The Shetland Sheepdog is an ideal dog breed with an amazing character. Sheltie: description of the breed, ideal friend and faithful companion from A to Z Sheltie features of the breed
(Shetland Sheepdog) is a herding dog native to the Shetland Islands. Despite the great resemblance to the Longhaired Collie, it does not come from her, but from the Border Collie (as a result of crossing with other herding breeds). It was only at the beginning of the twentieth century that the breed began to be mixed with the longhaired collie.
Photo of Sheltie in flowers
Sheltie Origin History
Thanks to short stature and compact size, the Sheltie was required to manage small flocks of small breed sheep. At the end of the nineteenth century, sheep breeding farms began to increase and the small shepherd dog was no longer suitable for such a volume of work.
Shepherds increasingly used large and strong shepherd dogs, such actions led to the fact that the breed was almost on the verge of extinction. The situation was improved by Sheltie lovers who perceived the dog only as a pet.
In 1909, the Scotland Club was created in Scotland, and over time, the Shetland Sheepdog began to gain international recognition. In 1914, the English Sheltie Club was created. His first standard stated that the dog should have the appearance of a miniature collie. It was already established at that time official name. In 1948, the Kennel Club made the final adjustment to the breed standard, which was accepted by all English breeders. Since 1987, a unified breed standard has been in force.
Description of the Sheltie breed and the FCI standard
- Country of origin: Great Britain.
- FCI classification: Group 1. Herding and herding dogs (with the exception of Swiss Mountain Dogs). Section 1. Shepherd dogs. No operational tests.
- Important proportions:
- The skull and muzzle are of equal length, the middle is at the level of the inner corner of the eye.
- The length of the body from the shoulder-scapular joint to the ischial tuberosity is slightly greater than the height at the withers.
- General form: Sheltie is a medium-sized working dog with long hair, beautiful, harmonious, without signs of clumsiness or rudeness, flexible and graceful. A luxurious neck with a rich mane and collar, a chiseled head with expressive tender eyes completes the perfect appearance of the Sheltie.
- Behavior/Temperament: Sheltie is an attentive, affectionate, intelligent, self-confident breed. Intelligent, loyal and reasonable towards the owner, reserved towards strangers, never nervous.
- Head: Elegant, when viewed from above or from the side it looks like an elongated, blunted wedge, tapering from the ears to the nose. The width and depth of the Sheltie's skull is proportional to the length of the skull and muzzle. In general, the head corresponds to the size of the dog.
- Skull: flat, moderately wide between the ears, without a prominent occipital protuberance. The top line of the skull is parallel to the top line of the muzzle.
- Stop (transition from forehead to muzzle): mild but noticeable.
- Muzzle: The characteristic expression of the Sheltie's muzzle is achieved through the ideal relationship of the skull and forehead, shape, color, location of the eyes and correct placement of the ears.
- Nose: nose black.
- Lips: black, tightly fitting.
- Cheekbones: Flat, blending smoothly into a rounded muzzle.
- Sheltie Jaws/Teeth: jaws are smooth, strong, with well developed lower jaw. Teeth are healthy, with correct, evenly spaced scissor bite, the upper incisors overlap the lower ones without gap, the teeth stand vertically in the jaws. A complete dental formula of 42 correctly positioned teeth is desirable.
- Eyes: medium size, obliquely set, almond-shaped, with black eyelids. Dark brown in color, except for blue merle shelties, which have one or both eyes blue or blue spotted.
- Ears: small, moderately wide at the base, set high and fairly close. When at rest they are laid back, when alert they rise and are held semi-erect with the tips bent forward.
- Neck: Muscular, beautifully arched, of sufficient length, which gives the Sheltie a proud appearance.
- Back: straight, with a smoothly rounded loin.
- Croup: Smoothly sloping.
- Chest: deep, reaching to the elbows. The ribs are well sprung, tapering at the lower half to allow free movement of the front legs and shoulders.
- The Sheltie's tail is set low. The vertebrae thinning towards the end of the tail reach the hock joints. The tail is covered with lush hair and curves slightly upward. When moving, it can rise slightly, but not above the line of the back. No creases.
- Forelegs Shelties, when viewed from the front, are straight, muscular, proportionately formed, with strong but not heavy bones.
- Shoulder blades: Well sloping back. At the withers, they are separated only by the vertebrae, but towards the elbows they widen slightly to give room for well-rounded ribs. Good humeroscapular angle.
- Shoulders and shoulder blades are approximately equal in length.
- Elbows: The distance from the ground to the elbows is equal to the distance from the elbows to the withers.
- Pasterns: strong, elastic.
- Hind limbs: strong, muscular.
