Shetland Sheepdog
Breed Profile
Unlike many miniature breeds that bear a resemblance to their larger counterparts, this breed was not created just by selectively breeding the Rough Collie for smaller and smaller size. The original Sheepdog of Shetland was a Spitz-type dog, believed to be similar to the modern Icelandic Sheepdog.
Temperament
The Sheltie is utterly faithful, tender, and sensitive. There’s a wide range of personalities in the breed, from exuberant and boisterous to tranquil and sedate to shy or retiring. Shelties have a high IQ. According to Dr Stanley Coren, an expert on animal intelligence, the Shetland sheepdog is one of the most intelligent dogs.
Color & Coat
Coat: Shelties don a double coat. The topcoat consists of long, straight, water-repellent hair, which provides protection from cold and the elements. The undercoat is short, furry and very dense and helps to keep the dog warm.
Color: The Sheltie colors come in three broad strokes: sable, black, and blue merle. Within these categories, Shetland Sheepdog colors offer varying amounts of tan, mahogany, black, gray and white, to make a variety of beautiful combinations – officially known as sable, tri color, bi black, blue merle and bi blue.
Health
Most Shelties are athletic and healthy. Similar to the Rough Collie, they tend to inherit a malformation and disease of the eyes. Some lines may be susceptible to hypothyroidism, epilepsy, hip dysplasia, or skin allergies. Shetland Sheepdogs have four times the risk of other dogs of developing transitional cell carcinoma, a cancer of the bladder.