very same qualities which help make the Sheltie the endearing and irresistible breed it is today.
Temperament: The Sheltie is generally bright, intelligent, responsive and devoted. Shelties raised as companions develop a fierce loyalty to their owners, and their natural affinity for children makes them happy, gentle and loving companions, enjoying endless games of Frisbee and ball. Shelties are driven by an intense desire to please their owner which, combined with their very high level of intelligence, makes them excellent obedience, herding and agility competitors. Their sensitive nature warrants a gentle hand, with minimum correction required. They are suspicious of strangers, alert and protective, and will bark to let you know something is strange, or different, or wrong in their world. Shelties can be more vocal than most breeds, but most shelties can be easily taught to curb excessive barking. Unlike many breeds, there is very little difference in temperament between male and female Shelties.
Colors: Shelties come in five distinct color combinations, all of them set off by white markings. The most common color is known as sable and white, with the sable color varying from golden or light-reddish brown to a dark mahogany, and may have a black overlay to varying degrees, sometimes to the extent of appearing to be black-colored. The tri-color is black, with tan points appearing, in varying degrees, on the cheeks, eyebrows, forelegs and hindquarters. The blue merle is blue-gray, silver and black, has a mottled appearance, and includes the tan points similar to those found in the tri-color. The bi-black is black, with no evidence of tan, and the bi-blue is similar to the blue merle, again, with no evidence of the tan points. The white markings that are found on all color combinations may appear on the legs, feet, tail tip, as face blazes, and as a "collar" about the neck, although not necessarily fully circling the neck. All colors should be clear and not diluted or washed out. No color is rare, but the sable and white is the most popular and so more readily recognized. Furthermore, no markings - whether white or tan - in ANY degree designates a "show" sheltie, so the commonly-held myth that a "full white collar" means "show quality" is FALSE! For a look at some of the different color combinations, visit Ailea's Color Page.
Delving into canine color genetics will also bring you colors that are termed "color-headed white" and "double merle". The color-headed white Sheltie is one that is born with over 50% white on its body as a result of excessive white-factoring (those white markings mentioned above!). These Shelties are not rare or different other than in color, and are otherwise perfectly normal. Their basic color (sable, tri, blue, etc.) will show itself mainly on the head and face, with some coloring appearing in the body of the coat, to varying degrees.
The double merle is also a mostly white Sheltie, but is the result of crossing a merle Sheltie to a merle Sheltie, or doubling up on the "merle gene". These specimens, unfortunately, can suffer blindness or deafness or both, to varying degrees. This is a direct result of doubling the merle gene (hence "double merle") and affects the eyes and ears only. The bodies of double merle Shelties are mainly all white, with only a hint of the underlying blue merle coloring appearing. Please accept my apologies, as I do not have a photograph of a double merle Sheltie to upload.
Health: The Sheltie, for all its good points, is a highly popular breed. The AKC currently recognizes over 150 breeds, and the Sheltie is currently ranked number 15 in popularity. As a result, poorly bred Shelties can be found everywhere you go, with problems galore. These can include uncontrollable barking; excessive timidity which can lead to fear biting; excessive hyperactivity, etc. Poorly bred Shelties may also be more likely to develop temperament and behavior problems, and are more likely to have or develop health problems including heart diseases, liver and kidney problems, skin diseases and many more (please see Sheltie Health). The well-bred Sheltie is a generally healthy and long- lived breed, with life expectancies of easily 12 to 15 years or more.
The Sheltie does require a certain amount of grooming to maintain general health as well as health and luster of the coat. Thorough brushing on a weekly basis is a MUST, as is weekly trimming of the long hairs that grow and mat up between the toes and foot pads. Shelties may shed profusely, usually once annually. Time, extent, and frequency of shedding will vary from Sheltie to Sheltie and be dependent on environment and general and overall health of the Sheltie. Shedding may be encouraged by giving more frequent baths and deep brushings during this time. It may take 3-4 weeks for a shed to finish, and more frequent brushing during this time is imperative to avoid clumping and matting against the skin (which can lead to a whole assemblage of problems).
What about all that long hair, you ask? To be honest, Sheltie hair is much easier to keep up after, clean up after, than the short, sticky hairs of short-haired breeds. Where a short-haired breed will shed, leaving its hair stuck into furniture fabric and everything else coming in contact, the long hair of the Sheltie - while no different in its ability to attach to everything - is much easier to clean up, as it can be "rolled" off furniture and fabrics, leaving no residual short hairs to poke you.
The Sheltie adapts well and easily to living in any situation, whether it be an apartment or condo, a house in the city or a farm, your RV or even a house boat, so long as - in any situation - the Sheltie is given adequate, daily physical and mental stimulation.
It
is very easy to see how the Sheltie can be one of the most popular breeds today
- from companion to watch dog to obedience dog to protector to herder (even of
children!), Shelties possess what I call VERSATILITY PLUS!!!