- Hips: wide, located at right angles to the pelvis.
- Knees: Well angled.
- Hocks: Well formed, well angulated, low, with strong bone. When viewed from behind, they are straight.
- Paws: oval, elastic pads; fingers arched, closely closed.
- Gait/Movement The Sheltie breed is flexible, free, graceful, with a push from the hind legs that allows it to cover a long distance with the slightest effort. Ambling, crossing paws, swaying during movement or stilting are highly undesirable.
- Sheltie coat: double wool. The guard hair is long, hard, and straight. The undercoat is soft, short, dense.
- The frill and collar are very fluffy.
- Forelegs with good feathering.
- The hind legs above the hocks are heavily haired, below the hocks the hair is quite short and smooth.
- The front part is covered with short hair.
- Sheltie Height/Weight:
- Height at withers: Males 37 cm; Females 35.5 cm. Any deviation in height, more than 2.5 cm above and below specified in highest degree undesirable.
- Weight: Males 5 - 10.9 kg; Females 5 - 10.9 kg
- Disadvantages/Defects: any deviation from the above is considered a deficiency/defect, and is assessed according to the severity of this deviation and the degree of its impact on the health and well-being of the dog.
- Disqualifying faults:
- Aggression or cowardice.
- Any dog clearly showing physical or behavioral abnormalities must be disqualified.
Shetland Sheepdog photo close-up
In the photo the Sheltie looks in love
The coat should outline the body well, and not dominate or distort the contours of the body. Short-haired individuals are extremely undesirable.
Note: Males must have two apparently normal testes fully descended into the scrotum.
Sheltie color
White markings (with the exception of black and tan dogs) are acceptable in the form of a blaze, a white collar, a white frill on the chest, on the legs and on the tip of the tail. The presence of all or some of the white markings should be preferred (with the exception of black and tan dogs). But the absence of these marks should not be penalized. White spots on the body are highly undesirable.
Is Sheltie a breed that boasts a wonderful temperament and self-esteem? has charm and nobility. An absolutely independent, loving and intelligent creature.
The peculiarity of the Sheltie is its delicacy; it will never impose itself if the owner is busy, but at the same time, at any moment, it will gladly join in the game with him. The dog is very attached to its owner, but will not tolerate rude treatment towards itself.
Sheltie can easily be considered one of the easiest to train, because after all, she is a shepherd dog, albeit a small one. She will look carefully into the owner's eyes and joyfully wait for commands from him.
How more people contacts her, the better she will carry out orders. Sheltie, like any shepherd, has one owner. That is why she will try to choose one for herself, from family members, and the first thing she will do is follow his commands.
Photo of a Shetland Sheepdog for training
They are loyal and friendly, easily making contact with other four-legged animals. At the same time, this is absolutely not a cowardly dog. Even as a puppy, she will demonstrate courage and bravery.
It is worth noting that the Sheltie is an excellent guard and an outsider will not go unnoticed. If danger is suspected, she will immediately perk up, prick up her ears and begin to growl and bark, warning her owner of the danger.
Shelties are often bred for children and this is an excellent choice. She will be a great friend and a child's favorite. She is active, compact, friendly and very attentive, always ready to play. She is a wonderful companion, an active and cheerful dog that needs physical and mental exercise.
Since Shelties are direct descendants of herding dogs, they tend to gather people and dogs into groups to play. This is why the breed needs a lot of space. outdoors where you can run freely. Tolerates frost and heat well.
Sheltie needs good care, the main beauty lies in the luxurious wool. The coat needs regular combing and cleaning with special brushes. The main thing is not to let the undercoat roll into lumps, but at the same time not to overdo it with combing. Subject to proper care, there will be practically no hair from it in the house - the dense and shortened thick undercoat tightly holds itself and long hair.
To care for Sheltie fur, you need the following tools:
- combs with sparse and fine teeth
- massage brush with metal teeth located on a rubber pad
- natural bristle brush
How to bathe a Sheltie correctly
For bathing and grooming you need to have:
- air conditioner
- shampoo or baby powder
- scissors.
Conduct water procedures This breed needs grooming as little as possible - often during shedding, in preparation for a show, or when it gets dirty. Before you give your Sheltie a full bath, you need to thoroughly brush his coat. Using a metal brush, the pet is combed from head to tail, after which the procedure is repeated, but with a wire brush. Only after all excess hair has been removed can you begin water procedures.
All wool is thoroughly moistened with water, shampoo is applied evenly over the entire body, after which the wool is thoroughly rinsed to remove dirt and shampoo residues. The wool is wiped with a towel and dried with a hairdryer. With long hair, it is not recommended to wear chain collars, as this will lead to the hair matting. The best option there will be a leather collar.
