Sheltie

History of the Sheltie breed

Sheltie's homeland is the northeast of Scotland, or rather the Shetland Islands. The distant ancestors of sheepdogs moved here together with the first settlers who were looking for fresh pastures for sheep flocks. Mastering new territories, the dogs freely interbred with the spitz that lived on the islands, inheriting their spotted colors and light, fluffy fur. Later , they contributed to the development of the shepherd phenotype border collie , king Charles spaniels and other continental breeds.

The main activity of sheltie was shepherding. Small dogs deftly handled the small herds of sheep, zealously tracking their movement and urging stray animals from the herd. However, in the XIX century, British farmers became interested in breeding and bred several particularly large sheep breeds. Farms grew and developed, sheep brought good offspring, but the poor shelties were out of business. The giant sheep categorically refused to obey the small and nimble dogs, as a result, the animals ran out of strength, and the flocks continued to scatter across the pasture. Soon the miniature shepherds were replaced by larger and hardier shepherd herders, and the sheltie family began to inevitably fade away.

British enthusiasts volunteered to save the degraded shelties. In 1908, breeder James Loggie founded the first breed lovers club, whose headquarters were located in Lerwick (the capital of the Shetland Islands). He also made attempts to standardize the appearance of animals. According to Loggy's idea, the breed was to be called the "Shetland Collie", which caused discontent on the part of the breeders. scottish collies . In order to avoid disputes and misunderstandings, the dogs were eventually renamed Shetland Shepherds.

At the beginning of the XX century, the shelties reached America, where they made a real splash. At the same time, in the cynological environment, dogs continued to remain on the rights of "poor relatives", not recognized by any association. The natives of the Shetland Islands managed to pass the standardization procedure and receive the coveted approval of the "CS" only after the end of the Second World War, in 1948.

Video: Sheltie

Appearance of the Shetland Shepherd

At first glance, sheltie is a light version of the Scottish Collie. The animals have the same long silky coat, pointed muzzle and penetrating gaze. Shelties owe their similarity to this "legend" of British cynology to the experiments of breeders who, in an attempt to stabilize the breed qualities of sheepdogs, actively knitted them with long-haired collies.

As for the modest size of dogs, they can be regarded as the result of adaptation to the environment. The ancestors of Shetland Sheepdogs who lived in the archipelago were not pampered with hearty food, and the weather conditions in the north of Britain leave much to be desired. The average weight of an adult sheltie is 5-10 kg . Often, animals do not fit into the specified framework, gaining a few extra pounds, which the breeding commissions look through their fingers. At the same time, the growth of the animal is a constant value and fixed by the standard: for females – 35.5 cm, for males – 37 cm. Deviation in any direction by more than 2.5 cm is considered a defect and automatically excludes the dog from the "exhibition caste".

Head

The head of the sheltie is elegant, proportional, in the form of a blunt wedge tapering towards the nose. The cranium is flat, without a pronounced occipital protuberance. The lines of the forehead and muzzle are parallel to each other. There is a small stop. The cheekbones are flat at the muzzle and slightly rounded at the cranial part.

Nose

Small lobe, black color.

Teeth and jaws

Sheltie's jaws are smooth, developed. Bite – deep "scissors". It is desirable to have a full set of healthy teeth (42).

Ears

Small sheltie ears are located at a close distance from each other. In a calm animal, they are folded and pulled back. In a wary Shepherd dog, the ears are raised and look forward, while the tip of the ear cloth remains lowered.

Eyes

Medium, almond-shaped, planted slightly obliquely. The skin of the eyelids is black. The shade of the iris is dark brown, in individuals of marble color – blue or brown with blue specks. The look is attentive, inquisitive.

Neck

The neck of the sheltie is elegant, well arched and muscular.

Body

Straight back with a graceful curve in the lumbar region and rounded croup. The chest is deep, with well-arched and tapering ribs to the bottom.

Limbs

The front legs of the sheltie are smooth, with shoulders laid back, equal in length to the shoulder blades. Pasterns are strong, shoulder angles are quite pronounced. The hind limbs are straight, with muscular, massive hips. The hocks are low and have good angles. Paws in the shape of an oval with tightly fitting, curved fingers. The movements are smooth, flying.

Tail

With long hair, set low and reaches the hock joint. The tail of the sheltie is not twisted, in a moving dog it may rise slightly, but not above the back line. The tip has a slightly curved line.

