Basic Information :

• Life expectancy: 12 - 13 years
• Origin: Scotland
• Temperament: Affectionate, Lively, Reserved, Intelligent, Responsive, Loyal, Alert, Playful, Active, Trainable, Gentle, Strong
• Height: Male: 33-41 cm, Female: 33-41 cm
• Colors: Merle, Tri-color, Blue Merle, Black & White, Sable & White, Sable, Black & Tan
• Weight: Male: 6.4-12 kg, Female: 6.4-12 kg

Overview :

• The Sheltie is an active, fun-loving dog who's a little too big to be small but small enough to be cute. His gentle disposition, athleticism, and keen intelligence make him a dog who lives to please and loves to show off. Trick-training is a breeze with this breed.

• Although his barking may make him difficult to tolerate in noisy city environs, he's well-suited to a suburban lifestyle and (overall health permitting) is a wonderful walking, running, or hiking companion who can go for miles. Expect attention when out with a Sheltie; his cuteness always attracts a crowd and admiring comments.

• Along with the Border Collie, this diminutive speed demon is tops at the canine sport of agility. Less competitively, he loves to learn tricks that require a degree of agility, such as jumping over a bar or through a hoop. Retrieving games are not in the breed's contract, but some Shelties become tennis ball freaks and will fetch them for hours. Dont toss the ball into the water, however: Most Shelties seem to think they are made of sugar.

Personality :

• Intensely loyal and affectionate with his family, the Sheltie has the typical herding breed reserve and even suspicion toward strangers. The Sheltie loves his people and he's very good with his kids but he's not all that fond of strangers. Shetland Sheepdog fanciers call him aloof and suggest the trait was intentional, to keep the small farm dogs from being stolen. Coupled with yapping, this trait can be very annoying to live with. So can the Sheltie spin, in which the dog will get revved up typically at the sight of another dog and bark furiously at the end of his leash while spinning like a top.

• His vocal warnings at the sight of strangers or, really, anything unusual, can go into overdrive. Unless someone is there to keep his barking under control, he can be entirely unsuitable as an apartment dweller, despite his small size.

• The Sheltie's reserved nature can slide into shyness, timidity, or nervousness, all of which are inappropriate for the breed. He should not be stubborn, snappy, or ill-tempered. To have a Sheltie as he's meant to be, it is essential to make sure he gets plenty of socialization, coupled with firm, consistent training with respect to his barking.

• Like many a herding breed, the Sheltie has a tendency to nip at moving objects, which can mean children. Correct this every time you see it; a Sheltie should never get the idea that his nipping behavior is acceptable. On the plus side, Shelties generally get along with other dogs, typically seem to enjoy cats, and are fine with other household pets.

• Shelties learn best with treats and praise, so teaching them good behaviors to substitute for the bad ones is the way to go. Fortunately, Shelties are really, really smart. That gives you a head start in training them.

Health :

• All dogs have the potential to develop genetic health problems, just as all people have the potential to inherit a particular disease. Run, don't walk, from any breeder who does not offer a health guarantee on puppies, who tells you that the breed is 100 percent healthy and has no known problems, or who tells you that her puppies are isolated from the main part of the household for health reasons. A reputable breeder will be honest and open about health problems in the breed and the incidence with which they occur in her lines.

• Other issues with the breed include congenital deafness, hip dysplasia, congenital elbow luxation, hypothyroidism, and patent ductus arteriosus (a congenital heart defect). Shelties can also be affected by von Willebrand's disease, a blood clotting disorder that can leave them at risk of bleeding to death from a minor injury or during surgery, and Shelties can also have a genetic mutation (involving the MDR1 allele) that makes them sensitive to a number of common veterinary drugs.

• Shelties can also be affected by a number of health conditions for which there are no screening tests. These include skin allergies, epilepsy, and a breed-specific skin disease called Dermatomyositis (DM) or Sheltie Skin Syndrome. DM usually strikes dogs around 4 to 6 months old, with hair loss on the head, face, front legs, and tail.

Grooming :

• Regular and thorough brushing and combing is a must for this double-coat breed because the undercoat can mat into a layer of uncomfortable felt while the long outer coat still looks normal. Ask your Sheltie's breeder to show you how to brush him so you get all the way down to the skin.

• Professional grooming at six-week intervals will prevent the worst shedding and matting, and make it possible to keep up the grooming in the interim. Shelties shed a lot, typically more in spring and fall. Your new best friends will be an undercoat rake, a pin brush, and a slicker brush.

• Shelties are good at keeping themselves clean, especially if you do your part by brushing regularly. Give your Sheltie a bath once every month or two. He shouldn't need one more often than that.

• The rest is basic care. Trim his nails as needed, usually every week or two. Brush the teeth with a vet-approved pet toothpaste for good overall health and fresh breath.