Check your ears regularly, remove any visible dirt with a damp cloth.
Nails should be trimmed with a nail clipper 2 times a month, and sharp edges should be smoothed with a nail file.
Sheltie eyes, if they become sour, rinse with a weak brew of tea; in case of redness, tearing or severe souring of the eyes, be sure to contact a veterinarian.
Photo of sheltie puppy and adult dog
Little puppy Sheltie needs 3-4 meals a day. It is recommended that the first (morning) feeding be made with dairy products (cottage cheese, thick semolina or dairy products), but the last (evening) feeding should be based on porridge, meat and vegetables with vegetable oil.
The meat should be lean, boneless - it can be chicken, beef or high-quality offal - boiled kidneys, lungs, beef trim or liver.
It is better to make mixed porridge - buckwheat, oatmeal and rice. All vegetables that the dog likes to eat are acceptable. It is recommended to give vegetables raw, grated, so they will be better absorbed.
Be sure to exclude boiled potatoes and legumes from the diet. Many shelties love berries and fruits, which are very good for health. For each dog, the portion of food eaten is determined individually.
For a puppy up to 3 months old, the diet should include:
- 20-30% vegetables of the total volume
- up to 150 grams of meat
- up to 10% dairy products
Feeding must be done from a special stand, the height of which must be increased as the puppy grows. Thanks to this feeding, the dog develops correct posture.
Photo of Sheltie behind a log
- Hypothyroidism
- Epilepsy
- Cryptorchidism
- Dysplasia hip joint
- Congenital deafness
- von Willebrand disease
- Testicular tumor (in males)
- Congenital dislocation of the elbow
- Eye abnormality
- Cataract
- Entropion (inversion of the eyelid)
- Progressive retinal atrophy
- Corneal dystrophy
- Distichiasis (extra eyelashes)
- Cutaneous histiocytoma
Sometimes this breed has the following diseases:
- Dwarfism
- Hemophilia
- Muscular dystrophy
- Polyarthritis
Sheltie photo
Representatives of the breed stood guard over farmland in the Shetland Islands off the coast of Scotland. Dogs herded and guarded flocks of sheep and flocks of poultry. Today, the Sheltie can be called a true family friend and a superstar of canine sports.
Sheltie photo
Characteristics
- Adaptation level (3/5):
- adaptability to living in an apartment (2/5)
- suitable for the novice owner (3/5)
- sensitivity level (5/5)
- Tolerance of loneliness (2/5)
- cold tolerance (4/5)
- heat tolerance (3/5)
- Friendliness (5/5):
- attachment to family (5/5)
- love for children (5/5)
- friendliness to other dogs (4/5)
- attitude towards strangers (5/5)
- Health and care (3/5):
- degree of shedding (5/5)
- drooling (1/5)
- ease of care (2/5)
- general health (4/5)
- tendency to be overweight (3/5)
- size (1/5)
- Learning ability (3/5):
- ease of training (5/5)
- intelligence (5/5)
- tendency to use teeth (1/5)
- hunting instinct (3/5)
- tendency to howl and bark (1/5)
- travel potential(2/5)
- Training Needs (4/5):
- energy (4/5)
- intensity (2/5)
- need in motor activity (4/5)
- playfulness (4/5)
Main parameters:
- Group: herding dogs.
- Height at withers: 33 - 40 cm.
- Weight: 9 kg.
- Life expectancy: 12 - 15 years.
Description
The small, energetic dog was once a Scottish farmer's best friend: the dog sounded the alarm if anyone approached his property, barked and chased away birds and other animals from the property, and then, as a shepherd, made a cross, herding sheep and not allowing they run in different directions. The Sheltie looks like a smaller version of the Collie, but they are actually two completely different breeds.
Shelties love people and are ready for friendly relations with every member of the family, including children, but the dog can be reserved and even cautious in the presence of strangers. By nature, Shelties are protectors, and they quickly begin to bark if they feel something is wrong in their territory. Good training is required to ensure that this breed feature does not cause trouble. But this quality makes Shelties great guard dogs, you just need to teach them discernment.
Any Sheltie owner can tell you how smart their pet is. According to Dr. Stanley Coren, an expert in animal intelligence research, it is a source of pride for owners. In his research on intelligence 132 various breeds dogs, he ranked the Sheltie sixth in understanding new commands. The command is executed 95% of the time if you repeat it an average of 5 times.
Intelligence, willingness to please and brilliant athletic abilities allow the Sheltie to excel in various types of competitions. In its group, the breed usually dominates the field in agility. In addition, they are exceptionally good at competitive obedience, chasing, flyball, and herding.
