Shetland Sheepdog: The Ultimate Owner's Guide

If you want a dog that's smart enough to outwit you and loyal enough to follow you from room to room all day long, the Shetland Sheepdog may be your match. A little herding dog bred to work the rocky hillsides of Scotland's Shetland Islands, it packs Border Collie-level intelligence into a 15 to 25-pound frame. What it's really like to live with a Sheltie.

The Shetland Sheepdog, often referred to as the Sheltie, is a small herding breed that looks like a miniature Rough Collie—although the two evolved separately and were not bred as smaller versions of one another. The Shetland Sheepdog is descended from the small Scottish herding dogs of the Spitz type, which were brought to the remote Shetland Islands. Later they were refined by crossing with Collie bloodlines, creating the elegant, longhaired dog that we see today. Shelties were originally used to herd sheep, ponies, and even poultry across the islands' harsh, windswept terrain.

Shelties remain one of the more popular breeds in the country and were officially recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1911. They are valued as much for companionship as they are for obedience and agility competition.

Shelties are small but strong, standing 13 to 16 inches at the shoulder and weighing 15 to 25 pounds. Females tend to be on the low end of that range, males on the high end.

Their trademark is a thick double coat: a long, straight outer coat over a soft, thick undercoat. There is a full mane and frill around the neck and feathering on the legs and tail. Coat colors are sable, black, and blue merle, always marked with white, tan, or both. Merle Shelties may have one or both eyes that are blue instead of the breed's normal dark brown.

Shelties are known to be very loyal to their families. They develop close social bonds with their people, often choosing one person to follow around all day. But this loyalty has a flip side. Many Shelties are reserved or wary of strangers and make great watchdogs simply because they will bark to announce anyone coming to the house.

This is not the breed for someone who is expecting a dog that will ignore the doorbell. Barking is a real issue. Shelties were bred to make noise to herd, and that instinct shows up at home, too. It can be controlled with consistent training from puppyhood but rarely disappears completely.

Shelties are wary of strangers but gentle, playful, and affectionate with their family, including children. They get along well with other dogs and cats, especially if raised together, but their herding instincts can surface in the form of nipping at heels or chasing anything that moves quickly—including kids running around the yard.

That is where Shelties really shine. In working intelligence, Shelties ranked 6th out of 138 breeds, according to canine researcher Stanley Coren. The average Sheltie can learn a new command in less than five repetitions and obey a known command on the first try more than 95 percent of the time.

They are also smart, which makes them relatively easy to train but does require mental stimulation. A bored Sheltie will find its own entertainment. That usually involves barking, chewing, or herding the family cat with more enthusiasm than the cat appreciates. Obedience classes, agility, and herding trials aren't just for show-quality dogs; they're a really good outlet for a breed that was built to work.

They need daily exercise but they are flexible. Most Shelties will do fine with a brisk 30- to 45-minute walk and some active play. They are moderate in size and will adapt to apartment life better than many herding breeds—as long as their minds are kept busy as well.

A popular breed, for good reason, with agility, flyball, and herding instinct tests. Shelties are fast and athletic and really enjoy having a job, even a make-believe one like weaving through agility poles.

The Sheltie's coat appears to be high-maintenance, and to an extent it is, but it's more about frequency than difficulty. Expect to brush two to three times a week to avoid mats, especially behind the ears, under the front legs, and around the britches (feathering on the hind legs). Brushing daily will help control the amount of undercoat that comes off during seasonal shedding, or "blowing coat."

Shelties are moderate to heavy shedders year-round, with two heavier shedding seasons in spring and autumn. This is not a breed for a household that can't handle dog hair on the furniture. Regular nail trims and ear checks, along with bathing every 6 to 8 weeks, complete the routine.

Shelties are usually a healthy breed living an average of 12 to 14 years. However, like most purebreds, they are susceptible to a few hereditary conditions. When you buy a puppy, ask to see health clearance documentation (responsible breeders screen for these before breeding).

• Collie Eye Anomaly (CEA) — An inherited eye condition that can range from mild to vision-impairing; carriers can be detected through DNA testing.
• Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) — A slow progressive degeneration of the retina that can lead to blindness.
• Hip Dysplasia — Not as common as with larger breeds but screened with hip scoring.
• MDR1 Gene Mutation — A genetic sensitivity to certain drugs, including some common anti-parasitic and anesthesia medications—worth flagging to your vet before any procedure.
• Dermatomyositis — An autoimmune disease of the skin and muscle, more common in Shelties and Collies than in most other breeds.
• Congenital Deafness — More common in merle-to-merle breeding, which is why reputable breeders don't breed merle to merle.

Ask a breeder directly about a DNA panel and BAER hearing test (for merles).

The Sheltie is the dog for owners who want an active, trainable companion and don't mind a dog that talks back—literally, in barks. They do well with families, singles, and seniors that can commit to daily exercise and mental stimulation. These dogs aren't for households that need a low-shedding dog or for those who can't tolerate frequent barking from a naturally vocal breed.

If you come from a farm or acreage background, you'll probably recognize the instincts immediately—herding dogs like the Sheltie are bred for exactly the sort of purposeful, all-day work that now manifests itself as restlessness if not channelled into structured activity.