The History of the Shetland Sheepdog, Fun Facts, Health information, and more!
Discover the fun and love of the SHETLAND SHEEPDOG below!
The small, active Shetland Sheepdog (nicknamed the Sheltie) was once a Scottish farmer's best friend: sounding the alarm when anyone approached the property, barking at birds and other animals to shoo them from the garden, and later, with crosses to Scottish herding dogs, keeping the sheep flocks in line. While at first glance they look like a smaller version of the Rough Collie, the two are distinctly different breeds.
Shelties are loving companions for all members of the family, including the kids, but they can be reserved or even shy around strangers. Because of their protective nature, they're quick to bark if they sense that anything's amiss in their territory. Training is essential to keep this trait from becoming a nuisance. On the upside, they make excellent watchdogs. You just have to teach them some discrimination.
According to Dr. Stanley Coren, an animal intelligence expert, that's more than pride of ownership talking. In his studies of the intelligence of 132 different dog breeds, Shelties ranked sixth in intelligence by being able to understand a new command after being told it fewer than five times on average, and obeying commands the first time they were given at least 95% of the time.
Because of their intelligence, willingness to please, and athletic ability, Shelties excel at performance events. In their size group, Shelties typically dominate the field in agility. They're also exceptionally good in competitive obedience, flyball, tracking, and herding.
In fact, Shelties have a reputation for being a little too smart for their own good. This is a breed that needs a job. Without plenty of mental stimulation, Shelties quickly become bored and will invent their own entertainment, which may or may not be to their people's liking.
Shelties retain a strong herding instinct. You'll find that your Sheltie will enthusiastically chase and try to "herd" squirrels, rabbits, and children, running around them, barking, and nipping. Shelty owners should discourage this habit, especially with children, because it can lead to biting. Never let your Sheltie herd unless it's in a herding class with appropriate subjects such as ducks or sheep.
Shelties are relatively inactive indoors and can handle apartment living if they're walked daily and aren't recreational barkers. Otherwise, they need a fenced yard where they can play safely and be prevented from seeking out animals, people, or cars to "herd."
Shelties have a long, dense, furry coat and shed heavily. Lots of people don't realize just how much loose fur they're letting themselves in for, and many Shelties are given up to rescue groups every year because they shed. Be sure that you and your vacuum cleaner can handle that much hair.
Shelties can be a good choice for a working person as they'll stay home alone contentedly, provided they get their fair share of attention when their people are home. They thrive in an environment where they're given companionship, playtime, training, and quiet patting. Your love they'll return tenfold.
Photo: Zesta, photographed in 1913, "bred and sold by Mr. Loggie of the Islands,...was considered by all to be the best specimen seen up to that time..." (Catherine Coleman Moore, The Shetland Sheepdog, 1943). At that time the ideal size was 12 inches.
The history of the Sheltie is relatively recent and its earliest history is rather undistinguished. The Shetland Islands are remote and sparsely inhabited, although there is evidence of a long history as a stepping stone from Norway in ancient times. The general nature of the Shetland Islands, the windblown climate and somewhat sparse vegetation, have contributed to the miniaturization of livestock there in general. Because of the isolation of the Islands and the difficulty of making a living, animals there had to be very hardy.
The early native dogs were a very mixed lot but were generally very small, often 8-10 inches in height. It has been said that the ancestors of the dogs were Spitz type dogs brought from Scandinavia by early settlers, along with the large white Pomeranian, King Charles Spaniel, and smaller working sheepdogs from Scotland. The native dogs were rather inbred as no one kept more dogs than were needed for work.
The dogs were used to work Shetland Sheep, a small, extremely agile, almost goat-like breed. These original Island dogs were bred solely for utility. Because there are no fences on Shetland, the dogs did not do traditional sheep herding. They were used to drive sheep into rough stone enclosures so they could be dipped or "rooed," as pulling the wool off them was called. They were also used to drive the rather wild sheep away from the crofter's meager gardens. Another task was staying with the sheep on the more remote uninhabited islands in the summer. There they needed to be able to protect lambs from birds of prey like eagles, and traverse the seaweed covered rocks. The dog used its vocal abilities to bark at birds and scare them away. Barking was also a way to move sheep away from the croft and to locate the dog.
In the early 1900's, boats visiting from England brought additional influences and English tourists willing to take on small dogs as pets. An enterprising Shetlander, one James Loggie, decided that the native "breed" might be cultivated to be sold to summer visitors. The black faced sheep are called collies or colleys and so dogs that worked them were called collie dogs. It was proposed that the native dogs be termed Shetland Collies and a club was formed in 1908 to promote them. A Mr. C.F. Thompson pioneered the breed in Scotland were a breed club was formed in 1909. When the English Club was established in 1914, Collie breeders looked at the rather nondescript little dogs and fought any reference to Collies, so the breed's name was changed to the Shetland Sheepdog.