The well-known expression “woe from mind” can be safely applied to the Sheltie. The dog needs constant exercise. Without daily mental stimulation, representatives of this breed begin to mope and, in order not to get completely bored, invent their own entertainment, which is unlikely to please their owners.
The breed has retained a strong herding instinct. You will find your dog enthusiastically chasing and herding squirrels, rabbits and children, running around barking loudly and nipping. Owners should discourage this habit, especially among children, as it can result in serious bites and injuries. Never allow a Sheltie to herd outside of a designated school. Use appropriate objects such as geese and sheep to hone your herding skills.
Shelties behave relatively calmly indoors and are quite capable of adapting to life in an apartment if the owner provides extensive daily walks so that the pet does not get bored. In the absence of such an opportunity, the dog needs a fenced yard where it can play independently and will be deprived of the opportunity to seek out and graze everything: people, animals, cars.
The breed has a long, dense, fluffy coat that is subject to heavy shedding. Many people don't even realize how much shelties shed, and this is the main reason for surrendering your pet to a shelter. Make sure you and your vacuum cleaner can handle that amount of hair.
Sheltie will become good choice for a working person, the dog will quietly stay at home, provided that it receives its share of attention when the owner returns. This breed thrives when given companionship, training, play time and affection. Your love will be returned tenfold.
Peculiarities
- Shelties are very noisy and have a loud, high-pitched bark. To maintain friendly relations with neighbors, it is important to early age train your pet to stop barking on command.
- Be prepared for your pet to shed heavily, not only in the spring.
- Shelties are extremely intelligent and require constant mental training. They can be stubborn. Make learning fun and interesting, give them time to think to form their own opinion and do what you want.
- The breed is energetic and needs to receive intense exercise. They thrive when they can compete in activities such as agility and flyball, where they get the mental and physical exercise they need.
- Shelties have been popular family dogs for many years. Due to the high demand for the breed, there are many dogs “for sale” whose characteristics do not always correspond to the breed standard. If you are looking for a puppy, make sure you find a breeder who is responsible for preserving the qualities of the breed and tests their pets for the absence of inherited diseases. In order to receive healthy dog, do not buy a pet from puppy mills, pet stores or breeders who cannot provide documents for the puppy and its parents.
Story
The Sheltie hails from the rugged Shetland Islands, which are nestled between Scotland and Norway, about 50 miles north of Scotland and just south of the Arctic Circle. These islands are home to other small breeds animals such as Shetland ponies and Shetland sheep.
For many years, the breed was called Tuni, from the Norwegian word for farm or holding. Farmers bred it by crossing border collies with more small dogs, who herded and protected flocks of Shetland sheep. One of the Sheltie's tasks was to protect small sheep from birds. Indeed, many of today's Shelties have a passion for chasing birds, and some will even try to chase airplanes and helicopters flying overhead.
In the early 1800s, the Sheltie was brought to England and Scotland, where it was described as a miniature collie. In the Shetland Islands, farmers began breeding even smaller and furry representatives of the breed so that they could sell them to visitors to the island. Rumor has it that the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel (a type of English toy spaniel) and pomeranian spitz, left on the island by tourists, were crossed with local Shelties.
There were so many crossings that by the end of the 19th century the islanders realized that the original type of breed began to disappear. There has been a lot of debate about the exterior of the original and how to return to it. Some breeders have proposed crossing Sheltie with Collie to restore the original appearance of the breed. Others argued that breeding should only occur between Shelties that were closest in appearance and characteristics to the original type, and some continued to indiscriminately cross Shelties with other breeds to develop small and cute pets.
Shelties of all three types were exhibited at dog shows in the early 20th century, and in 1909, before the outbreak of World War I, the Kennel Club of England recognized the breed. 28 individuals were registered as members of the Shetland Collie breed. Four of them appear in the pedigrees of many modern Sheltie champions: two males named Lerwick Tim and Trim and two females named Inverness Topsy and Inga. The first Sheltie registered by the American Kennel Club was Lord Scott in 1911.
Collie breeders and the Kennell Club of England were unhappy with the name of the breed and protested, which led to the name being changed to Sheltie.
There has been debate for many years in the UK and US about what a Sheltie should look like and be bred to. As a consequence, many Sheltie clubs have formed various points vision. In 1930, Scottish and English clubs came together and agreed that the dog "should resemble a miniature collie."
As the breed gained popularity, its numbers increased in the United States. In the 1970s, their popularity grew so much that the Sheltie appeared on the American Kennel Club's list of ten most popular dogs and remained at number 12 for the next 15 years, peaking in the early 1990s. Today, the Sheltie ranks 20th in popularity among the 155 breeds and species registered by the American Kennel Club.
