"Sheltie" - Shetland Sheepdog Breed Profile

History The Shetland Sheepdog can be traced back many years to the Shetland Isles, where they were bred as a herding dog. Smaller, hardier animals were required to survive the harsh conditions in the Shetland Isles and thus, the Shetland Sheepdog was developed. No official records exist, but it is believed that Sheltie's probably derived from Scottish Collies, which were smaller than today's Collies. Appearance Shelties are very pretty little dogs with almond shaped eyes, giving them a very sweet expression. Shelties should stand at approximately 36 cm tall for females and 37 cm tall for males. They have very long, thick coats and come in a wide variety of colours; Sable, Tri-coloured, Black and White, Black and Tan and Blue Merle, with many variations inbetween. Temperament Sheltie's have wonderful affectionate, gentle temperaments with their owners, but can be a little reserved with strangers. They are certainly not 'lap-dogs', but make wonderful pets because of their kind nature. They have wonderful characters, with an endearing stubbornness that makes them a pleasure to own. Their strength and intelligence mean that these hardy little dogs excel in many competitive fields, such as obedience and agility. Grooming They do require a considerable amount of grooming because of the thickness and length of their coats. Exercise Sheltie's are very active little dogs, and are described by many as almost tireless. They enjoy being outdoors and do require a moderate amount of exercise. Health Problems The breed is largely free of any major health problems, however Collies and Shelties are known to suffer from some hereditary eye conditions, namely Progressive Retinal Atrophy (P.R.A) and Collie Eye Anomaly (C.E.A). P.R.A is a rare but serious disease which inevitably leads to total blindness. It is unlikely to be detected until the dog is approximately 2 years of age and although nothing can be done to stop the progression of this disease, responsible breeders are careful to have breeding animals tested so that new litters are not produced from affected parents. C.E.A is much less serious; statistics suggest that up to 75% of Shelties are affected to some degree, however it is unlikely that the condition will worsen in most cases and a mild affliction will not cause great inconvenience to the dog.