Wool

The coat of the sheltie is of a double type: with a coarse and long covering hair and a soft, thick undercoat. In the neck area, the covering hair forms a lush mane, the hips of the animal hide wide "pants". There are long "feathers" on the back of the forelimbs.

Color

The following types of colors of the Shetland Shepherd dog are fixed by the breed standard:

• sable – dark and light options;
• tricolor/tricolor – black body with brown-reddish tan markings;
• blue merle – silver-blue background with a light black speck (marble color);
• black and white – with white markings on the forehead, neck, tail tip, chest and legs;
• black with brown – with or without white markings.

Undesirable: wolfish and gray colors, the awn of asphalt and rust shades, as well as the presence of white spots on the body of bicolor animals and large black markings on the coat of marble individuals.

Defects and defects of the breed

Any deviation from the breed standard is regarded as a defect. For example, to be blacklisted by the breeding commission, it is enough for shelties to have light eyes (the exception is individuals of marble color), standing or hanging ears and an incorrect bite. Serious defects that spoil the appearance of the breed are considered:

• clubfoot;
• short, curly or wavy hair;
• lack of pronounced undercoat;
• too short or twisted tail;
• incomplete set of teeth;
• convex or vice versa – curved back;
• cow limb delivery;
• dominant white color;
• nose lobe beige or pink shade;
• short muzzle.

Photos of adult shelties

Sheltie character

Sheltie is the standard of a pet. These delicate clever girls, who can read the mood of the owner by just a glance, are able to melt even the most callous heart. Most literary sources position Shetland Shepherds as family animals, which is not entirely true. In fact, Sheltie can only be truly devoted to one person. Of course, in relation to other household members, the dog is also able to feel respect and affection, but she will still choose one person as the object of her adoration. Buying a sheltie, obeying a momentary impulse, is not the most prudent act, since to transfer or resell such an animal means to condemn it to longing and despair. Believe me, there is no sadder sight than sheltie, abandoned by fate in a dog shelter.

Due to their natural shyness and vulnerability, Shetland Shepherds require the most delicate treatment. Yes, these fluffy cute guys are obedient and dutiful, but only until the owner begins to overdo it. Dogs cannot stand hard pressure and will not do anything under pressure.

Shelties make, if not perfect, then quite good nannies. In children, shepherds literally dote on their souls and are ready to "graze" them all day long. But even with such a positive scenario, breeders do not recommend overloading the dog with "pedagogical" activities, especially if we are talking about young children who have no idea about the rules of behavior with animals.

Despite the generally good-natured nature, shelties are no strangers to excessive suspicion. This is most clearly manifested in relationships with strangers, whom shepherds are frankly afraid of. At the same time, barking at a stranger or a random passerby who has come into view is only a joy for the dog. The natives of the Shetland Archipelago prefer to resolve conflicts with other representatives of the dog clan peacefully. A sheltie who has entered into a fight with an opponent is a rare phenomenon and in some ways even unique.

Shetland Shepherds are always responsible for the owner and his property, so if you are looking for a reliable watchman for your own apartment, take a closer look at these sonorous fuzzies. Just don't overdo it with the burden of responsibility: sitting alone for days, guarding the owner's goods, is a real punishment for active and playful shelties.

Representatives of this breed love to play, and they absolutely do not care what, the main thing is that their beloved owner participates in the process. At the same time, the dog will not impose its society. If they refuse to play and communicate with sheltie, he will take a position of detachment and will patiently wait for the moment when the owner deigns to pay attention to him.

Training and education

A high level of intelligence, developed intuition and an almost maniacal desire to please the owner could make perfect students out of shelties, if not for their natural timidity. Of course, among the representatives of this glorious family there are also real "lion hearts", but this is rather an exception to the general rule. The main factors preventing Shetland Shepherds from becoming excellent students are extraneous noises and the fear of displeasing the owner. In the first case, fear is caused by any unfamiliar source of noise, ranging from public transport to youth companies. Such phobias are treated by repeatedly modeling a dangerous situation from the pet's point of view. If a sheltie dies of fright at the sound of roaring engines, walk him next to the freeway. Cowards, running away from the opening doors of the bus, often ride on public transport.