How is the Sheltie doing in her native Shetland Islands? Oddly enough, the breed is quite rare in the vastness of its harsh homeland - it was replaced by the border collie.
Photo of Sheltie puppies
Character
The Sheltie is an extremely loyal, gentle and sensitive dog. The breed has a wide range of characters: from exuberant and sociable to sedate, calm and even prone to solitude.
It's normal for a Sheltie to be wary of strangers, but stay away from dogs that seem overly timid or nervous. If you're choosing a puppy, remember that babies don't always come straight up to a stranger, but dogs should be curious, cheerful, and willing to make friends with whoever sits on the floor with them.
Regardless psychological type your pet, Shelties prefer to be close to their owners and will follow them from room to room throughout the day.
Health
You should not purchase a puppy from unverified sellers. There is a risk of discovering different genetic diseases, which were passed on to the pet from the parents. Check all documents and certificates carefully.
At correct handling, the dog usually grows up healthy, but each breed is prone to its own group of diseases. It is necessary to know about them in order to prevent the development of the disease and avoid serious consequences if problems with your pet’s health arise.
- Hypothyroidism occurs when the body cannot maintain sufficient levels of hormones thyroid gland. Symptoms include weight gain, thinning coat, dry skin, slow heart rate, and sensitivity to cold. Because hypothyroidism is a progressive disease, as soon as you notice any of these signs in your dog, make an appointment with your veterinarian immediately. Hypothyroidism is easily corrected with daily treatment, which should continue throughout the dog's life. Since this is a midlife condition, asking the breeder about the thyroid status of your puppy's grandparents can give you an idea of whether the problem exists in the breeder's line.
- Collie eye abnormality:hereditary disease which can lead to blindness. It usually appears at the age of 2 years and can be diagnosed by a veterinary ophthalmologist. The lesion may affect both eyes, but not necessarily to the same extent. Dogs with minor anomalies remain excellent pets and do not lose their sight. Dogs more seriously affected may lose their vision within a few years of diagnosis. There is no cure, but blind dogs can get by quite well by using their other senses. It is important to remember that the disease is genetic abnormality, and the breeder should inform you if the puppy is predisposed to the disease. It is important to spay and neuter a sick dog to prevent transmission of the disease to a new generation.
- Von Willebrand's disease: inherited blood disorder caused by clotting factor deficiency blood VIII antigen (von Willebrand factor). The main symptom is excessive bleeding from injury or surgery. Other signs include: nose bleed, bleeding gums, bleeding in the stomach or intestines may be present. Most dogs with von Willebrand disease have normal life, but if you want to make sure your pet doesn't have an illness, your veterinarian can perform tests to determine exactly if there is any cause for concern.
- Hip dysplasia: a hereditary disease in which there is a violation of the interface of the femur and hip joint. The animal develops pain and lameness in the hind legs. Hip dysplasia can exist without clinical signs. As your dog ages, arthritis may develop.
A tomogram will help identify hip dysplasia. If your dog is showing signs of hip dysplasia, talk to your veterinarian. Drug treatment or surgical intervention will improve your pet's condition. Dogs with hip dysplasia should not be allowed to be bred. When purchasing a puppy, ask to see documents confirming that the parents do not have the disease. - Dermatomyositis: hereditary disease damaging skin, and in severe cases- muscles. Dermatomyositis – characteristic disease collie and sheltie, although the disease can also be diagnosed in dogs of other breeds. In some animals, the disease is not manifested, but is transmitted to offspring. The signs are varied. Skin lesions appear on the head, ears and front legs. Extensive loss may occur hairline and the appearance of scars on the face, ears, paws and tip of the tail. The only way to diagnose dermatomyositis is through a skin biopsy performed by a dermatologist. There are no tests to detect dermatomyositis, which is considered a variable expression gene, meaning a dog can carry it without showing any signs.
Care
Although Shelties were bred to work in harsh weather conditions and are quite hardy, they love to be with their family and should live in the same room as their owners.
Although Shelties can be relatively calm in the house, it is important to remember that the breed was bred to work on a farm and needs regular training and vigorous exercise. These dogs love to walk funny Games with children and running around the dinner table. Afterwards, they will happily lie down on the couch with you.
The Sheltie's small size allows him to settle well in an apartment if the owner provides him with daily walks, games and weans him from incessant barking.
This requires delicacy. Shelties are very sensitive and suffer greatly from abuse. Don't raise your voice when he barks, thank him for the warning—thanks for telling me about the squirrel in the yard—and only verbally reprimand him if he continues to bark. The breed responds best to positive reinforcement: praise, games and treats.
Try to make your dog's training interesting and varied. A Sheltie may not see the point in repeating an exercise if it was done correctly the first time, and may become bored and refuse to work.
