Shetland Sheepdog

The Shetland Sheepdog has a pleasant personality and if trained and treated correctly is affectionate and loyal. However, they are highly-strung dogs and their ancestry as an active and agile herding dog should be taken into account before choosing this breed as a pet.

An active dog that likes to play and interact, and will do so all day long if given the opportunity. This dog likes to please its owner and can be a bit of a show off. The dog’s intelligence should be put to use; games should involve a degree of problem solving.

A calm dog it generally is, but the Sheltie scares easily. It does not enjoy surprises, loud noises or sudden movements and can as a result of these things become overly timid and agitated. The dog is commonly thought of as highly strung but this could be better interpreted as ‘nervous’. Adults and young children should bear this in mind when playing with a Sheltie.

The intelligence of a Sheltie is well-documented. They are highly intelligent animals and can be trained relatively easily. However, training needs to be consistent, forthright and include a variety of training measures in order to get the most out of this dog. Shelties do not respond well to harsh commands or being pushed around.

Shetland Sheepdogs are not hunters; they are herding dogs. As such they do not have a high prey drive.

Shelties tend to be reserved and timid around strangers. It takes one of these dogs quite a while to trust people who aren’t already in their ‘circle’. They require gentle encouragement and patience in order to finally make a connection.

Despite being a herding dog, Shelties are not as independent as owners first think. It is soon realised that the breed needs a lot of human contact and to feel part of the clan. They become very unhappy when deprived of the chance to be with people. They follow their owner everywhere the owner goes.

Shetland Sheepdogs do not tolerate solitude. They thrive only with the company of humans. If left alone for long periods of time this dog becomes agitated, barks excessively and chews furniture and carpets. Such behaviour cannot easily be eliminated from such a needy breed. Leaving any dog for a long time on its own is not advisable. Doing so can cause behavioural issues in even the most mild-mannered animal.

Exceptionally easy to train is the Sheltie. Training however must be done right: a confident master who is consistent and varies their style of training is essential. Shetland Sheepdogs get bored easily of routine.

The Sheltie’s bark is perhaps the least desirable characteristic of such an elegant dog. However, it is worthwhile to say that the dog’s barking will probably be a fault of the owner: leaving a Shetland Sheepdog on its own for too long, and not giving the dog adequate training and exercise are all causes of excessive vocalisation.

Consistent training will ensure that on most occasions your Sheltie will respond to your voice and not run away. This dog is keen to please its owner and it will remember that running off is not going to be met with praise. Reinforcing the ‘recall’ command is always worthwhile.