The floppy ears of newborn Shetland sheepdog puppies eventually prick up. (A weight is sometimes used to break the tips of the ears forward.) The United Kingdom’s northern most islands-the original home of their nameshake dogs, located beyond the Orkney islands, north of Scotland-are known for their harsh natural environment, which has produce unusually small but sturdy flora and fauna, including the famous Shetland ponies.
Shelties, which need lots of exercise, resemble miniature collies, but they have a very long and markedly different heritage. Undersized like the sheep they traditionally herded, they were once called dwarf Scotch shepherds or Shetland collies. Despite their diminutive size, they are excellent sheepdogs, tough and hardworking; they herd sheep by nipping the tips of their charges’legs. One owner says, “They are sensitive to what the owner feels and thinks. They try to read my mind, to pick up what I feel.”
The Sheltie’s long coat requires a good brushing, especially during the shedding season.
Origin : United Kingdom
Size : (male/female) Height 13-16 inches ; weight 20 pounds
Coat : Long and harsh; undercoat is short, soft, and dense. Fur is feathered around neck, chest, legs, and tail. Colors include sable and white, tricolor (black,white, and tan), and bicolor (black and white).
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