Feeding
It is recommended to feed your dog 2-3 times a day, rather than pouring all the food into a bowl at once. The amount of food depends on the physique, age and activity of the animal. It should also be remembered special diets, which are prescribed by veterinarians for certain diseases. If the dog is subjected to additional physical activity during training, the portion should be increased.
Try to prevent excess weight gain by controlling the amount and nutritional value of food. But you can’t leave your dog hungry either. Looking at your pet from top to bottom, you should clearly see the waist. Place your hands on his back so that thumbs were on the spine. It’s good if you feel the ribs, but if you remove your hands, you don’t see them. Found in a dog excess weight, increase your workouts and decrease your portion sizes.
It is important to understand that a dog’s diet largely determines the quality and length of its life. Recommendations and comments from dog breeders on specialized websites and forums make you seriously think about the issue of feeding your pet. Choice good food and following certain rules will allow your dog to live happily ever after!
Sheltie photo
Color and care
The Sheltie has a double coat: a short, dense undercoat and long, coarse outer coat. The hair on the head, ears and paws is smooth and short, but long and thick in the neck area. Hind legs and the tail is also fluffy.
The breed has three recognized primary colors, all with varying amounts white or tan:
- sable, ranging from golden to mahogany;
- black
- gray-blue with black
Sheltie brindle color or whose color is more than fifty percent white are not allowed to be exhibited, but the color does not affect their ability to be excellent companions.
The Sheltie's magnificent coat requires careful weekly care: brushing and combing with a massage brush. Guide the brush firmly down along the hair growth and never brush dry hair. To prevent hair damage, use a spray bottle.
Please pay Special attention on Thin hair behind the ears, which tends to get tangled. If you find the tangled area in time, you can comb it with a lint brush. Shelties will require additional brushing as they shed. Males and spayed females shed once a year, while non-spayed females shed twice a year, a couple of months after each heat period.
A Sheltie's proper coat—a harsh outer coat and a soft undercoat—repeals dirt and repels water, so Shelties only need to be washed when they are actually dirty, which is different for each dog.
Your pet's teeth should be brushed 2-3 times a week. This will prevent the accumulation of bacteria and the formation of tartar. And daily brushing will protect against gum inflammation and unpleasant odor from mouth.
Trim nails only when necessary. This is usually done one to three times a month. If you can hear your dog unintentionally scratching the floor with them, then it’s time to cut them. Neat and well-groomed claws avoid accidental scratches during play or greetings.
Puppies often become offended when they are brushed, paws touched, or their mouths and ears examined, so try to make this process more pleasant with praise in the form of treats. In the future, the pet will even become more obedient thanks to such procedures.
In addition to all this, you should periodically check the dog’s entire body for various wounds, infections and inflammations. Carefully inspect the mouth, eyes, ears, nose and paws. This will help you immediately identify potential health problems and prevent them, avoiding consequences. Your pet's ears should not smell like wax or manure, and your pet's eyes should not be red and tired. If any symptoms are detected, you should immediately consult a veterinarian, otherwise serious complications may arise.
Communication with children and other animals
Shelties are excellent family dogs, especially if raised with children who treat animals with respect.
When it comes to socializing with other dogs, Shelties have a clear preference for their own species, even if they don't live with them. When they first meet, they recognize Shelties as like-minded people and immediately show friendliness and willingness to play. Shelties are quite reserved with unfamiliar dogs of other breeds. They can live with cats if the cat immediately puts the dog in its place and stops the attempt to chase and herd it.
Try to explain to your child that you need to treat the dog gently and with extreme care, in particular, do not pull its tail. prevent conflict situations and monitor the animal’s mood during the game. Do not allow children to touch your pet while it is eating or sleeping. And never leave your child and dog alone.
Nurseries
With the help of a list of breeding organizations, buying puppies will become much easier. Also in kennel clubs you can get Additional information about this breed and learn the dog’s characteristics from the owners themselves.
Briefly but accurately describes the characteristics of the Sheltie breed - an affectionate, intelligent, well-mannered fox. The Sheltie resembles a collie in appearance. However, Shetland Sheepdogs are an independent breed with clear standards of structure, appearance and character.
Many Sheltie owners believe that this breed was developed from Shetland Sheepdogs. There is some truth in this, but it appeared much earlier. The exact date and no one knows the history of origin. There is an assumption that the Sheltie was brought to the territory of continental Europe and England by sailors who called at the ports of the Shetland Islands and took the dogs with them.
The dogs were valued for their small size, they did not require much food, and their thick coat served as protection from snow and wind. From year to year the breed improved, becoming more resilient, calm and even intelligent. The final form of the standard for this breed appeared in 1948.