Self-doubt is more difficult to eradicate, therefore, at the initial stage of training, experts recommend using the method of positive reinforcement. The essence of the technique is not to react to the pet's mistakes, but to always notice and encourage its successes. Later, when the dog gets used to it a little and stops shaking over every mistake made, you can move on to the command technique. By the way, according to the trainers, a five-time repetition of the command is enough for sheltie to remember her for the rest of her life.

Important point: only one person should train a sheltie living in a family.

Shelties have a reputation for being extremely affectionate and companionable pets, but this is not a reason to bring them up in an atmosphere of permissiveness. The animal must understand that it is not the center of the universe, and the owner is not the executor of the dog's whims. It is especially important to form this belief in males who are naturally inclined to leadership. Noticed: spoiled and managed to feel their own privilege shelties execute commands every once in a while and exclusively according to the mood.

There are several ways to let the dog know who the real owner is in the house:

• do not let the pet lie on your bed or sofa: the place of any dog is on the floor, even such a charming one as sheltie;
• always enter the room first – animals regard this as the right of the leader;
• don't throw treats to the dog from your own table and wean it off begging.

The age from 2 to 4 months is the most productive for the socialization and upbringing of a pet. Two-month-old puppies are already able to remember their own nickname and respond to it, as well as understand the meaning of the command "Fu!". If a future champion grows up in the house, then at this age you can begin to master the exhibition stand. From the age of four months, the lessons gradually become more complicated: now the puppy must learn the commands "To me!" and "Next!". Half-year-old individuals can be slowly attracted to sports activities and OKD (General training course). On walks, teenagers are given the opportunity to run properly (preferably uphill) and jump over obstacles, which has a positive effect on the development of extensor muscles. By the age of 9 months, the shelties are already strong and hardy enough to start training in agility and sports pasture. Future participants of dog shows and dance competitions can be enrolled in courses in freestyle and HTM (Heelwork to Music – movements to music).

Care and maintenance

Despite the glamorous appearance, sheltie is not a decorative fluffy designed to serve as an interior decoration. And experts say with one voice: an animal whose existence is reduced to constant vegetating in an apartment waiting for a late owner will not last long. And this means that a good dog walk is vital. Ideally, an adult pet should spend at least 3 hours a day outdoors. For males, longer and more frequent walks are preferred, since male shelties abundantly mark the territory.

Puppies are taken out for a walk three times a day and only in good weather, while the duration of each walk should not exceed 30 minutes. In winter, it is more expedient to shorten the time spent by the baby in the fresh air in order to avoid hypothermia. On chilly autumn days, it is better not to abuse the promenades. Slippery ice paths are fraught with particular danger, on which the puppy's fragile paws spread out in different directions, as a result of which the dog forms an incorrect set of limbs.

Rules for handling a sheltie puppy, which will help to preserve the presentable appearance of the animal:

• do not allow the baby to get under low horizontal surfaces – this can provoke dislocations of his limbs;
• in order to avoid the formation of an incorrect croup position, puppies up to 3 months old are carried out for walks on their hands (relevant for dogs living in high-rise buildings);
• it is forbidden to stroke a young sheltie on the head, as such actions interfere with the development of proper ear placement.

Hygiene

The main "horror story" that seasoned sheltie fans like to intimidate newly minted owners of sheepdogs is the seasonal molting of animals. Allegedly, during this period, the apartment turns into one large warehouse of dog hair, for cleaning which you will have to hire a group of cleaners armed with brushes and vacuum cleaners. Professional breeders, on the contrary, actively protect pets, hinting that incidents with wool take place only with lazy owners who do not bother to regularly comb the dog. The truth, as usual, is somewhere in the middle. Of course, sheepdogs have a lot of wool and it falls out abundantly, but comparing the seasonal molting of shelties with a natural disaster is a clear exaggeration.

Usually Shetland Shepherds are combed every other day, and they do it in layers, starting with the study of the guard hair gradually getting closer to a dense undercoat. Molting individuals must be "processed" twice a day, in the morning and in the evening.

Interesting fact: a nice bonus for anyone who is sensitive to odors – clean and dry sheltie wool almost does not smell like a dog. A light canine "aroma" can only come from an animal that has fallen into the rain and is thoroughly soaked.

The shelties are bathed once every 2-3 months using moisturizing shampoos and conditioners. If it is impossible to organize a bath for a pet for some reason, you can limit yourself to dry washing. Before exhibitions, show-class individuals should be reduced to a professional groomer, while pet owners will be able to trim their pets themselves.