The most dramatic advancement for the breed occurred when English breeders decided to try to make the Sheltie a miniature collie by crossing full sized Collies with the small native dogs. Many of these crosses were declared ones, with a remarkable improvement in type. However, when dogs were sent to America in the 20's and 30's, the AKC refused to register many early top English imports because of the Collie crosses. Catherine Colement (Sheltieland Kennels), then secretary of the American Shetland Sheepdog Club, went to England and convinced the Kennel Club to remove notation of the Collie crosses so the breed could be established in America. Because a great many early dogs went to America had the Collie crosses close up, stabilization of the breed type and size was an enormous problem. Mary Van Wagenen (Sea Isle Kennels), breed historian, calculated that American Shelties have approximately 50% Collie blood.
Because of a virtual cessation of imports during and after World War II, the Sheltie in England and America are rather different today. The English have proceeded with an ideal size of 14 1/2 inches for dogs and 14 inches for bitches, while the American standard calls for dogs and bitches to be between 13-16 inches. When the American standard was revised in 1952, old time breeders fought for an ideal size and a disqualification for predominantly white. The AKC essentially told the club to pick either size or color for the disqualification, with the result that the club members voted for size disqualification (under 13 inches or over 16 inches) as "gentlemen's agreements" that dogs over 16" would not be shown had been widely ignored. It was hoped that breeders would aim for the middle ground. Because of AKC's limiting the club to one new disqualification (brindle color being a disqualification already), the present wording regarding white was adopted.
That decision made in 1952 has caused the Sheltie in America to be generally larger that those in England, and the amount of white seen on American dogs exceeds anything seen in England, even though the current standard language regarding predominantly white describes a fault tantamount to disqualification.
This brief history was written for ASSA Judges Education by Charlotte McGowan, author of The Shetland Sheepdog in America.
The history of the Sheltie is relatively recent and its earliest history is rather undistinguished. The Shetland Islands are remote and sparsely inhabited, although there is evidence of a long history as a stepping stone from Norway in ancient times. The general nature of the Shetland Islands, the windblown climate and somewhat sparse vegetation, have contributed to the miniaturization of livestock there in general. Because of the isolation of the Islands and the difficulty of making a living, animals there had to be very hardy.
The early native dogs were a very mixed lot but were generally very small, often 8-10 inches in height. It has been said that the ancestors of the dogs were Spitz type dogs brought from Scandinavia by early settlers, along with the large white Pomeranian, King Charles Spaniel, and smaller working sheepdogs from Scotland. The native dogs were rather inbred as no one kept more dogs than were needed for work.
The dogs were used to work Shetland Sheep, a small, extremely agile, almost goat-like breed. These original Island dogs were bred solely for utility. Because there are no fences on Shetland, the dogs did not do traditional sheep herding. They were used to drive sheep into rough stone enclosures so they could be dipped or "rooed," as pulling the wool off them was called. They were also used to drive the rather wild sheep away from the crofter's meager gardens. Another task was staying with the sheep on the more remote uninhabited islands in the summer. There they needed to be able to protect lambs from birds of prey like eagles, and traverse the seaweed covered rocks. The dog used its vocal abilities to bark at birds and scare them away. Barking was also a way to move sheep away from the croft and to locate the dog.
In the early 1900's, boats visiting from England brought additional influences and English tourists willing to take on small dogs as pets. An enterprising Shetlander, one James Loggie, decided that the native "breed" might be cultivated to be sold to summer visitors. The black faced sheep are called collies or colleys and so dogs that worked them were called collie dogs. It was proposed that the native dogs be termed Shetland Collies and a club was formed in 1908 to promote them. A Mr. C.F. Thompson pioneered the breed in Scotland were a breed club was formed in 1909. When the English Club was established in 1914, Collie breeders looked at the rather nondescript little dogs and fought any reference to Collies, so the breed's name was changed to the Shetland Sheepdog.
The most dramatic advancement for the breed occurred when English breeders decided to try to make the Sheltie a miniature collie by crossing full sized Collies with the small native dogs. Many of these crosses were declared ones, with a remarkable improvement in type. However, when dogs were sent to America in the 20's and 30's, the AKC refused to register many early top English imports because of the Collie crosses. Catherine Colement (Sheltieland Kennels), then secretary of the American Shetland Sheepdog Club, went to England and convinced the Kennel Club to remove notation of the Collie crosses so the breed could be established in America. Because a great many early dogs went to America had the Collie crosses close up, stabilization of the breed type and size was an enormous problem. Mary Van Wagenen (Sea Isle Kennels), breed historian, calculated that American Shelties have approximately 50% Collie blood.