Description of the breed, photographs and appearance of the Sheltie
Sheltie standards: weight ranges from 7 to 11 kg, male height 37 cm, female height 35.5 cm.
Main characteristics of the breed:
- Format The dogs are a little stretched out, the skeleton is powerful. But the Sheltie's size allows her to remain a very nimble dog.
- Head resembles a blunt wedge. The bump on the back of the head is not pronounced, the skull is flat and proportional to the length of the muzzle. The jaws are strong and deep. The lips fit tightly to each other and are dry.
- Teeth strong and big. Scissor bite.
- Lobe nose always black.
- Eyes medium size, almond-shaped, dark. Acceptable Blue eyes and brown, with blue splashes, but the color of the dog should be blue merle.
- Ears small in size, very mobile, set high. Three quarters of the ear are in a standing position, the tips pointing forward.
- Back muscular and straight, the loin is convex and short, the shoulder blades are set obliquely.
- Neck middle length, muscular, deep chest. The stomach is slightly tucked.
- Hind legs compact and oval have narrow hips. The length of the lower leg corresponds to the thigh. The claws are strong and strong, the pads are hard and thick.
- Front legs closed with dense pads and strong claws.
- Tail The Sheltie is of medium length with long hair; when calm, it hangs down or is slightly curved with the tip up.
Dog color and coat type
In the description of the breed, a special place is given to wool. The coat is straight and long, the hair is hard. The undercoat is very dense and short. On the paws, ends of the ears and on the muzzle the hair is straight and short. At the withers and sides of the neck, the hair is longer and thicker, forming a mane. The tail has long hair. The hind and forelimbs also have thick and long wool. But on the metatarsus and pasterns the hair is quite short.
Dogs with the following defects are culled: wavy and curly wool, lack of undercoat, short and soft coat.
Sheltie color can be different:
- Black and white or black with red-brown inclusions.
- Sable. Can vary from golden hue to mahogany color.
- Tricolor or tricolor - deep black throughout the body with rich red-brown markings.
- Blue merle or blue merle. The color is silver-blue, with black inclusions and marbling. Preferably rich red-brown markings.
Character and temperament of the breed
The character of the dog can be called one of the most flexible. Shelties are very gentle, loyal and intelligent companions who are excellent with children.
Sheltie dogs are wonderful companions for the whole family. TO to strangers dogs are wary, so they always notify their owners when guests are approaching. If you accustom a dog to society as a child, the pet will understand in what cases it is possible to let strangers into the house, and in what cases it is necessary to serve.
Shelties need communication with their owners. Therefore, this breed should be owned by people who have big amount free time, otherwise, due to lack of attention and boredom, the dog’s character may change, and not for the better.
Because Sheltie is family dog, she not only demands constant affection and hugs from family members, but also tries to please them in everything.
Important. This breed has highly developed intuition, as well as sensitivity to the surrounding atmosphere. If there are constant squabbles and misunderstandings among people in the house, the dog will not withstand this tense environment.
Sheltie training and education
As stated in the characteristics of the breed, the dog is extremely smart. Therefore, she is easy to train and educate. New commands are picked up by the pet on the fly. And praise forces the dog to give all his best in order to be noticed and appreciated.
Sheltie can be called the best friend for people of different ages - from diapers to 100 years. They are great for families with children who are delighted unusual habits and the tenderness of a dog. If the baby falls or cries, the Sheltie will certainly rush to feel sorry for and lick the child.
This breed is suitable and active people. The dog will accompany them everywhere - on a walk, on a picnic or on a hike. Shelties also get along with other animals, and can become inseparable friends with cats and rodents.
Required care and maintenance
The Shetland Sheepdog is a fairly easy breed to keep. To keep the dog's hair in in good condition, it needs to be combed at least once a week, using a massage brush.
The Shetland Sheepdog's thick coat requires regular brushing. Important. Combing must be done correctly. First, apply a moisturizing spray to the coat, and then start combing from the very base of the hair.
Dogs of this breed do not shed much. Females come twice a year, and males once. Because the Sheltie's coat has a waterproof coating, dirt and moisture are repelled from the hair. Therefore, it is necessary to bathe the animal rarely, only if there is visible dirt.
You need to monitor your ears weekly, treating them with a special solution.
Your pet's teeth should also be brushed once a week to prevent tartar and gum disease.
Nails are trimmed once a month, but the dog can grind them down on his own.
Balanced diet and feeding your dog
The Sheltie is one of those breeds that can eat almost anything. The main thing is correct introduction complementary feeding for puppies. Typically, breeders raise puppies themselves, giving them the opportunity to eat mother's milk for up to 2.5 months, gradually accustoming them to adult food.
