Shetland Sheepdog
Other names: Sheltie

A long-haired and graceful working dog is the Sheltie. Its fur is soft and abundant, and flows elegantly across the entire body. Thicker fur around the neck of the dog gives the impression of a mane. A shapely head and a gently symmetrical body make the breed arguably one of the most pleasing to the human eye.
Key facts about the Shetland Sheepdog
Origins and history
The Icelandic sheepdog is thought to be the ancestor of the Sheltie. This dog was crossed with working collies brought over from the Scottish mainland. By the early 1800s the dog that was to become the Sheltie had migrated south from the subarctic archipelago. It was further bred with rough collies and spaniels. The resulting ‘Sheltie’ quickly became a popular choice of herding dog for farmers all over the UK, and their prowess in the field has stuck ever since.
FCI breed nomenclature
FCI Group
Group 1 - Sheepdogs and Cattledogs (except Swiss Cattledogs)
Section
Section 1 : Sheepdogs
Physical characteristics of the Shetland Sheepdog
Adult size
Female : Between 13 and 15 in
Male : Between 14 and 15 in
Weight
Female : Between 15 and 22 lb
Male : Between 15 and 22 lb
Coat colour
A Shetlie’s coat can be coloured sable, black, blue or merle. Some of the breed will have a brindle coat and others may have up to half of their coat coloured white.
Type of coat
His hair is long.
Thick, double coat consisting of an outer layer of long, weatherproof fur and an undercoat of soft, smooth hair. Smooth hair mostly adorns the dog’s head, ears and feet and an abundance of long, thick hair is found on the mane and the frill of the animal.
Eye colour
The Sheltie’s eyes are usually coloured dark brown, but dogs with a merle coat may have eyes that are wholly blue or flecked with blue.
Description
The width of the skull is in proportion to the length of the muzzle. The Sheltie’s profile is elegant and slender. Its tail is set low and long, and follows the line of the back leg. It has a longish body, and the body is slightly longer than it is tall.
Good to know
Shetland Sheepdogs learn very quickly. You may only have to reinforce a command a handful of times before the dog understands what is being asked of it. Research on the intelligence of the dog concludes that they are one of the top ten brightest dogs. Because they are intelligent they are also sensitive and become very introverted if they are not treated with respect and love.