Learn more about Shelties!

The History of Shelties

According to Sheltie Planet, Shetland Sheepdogs are a breed of herding dogs that originated from the Shetland Islands of Scotland. The Sheepdog breed (most likely) descended from the Scandinavian Spitz breed. The Spitz breed was eventually crossed with the Border Collie, as well as the Rough Collie, and a few other breeds; eventually, the Sheltie was born! Below is a great visual from Sheltie Planet:

Interestingly enough, because of these influential Collie crosses, the Shetland Sheepdog was originally named the “Shetland Collie”, until the Kennel Club changed its name following complaints from Collie breeders themselves.

Regardless, the Collie crosses have had a great influence on a Sheltie’s temperament. Ever heard of the famous Collie, Lassie? Likewise to Collies, not only are the two breeds very similar in appearance, but Shetland Sheepdogs are incredibly loyal and affectionate to their owners.

How do you groom a Sheltie?

Grooming a Sheltie is very important! Whether you decide to take your Sheltie to a professional groomer or brush his coat at home, you need to make sure it is done precisely. You need to maintain a Sheltie’s coat in order to prevent tough matting. Shetland Sheepdogs are a long-haired breed, therefore, these dogs have what is known to be a “double coat”: a soft undercoat to keep the Sheltie warm, as well as a rougher outercoat to keep him dry.

According to Sheltie Planet, if you would like to groom your Sheltie at home, you will need:

A deshedding tool in order to brush through the undercoat
A fine-toothed comb to tease any tangles or matted fur (if the fur is too matted, use “pet scissors” to trim)
A slicker brush in order to brush through the outercoat’s naturally-occurring oils (this maintains the coat’s sheen)

The deshedding tool will accumulate loose fluff, while the fine-toothed comb will detangle any possible matting which may have occurred. The deshedding tool should be used across a Sheltie’s back and legs, while the comb is more of for their ears.

What about bathing?

You should only bathe a Sheltie if he truly needs it – if you bathe a Sheltie too much, you will strip his natural oils from his coat! This will cause dryness and itching.

What about teeth cleanings?

Teeth cleaning is also very important! In order to prevent gum disease, you should regularly brush your Sheltie’s teeth with a dog-friendly toothpaste, or dental dog treats. Sheltie Planet recommends products such as Petrodex Enzymatic Toothpaste.

What are Sheltie personalities like?

Every dog will have its own, unique personality – River, for example, can be a very shy dog once he meets a stranger. However, once he gets to know someone better, that’s no longer the case! Despite his old age, he is still a very playful, affectionate dog to this day, (and definitely loves to bark).

If you decide to become an owner of a Sheltie puppy, for example, it is critical for this puppy to be properly socialized. According to Sheltie Planet, the best time to socialize a Sheltie puppy is between 8 and 16 weeks old. This is the best time to influence its attitude and behavior. Here are some techniques proposed by the website to socialize your puppy:

At home, allow your puppy to explore! This will allow your new puppy to quickly settle in to his new environment.
In town, you should carry your Sheltie puppy and allow strangers to offer pets. This stimulation of new noises and smells will reassure your puppy he is safe with you.
On the street, you can train your Sheltie puppy to not be scared of traffic noises by offering him treats to distract him.
Meet other dogs! Besides people, taking your puppy to obedience school, for example, or on walks other friendly dogs, can encourage your puppy to be more sociable and confident.

Properly socializing an older or adult Sheltie can be a little more difficult. The best advice offered by Sheltie Planet is to gradually introduce your Sheltie to friends and family in your home by luring him with treats. It is important to not let your friend or relative make direct eye contact with your Sheltie, so your Sheltie can feel as if he is making the decision to come closer, and with the confidence to.

As for meeting other dogs, it is best to introduce your Sheltie to a gentle, larger, and perhaps older dog who can calm your Sheltie’s nerves. This will be best done in say a backyard, where there are no leashes attached, and the dogs are free to introduce each other.

What should I feed my Sheltie?

According to Sheltie Planet, you should avoid purchasing dog food that contains meat-by-products, propylene glycol, BHA, BHT, as well as sulfates. These poor quality ingredients can have detrimental effects on the health and longevity of your Sheltie, such as cancer.

Good dog food ingredients contain beef, lamb or poultry meal, as well as vitamin E or C. Sheltie Planet recommends brands such as Blue Buffalo Wilderness or even treats such as Dentastix.

How much exercise does a Sheltie need?

A Sheltie should be taken for a walk for at least 30 minutes per day – which is the standard for any dog breed. This is especially important if you happen to live in an apartment or a space without a sizable backyard. You will know if your Sheltie is bored if he starts to run around in circles!

Can Shelties swim?

Absolutely! River himself used to swim when he was younger. It is better to expose your Sheltie to water at a younger age so he is more accustomed to swimming rather than at an older age.

Should I neuter or spay my Sheltie?

Sheltie Planet has included a list of several advantages and disadvantages of de-sexing your Sheltie (or any dog breed, for that matter).

The advantages of neutering your male Sheltie, for example, include a prevention of testicular cancer, as well as a reduced risk of prostrate problems, and a reduced potential for an aggressive personality. However, in terms of disadvantages, the website does take note as how the cost of neutering is not necessarily cheap – some vet clinics can easily charge $300!

The age of de-sexing your Sheltie is also critical. Neutering a Sheltie under the age of 1 year old can be detrimental to his physical growth.

The advantages of spaying your female Sheltie, on the other hand, include the prevention of unwanted pregnancy (as it takes incredible time and expense to care for a newborn litter), as well as a reduced risk of ovarian and breast cancer. In terms of disadvantages, likewise to neutering a male Sheltie, spaying a female Sheltie can be quite expensive – and the procedure can be easily charged for $300 as well.

The age of de-sexing a female Sheltie is also critical. There is no clear consensus as to when to spay a Sheltie: some experts recommend she is spayed between 5 – 8 months of age, while others suggest as old as 18 months. Regardless, spaying a puppy Sheltie as young as 6 weeks can be detrimental to her health. Interestingly, it can even actually encourage aggressive tendencies, as an early spaying can prevent the production of progesterone (Serotonin booster).

Nonetheless, de-sexing your Sheltie is strongly encouraged in order to prevent overpopulation, as well as cancer or other problems, unless you are a professional breeder.

How do I become a Sheltie owner? Should I purchase or adopt?

This depends entirely on the individual: there is no correct answer as to whether to adopt an older Sheltie from a rescued center, or purchase a Sheltie puppy from a professional breeder. Although, the cost difference between the two may be critical for the individual.

Within my podcast, I discuss the greatest differences between adopting or purchasing a Sheltie. Sheltie Planet has an extensive list of professional breeders to purchase puppies from, or, if you are interested in rescuing a Sheltie, there is an extensive list available as well.

As I also discuss within my podcast, it is advised against to purchase a Sheltie puppy from a local pet store instead of a professional breeder. There a multitude of reasons, such as underlying genetic disorders; supporting puppy mills, etc.