Kell Shetland Sheepdogs

There are a wealth of wonderful resources available including breed websites and books. This isn't intended to replicate or replace those - enjoy this quick overview of The Shetland Sheepdog. We welcome comments!

The Shetland Sheepdog

The Shetland Sheepdog, or Sheltie, is a small to medium sized dog of medium build carrying a profuse double coat that is smoother on the face and legs. Charming, intelligent and easily trained, Shelties make wonderful family companions and are happiest when they live with their families or doggy friends. They do not do well in isolation and are not appropriate as lone ‘outside only’ dogs.

Shelties are generally a healthy and long-lived breed with an average life expectancy of 13-16 years.

Shelties come in two basic colors: brown and black. Brown shelties are called ‘Sables’, and can range from a honey golden color to a very dark brown color. Black shelties are called ‘Tricolors’ or, if lacking tan points, ‘Biblacks’.

A third common variant on the outward color occurs when dogs carry a gene diluting the coat color. The result is the appearance of a ‘Merle’. If this dilution is applied to a Tricolor or Biblack, the result is a ‘Blue Merle’ or ‘Biblue’. If this dilution is applied to a Sable, the result is a ‘Sable Merle’.  All Shelties have some amount of white, generally on the face, legs, around the neck and on the tip of the tail.

Temperament

Sheltie temperament can vary widely, but some general statements about correct Sheltie temperament generally hold true. Shelties are intelligent, easily trained, loyal and loving with their family members and have high social drive. 

Over the years we have heard a number of different things when talking to prospective new Sheltie owners regarding what they’ve been told about Sheltie temperament – ranging from extreme hyperactivity to extreme anxiety and nervousness. Neither extreme is correct nor desirable, and we do not breed these extremes of temperament in our Shelties.

Generally speaking they can be more vocal than some breeds of dog, but this is not necessarily true of all Shelties and given their intelligence and desire to please, Shelties can be trained.

More Information:

AKC Breed Standard:

http://www.akc.org/breeds/shetland_sheepdog/

American Shetland Sheepdog Association:

http://www.assa.org/

A Very Brief History

The Shetland Sheepdog is not an ancient breed. At the turn of the last century, visitors to the Shetland Islands noted a small family farm dog that was shepherd-like in general appearance and likely derived from crosses of spitz-like dogs with sheepdogs.  The tourism trade to the Shetland Islands reportedly drove a surge in the production of hairy little dogs that could be sold to visitors.

Dog breeds thought to be used in the early development of the breed included Nordic spitz type dogs, old farm collies, Cavalier King Charles Spaniels or some other small spaniel-type dog, Pomeranians, and the show-type Collie.

In the early 1900s show-type Collies were crossed with these small dogs in attempts to both recover and introduce some Collie and sheepdog type.  The early history of the breed is marked with some controversy as Collie fanciers of the day were not altogether impressed with this little dog being called the Shetland Collie and the English Kennel Club called the relatively new breed the “Shetland Sheepdog’.

To the discerning eye of a conformation/show exhibitor or judge, the modern Sheltie exhibits a wide variety in types and our breed standard can be interpreted in a variety of ways resulting in a wide variety of potentially ‘correct’ Sheltie appearance.

Still, the physical appearance of the Sheltie today is a far cry from the little dog more often thought of as a farm mongrel.  In the century between the breed’s inception and the modern day, Collie crosses and concerted efforts at cementing a breed type resulted in the appearance of the modern Sheltie.

More History:

http://bowlingsite.mcf.com/SheltieHistory.html