Important. In any case, up to 1.5 months, mother’s milk should be the main food for babies.
After you buy a puppy and bring it home, veterinarians recommend feeding it millet or rice porridge. And before the baby turns 4 months old, there should always be a bowl of milk and water near him.
Sheltie dogs are fed meat with the addition of cereals and vegetables. When the puppy grows up, you can feed him porridge with meat. It is best to choose beef for this. But you should give up chicken.
Approximate puppy diet:
- Morning - dairy products, including cottage cheese.
- Lunch – boiled meat with vegetables.
- Afternoon snack - porridge meat broth or with milk.
- Dinner – a piece of meat scalded with boiling water.
By 6 months, you can begin to switch your dog to meat, while simultaneously introducing dry food. Many breeders are wary of ready-made food. However, recent studies have shown that ready-made industrial food not only does not harm the dog’s health, but, on the contrary, improves it. After all, in balanced diet contains all the necessary microelements and vitamins that are difficult to obtain from natural food.
After six months, the dog is fed twice a day, and the largest portion is in the evening.
If you feed a natural Sheltie, you can give her the following foods:
- Offal.
- Rice, oatmeal, buckwheat.
- Vegetables.
- Greenery.
- Fish.
- Fruits and berries.
If you are feeding a pet ready-made feed, then give preference to more expensive manufacturers. Only premium food contains everything necessary for the growth and life of a dog. The following brands of food are suitable for Sheltie dogs: , .
Sheltie dogs can be fed not only natural food, but also dry food. It is best to purchase a puppy from breeders who will not only give the necessary guarantees regarding the purebred of the breed and the health of the puppy, but also teach how to properly care for the pet.
It is best to adopt a puppy at the age of 12 weeks, when he can already eat cereals and vegetables. By this time he should have already received the necessary vaccinations.
When choosing a Sheltie puppy, pay attention to his appearance. He must be well-fed and have dark eyes with shine, thick undercoat. The baby’s behavior should cause joy, that is, the puppy should be active and look at you with “puppy” eyes. You can also examine the mother, who should also be healthy and not malnourished.
Show puppies must have a White wool, but not more than 50% of the total cover. In ordinary puppies, which are taken as a simple pet, there may be many times more white wool.
The cost of puppies varies and depends on the pedigree. On average, the price ranges from 25,000 to 60,000 rubles.
How to Prepare Your Home for a Sheltie
Sheltie in puppyhood is very hyperactive dogs. That's why they often get various injuries due to its clumsiness and mobility. New owners should prepare the apartment before bringing the puppy there.
First of all, hide expensive shoes and other valuables. The puppy will certainly want to taste everything. Remove small objects that your puppy might swallow.
Don't forget to remove the wires too. All cables that get in the way of the puppy will be chewed and dragged into different corners apartments.
Prepare toys for your baby. You can buy them in the store, or you can prepare them yourself. To do this, you only need to thoroughly wash the potatoes, carrots or apples. These fruits and vegetables will provide great entertainment for your Sheltie.
The floor surface should not be slippery. Clumsy puppies can easily slip and sprain their paws.
Health and life expectancy
On average, Shelties live to be 13 years old. Proper maintenance and care of the dog will help achieve this. Like many other breeds, the Shetland Sheepdog has a predisposition to certain diseases.
Sheltie dogs can suffer from cataracts, entropion, congenital deafness and other diseases. List of possible pathologies:
- Dermatomyositis.
- Anomaly of the eyes.
- Polyarthritis.
- Corneal dystrophy.
- Hemophilia.
- Congenital deafness.
- Patent ductus arteriosus.
- Hip dysplasia.
- Turning of the eyelids.
- Hemorrhagic gastroenteritis.
- Hypothyroidism.
- Neoplasms of the nasal cavity.
- Progressive retinal atrophy.
- Von Willebrand's disease.
- Gene mutations.
- Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease.
- Testicular neoplasia.
- Loose wrist ligaments.
- Cryptorchidism.
Important. The breed is extremely sensitive to some medical supplies. For example, milbemycin and ivermectin (these dogs are contraindicated with drugs and others that contain the above active ingredients).
Disadvantages of the Sheltie breed
Despite its many advantages, Sheltie also has a number of disadvantages:
- The need for regular and thorough grooming.
- Possible formation of lumps on the fur.
- Increased activity of the dog, which causes certain difficulties when walking.
- Shyness. The dog can be extremely shy and hide from guests in the house.
- Increased need to live in a calm environment. If a dog feels uncomfortable in the middle of the night, it can express its dissatisfaction by barking loudly, which seems to the owners to be causeless.