Height: 13-16 inches
Weight: 14-18 lbs.
Life Span: 12-14 yrs.
Breed Group: Herding Dogs
Overview
Shelties are bright, eager to please, and do well in obedience training.
They're affectionate with familiar, quiet children but may try to herd small
children. Shelties should be socialized early to avoid being overly shy
as adults.
Appearance
The sheltie's outercoat is long, straight, and harsh; the undercoat is short,
furry, and dense. Coat color is black, sable (ranging from golden to mahogany),
or blue merle, all with varying amounts of white and/or tan trim.
The hair on the face, feet, and ear tips is smooth. The mane and frill are
abundant and impressive. Hair on the tail is profuse. The ears are small
and three-fourths erect.
Grooming & Exercise Needs
The sheltie needs to be brushed and combed daily or its coat will become
severely matted. Some trimming is required every three months. A few brisk
walks and romps daily will keep the sheltie happy.
Origins
The Shetland sheepdog traces its ancestry to the Border collie. In the 18th
century, the Border collie was crossed with small, intelligent, longhaired
breeds in the Shetland Islands to produce the miniaturized sheltie of today.
Special Alerts
Be sure to purchase a sheltie from a reputable breeder. Many shelties are
not suitable for life in the city because of their sensitivity to noise.
Breed-related health concerns: eye disorders including progressive
retinal atrophy, bleeding disorders, deafness, autoimmune skin diseases
(rare, occasionally fatal disorders causing tissue to destroy itself), hypothyroidism.
Reference: AKC - American Kennel Club |