Pay attention to the cleanliness of the dog's ears and eyes, removing accumulated dirt in them with cotton swabs and clean wipes. It is especially worth paying attention to the area behind the ears, where the wool gets dirty quickly and can get tangled, burdening the ear cloth and interfering with its proper delivery. To remove plaque, it is recommended to purchase veterinary paste and a special brush for dogs. If there are none in the vetaptek, they can easily be replaced with a regular brush with soft bristles and tooth powder.

Feeding

The basis of the sheltie's diet, which is on natural feeding, should be animal protein. It is better to offer the meat raw by cutting it into portions. Two-month-old babies are given meat in the form of a scraper (frozen and grated on a large grater). Fish is preferable to sea. Adults will be satisfied with raw fish carcasses with previously removed head and fins. If you are trying to treat a puppy with a fish, then it is better to turn it through a meat grinder.

Fermented dairy products, cheeses, cereals and fruit and vegetable purees will also successfully complement the dog's diet. From time to time, the Shetland Shepherd can be treated with a piece of rye bread soaked in meat broth or kefir. Shelties and all kinds of berries are respected, so sometimes it is useful to pamper a pet with freshly picked raspberries or strawberries. As a source of vitamins, dogs are recommended to add any greens (parsley, lettuce, dill) to the feed, which can be replaced with young nettles or dandelion leaves soaked in salt water.

Products that can harm sheltie:

• confectionery and any sweets;
• tubular bones;
• pasta and bakery products made of wheat flour;
• legumes and potatoes;
• spicy, smoked and salty dishes.

Health and diseases of the Shetland Shepherd

Sheltie is considered a fairly healthy breed, whose representatives easily live up to 10-15 years. However, there is still a predisposition to certain types of diseases in shepherds. Most often, shelties suffer from dysplasia, hypothyroidism, eye diseases (cataracts, eyelid inversion) and epilepsy. They also have such ailments as histiocytoma, congenital deafness, dislocation of the elbow, as well as Willenbrand-Diana disease.

How to choose a puppy

Choose well-fed, fluffy and pleasantly smelling babies. The eyes of a healthy puppy should not water, and the area under the tail should be clean, without traces of diarrhea. Coughing and actively scratching themselves animals are a clear sign that everything is not going smoothly in the nursery. Another reason to be wary is the breeder's promises to sell you an exhibition "instance" of a puppy. In fact, a breeder is not able to predict the career of his pet, even if he is born from third-generation interchampions. If the seller tries to assure you otherwise, most likely, he does not have too much experience in breeding activities.

To check the reputation of the institution, you can request from its management an inspection report of the litter, which is compiled by RKF specialists. The breeder's possession of this document is a guarantee that your pet will be registered with the cynological association. Getting to know the puppy's parents is also a good safety net, which makes it possible to see the exhibition potential or lack thereof in the baby.

If your goal is a show–class sheltie, ask the breeder for a puppy weight gain card (Catherine Riemann method). Animals that have gained no more than 900 g in weight in the last 3 weeks promise to fit into the breed standard in the future. Kids who are not gaining weight or growing too actively can also make nice pets, but the way to exhibitions will most likely be closed to them.

It is important to determine the sex of the puppy in advance, since the character of males and female shelties differs markedly. Boys are more difficult to train (the habits of the pack leader affect), while girls are more accommodating and inquisitive. At the same time, as the pets grow up, the situation changes. Mature bitches become very cunning and can show self-will, so you will have to look for new approaches in dealing with them. The main "trump cards" of girls are a friendly disposition, strong attachment to the house and the owner, as well as quick adaptability to changed living conditions. Sheltie males are outwardly more spectacular than girls and much more active. In addition, unlike bitches, they are good at distributing their own love among all family members.

Curious fact: despite the fact that in terms of appearance, bitches are significantly inferior to males, the price tag for them is always higher.

Photos of sheltie puppies

How much does sheltie cost

The cost of a sheltie puppy directly depends on its class, coat color and gender. The most expensive types of colors are bicolor (black and white) and bimel (silver–blue background with white markings). Sable color is considered quite common, so such individuals are much cheaper.

Average price tag for a sheltie puppy from domestic breeders – $250 - $350. Animals with defects in appearance, as well as dimensions beyond the breed standard, are sold at $100 - $150.