Because of a virtual cessation of imports during and after World War II, the Sheltie in England and America are rather different today. The English have proceeded with an ideal size of 14 1/2 inches for dogs and 14 inches for bitches, while the American standard calls for dogs and bitches to be between 13-16 inches. When the American standard was revised in 1952, old time breeders fought for an ideal size and a disqualification for predominantly white. The AKC essentially told the club to pick either size or color for the disqualification, with the result that the club members voted for size disqualification (under 13 inches or over 16 inches) as "gentlemen's agreements" that dogs over 16" would not be shown had been widely ignored. It was hoped that breeders would aim for the middle ground. Because of AKC's limiting the club to one new disqualification (brindle color being a disqualification already), the present wording regarding white was adopted.
That decision made in 1952 has caused the Sheltie in America to be generally larger that those in England, and the amount of white seen on American dogs exceeds anything seen in England, even though the current standard language regarding predominantly white describes a fault tantamount to disqualification.
This brief history was written for ASSA Judges Education by Charlotte McGowan, author of The Shetland Sheepdog in America.
Common Genetic Health Testing for the Shetland Sheepdog and what they stand for:
Von Willebrand’s Disease (VWD, Pseudohemophillia, Vascular hemophillia)
VWD is a clotting disorder that can result in uncontrolled bleeding, depending on the type of VWD. It is a very serious disorder with no treatment or cure. DNA tests are available to detect carrier, clear, and affected dogs.
Degenerative Myelopathy (DM)
DM is a progressive disease of the spinal cord in older dogs. The disease has an insidious onset typically between 8 and 14 years of age. It begins with a loss of coordination (ataxia) in the hind limbs. The weakness gets progressively worse until the dog is unable to walk. The clinical course can range from 6 months to 1 year before the dog becomes paraplegic. If signs progress for a longer period of time, loss of urinary and fecal continence may occur. DM is not painful.
Collie Eye Anomally (CEA, Choroidal hypoplasia, CH)
CEA is a recessively inherited disorder that causes abnormal development of the choroid - an important layer of the tissue under the retina of the eye. Since the choroid layer does not develop normally from the start, the primary abnormality can be diagnosed at a very young age. There is no treatment for CEA.
Multi-Drug Resistance (MDR1, Ivertmectin sensitivity)
Multi-Drug Resistance is found in a number of herding breeds, and results in a sensitivity to certain medications. It is found as the result of having the MDR1 gene – better known as the multi-drug resistance gene mutation. Veterinarians are well aware of the possible presence of this gene in herding breeds, and appropriate precautions and alternatives are provided. DNA testing for normal and affected dogs is available.
VWD is a clotting disorder that can result in uncontrolled bleeding, depending on the type of VWD. It is a very serious disorder with no treatment or cure. DNA tests are available to detect carrier, clear, and affected dogs.
Degenerative Myelopathy (DM)
DM is a progressive disease of the spinal cord in older dogs. The disease has an insidious onset typically between 8 and 14 years of age. It begins with a loss of coordination (ataxia) in the hind limbs. The weakness gets progressively worse until the dog is unable to walk. The clinical course can range from 6 months to 1 year before the dog becomes paraplegic. If signs progress for a longer period of time, loss of urinary and fecal continence may occur. DM is not painful.
Collie Eye Anomally (CEA, Choroidal hypoplasia, CH)
CEA is a recessively inherited disorder that causes abnormal development of the choroid - an important layer of the tissue under the retina of the eye. Since the choroid layer does not develop normally from the start, the primary abnormality can be diagnosed at a very young age. There is no treatment for CEA.
Multi-Drug Resistance (MDR1, Ivertmectin sensitivity)
Multi-Drug Resistance is found in a number of herding breeds, and results in a sensitivity to certain medications. It is found as the result of having the MDR1 gene – better known as the multi-drug resistance gene mutation. Veterinarians are well aware of the possible presence of this gene in herding breeds, and appropriate precautions and alternatives are provided. DNA testing for normal and affected dogs is available.
DID YOU KNOW?!
Shelties are a breed that vary more than most others in size. In fact, it can be very difficult to predict how large a sheltie puppy will grow, even if you've seen both its sire and its dam. On average they range in weight from 15-25 pounds and stand 13-16 inches in height. (Our dogs are SMALLER than the "standard")
Shelties do not become fully mature until they are 3-5 years of age, which means that their coats also don't reach their full beauty and potential until this age.
Shelties do not become fully mature until they are 3-5 years of age, which means that their coats also don't reach their full beauty and potential until this age.
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Shelties should never be brushed dry. The texture of their coat is prone to tearing and breaking if dry brushed. They should always be misted with water before brushing. |
The Sheltie is ranked as the sixth most intelligent breed of dog by the American Kennel Club. |