Origin

The Shetland Sheepdog evolved in Shetland. Shetland is basically an island off the coast of Scotland. The collies were already there in the island but they were mixed with the Yakkin and the fishermen introduced them. The Shetland Sheepdog was used for looking after the live stock and they were exported outside the country in the 1900 century.

General Description

The Shetland Sheepdog almost look like a small collie. This breed is a medium sized breed with a graceful appearance. It has long coat like most of the sheep dogs. The Shetland Sheepdog has a well build muscular body but it is not at all bulky. It has a broad chest which touches the shoulders. They have a flat and narrow head, its muzzle is thin, sharp and long with a black nose on the tip. They also have triangular ears which are folded in the front a bit. The Shetland Sheepdog has almond shaped black eyes. They have straight boned limbs and a long fluffy tail which almost touches the ground. They are found in many colours like sable and white, blue merle etc.

Character

The Shetland Sheepdog is an active and hard working breed. This has a lot of strength and forms a great companion. They are capable of all hardships. They have a self confidence and are never shy and aggressive. This breed is very dashing, reliable and authentic. They are well suited for being a good family dog and at the same time they can also be a good worker. The Shetland Sheepdog is very good to children and other pets. Some may not love to mix with strangers. The Shetland Sheepdog should never be left without any work. This breed can also be easily trained.

Temperament

The Shetland Sheepdog is totally a balanced breed. They can become very good companions and they are too devoted and loyal to their families. They can also be protective of their families. The Shetland Sheepdog is intelligent by nature. They are good to all. They are very good to children, other pets and even all strangers. Some may be very suspicious about strangers. This breed love human interaction very much and they love to be amidst the family always. They should not be left alone for a long time as that may get worse. We can say that this breed is a perfect family dog.

Training

The breed is very intelligent and obedient so they are not a big deal to train. They love to obey their masters and have a tendency of pleasing them. This is a very good breed.

Health

The Shetland sheepdog can be affected by CHD, epilepsy, thyroid, SES, etc. But these may be cut off by proper breeding. Their average life span is 12-15 years.