10 Things to Know About Shelties

By Becky Casale, author, Shelties: The Complete Pet Owner's Guide

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They may be small dogs, but Shelties have a lot going on in the brains department, making them highly sensitive and easy to train. But do Shelties bark a lot? How often should you groom them? And do they get along with children? Here are 10 things to know about Shetland Sheepdogs.

1. Shelties Aren't Miniature Collies

The Rough Collie is a famous dog breed made popular by Lassie, so it's no surprise that Shelties got the nickname Mini Lassies. However, the Sheltie breed history tells us a different story. Unlike Miniature Poodles, which were created by breeding generation after generation of smaller Poodles, modern Shelties trace their ancestry back to a completely different Scandinavian Spitz breed imported to the Shetland Islands in the 1700s.

Over the next 200 years, other breeds were crossed into the "Toonie" population, including Pomeranians, Papillons, Corgis, Border Collies, and plenty of Rough Collies. The fact that Shelties resemble mini Lassies today is a case of selective breeding to incorporate the distinguished long-haired, long-nosed look of the Rough Collie.

Rough Collie vs Sheltie.

2. Shelties Are a Small Dog Breed

The AKC defines Shelties as 13-16 inches (33-41cm) tall and 15-25 pounds (7-11kg). Why so specific? Setting a dog breed standard ensures professional breeders can maintain future generations the Shetland Sheepdogs we know and love. Deviations from this well-defined make-up would soon see Shelties disappear altogether. Check out my summary of the Shetland Sheepdog Breed Standard and be amazed at how much effort goes into maintaining this beautiful small dog breed.

Could you pick a Sheltie out of a line-up?

3. Shelties Are Double Coated Dogs

With an undercoat of woolly fluff for insulation and cooling, and a topcoat of coarse hair for waterproofing, Shetland Sheepdogs have truly remarkable coats. Brushing is an essential part of Sheltie care and all owners must understand how to groom a Sheltie. Ignore your grooming responsibilities at your peril! Not only will your furniture start to look like your dog, but your dog will accumulation painful knots and mats which pull at the skin.

Deep grooming a Shetland Sheepdog every 1-2 weeks is a big commitment, suiting animal lovers who are conscientious, nurturing, and patient. I recommend grooming your Sheltie yourself since these are sensitive dogs and grooming is a vulnerable experience for them. If you use a dog groomer, make sure you can afford regular visits, pick someone with a calming vibe, and stick with them to reduce the stress on your Sheltie.

Groom me or I will shed in your food.

4. Shelties Are The 6th Smartest Dog Breed

Shelties are smart dogs, in possession of a attentiveness that's unmatched by most other breeds. According to Stanley Coren’s book, The Intelligence of Dogs, Shelties are the sixth most intelligent dog breed. This means they can learn new commands in as little as five repetitions and excel at performing tricks and agility. Training a Shetland Sheepdog puppy is very rewarding and fun; other breeds may seem out-of-tune once you've had a good conversation with a Sheltie!

Having a smart Shetland Sheepdog comes with responsibility, though. You need to keep her mentally stimulated with daily walks with lots of smells, time off the leash, opportunities to socialize with other dogs and humans, and dog games around the house. If your Sheltie still has mental and physical energy to burn at the end of the day, you'll soon know about it when she breaks out into a game of Zoomies at 8 o'clock at night.

Maggie performs a classic dog trick.

5. Shelties Are Natural Alarm Dogs

Their working dog history on the Shetland Islands means Shelties were selectively bred for attentiveness, intelligence, keen eyes, and alarm barking. These traits persist strongly in today's pet Shelties, who are compelled to protect their homes from unfamiliar house guests, unfamiliar dogs dogs, prowling cats and, of course, the mailman.

The Sheltie isn't a guard dog—he won't attack anyone—but he will diligently raise your awareness to any suspicious activity whatsoever. He'll continue to sound the alarm until you give the all clear, which can be as simple as a short, sharp, authoritative "SHHH!" so he knows you've acknowledged the perceived threat.

To alleviate his need to alarm bark at every speck of dust that floats past the window, try giving your Shetland Sheepdog alternative sources of mental stimulation. Getting out and about at the start of the day is excellent; he'll need a couple of hours to rest and recover, after which you can offer a edible dog chew to keep him stimulated for the next while.

Train your Sheltie jobs to do tasks around the house, like cooking, cleaning, ironing... no wait, that's just a dream I had. What I mean is hiding dog treats around a room and saying "Find It", allowing him to do nose work. Or teach him to put all his dog toys in his basket at the command "Clean Up". Shelties are so smart they can even be trained to close doors, turn of lights, or bring the remote!

Howard standing to attention on lookout duty.

6. Shelties Are Vocal Dogs

Besides the strong desire to alarm bark, Shelties also communicate through various noises that sound to us like singing, talking, and yowling. What makes it even more endearing is that it's almost always aimed in your general direction, leaving you with the distinct impression that your Shetland Sheepdog is talking to you.

Some Shelties are more vocal than others. By Sheltie standards, Howard was the strong, silent type, while Piper was our vocal artist. He used to howl at the answer machine to summon us, lest we miss an important phone call. He also sang when he yawned and was known so say such words as "rowl", "rarr", and "yah".

Piper, our singing Sheltie.

7. Shelties Have a Great Temperament

Shetland Sheepdogs are truly loving, loyal, affectionate little fellas. Of course, any dog of any makeup can be like this, but the Sheltie breed temperament does tend to hit these markers. Plus, do to their size and appearance, there's a certain sweetness you'll recognize in every Sheltie you meet.

The Sheltie temperament leans toward a submissive nature and a desire to please. He follows you EVERYWHERE like a lost puppy, while also protecting you from fearsome intruders. He's quirky, cunning, and alert—especially to that rolling 3am thunderstorm. Good dog.

Beware, though, an anxious Sheltie can be extremely skittish. Nervousness in Shelties is usually due to a lack of socialization during puppyhood. Around 4-10 weeks of age, a puppy's fear threshold is very high, meaning he throws himself into new situations with little regard for his safety. Among other things, this gives him lots of opportunities to grow attached to humans, who might otherwise represent a threat as a meat-eating predator who's ten times his size.

A puppy who doesn't learn that humans are friendly and safe will forever be on guard around humans he doesn't know. This also makes it very difficult for anxious Shelties to become accustomed to children, who are the strangest and most unpredictable humans of all. If a Sheltie puppy is exposed to children of different ages, he's much more likely to be a good family dog.

Piper gazing heroically into the middle distance.

8. Shelties Need Daily Exercise

All dogs love to run. Shelties, originally bred to be active working dogs, need at least 30-60 minutes of outdoor exercise a day. Give your Sheltie ample opportunities to explore, sniff, socialize, and explore off the leash. While Shelties don't tend to play fetch like many dog breeds, they do love to herd. The equivalent to fetch in Sheltie terms is something like rolling a pebble along the beach and letting your Sheltie chase it. He won't bring it back but he'll gain the satisfaction of having herded that pebble to within an inch of its life.

Shelties have lots of quick energy so give them every chance to exercise, especially in their younger years. Having said that, they won't go hiking or running for hours. If it's a rainy day, initiate a game with your Sheltie by performing the Play Bow. Then chase and stalk them around the house for as long as your heart holds out.

Your Sheltie will love you for this.

9. Shelties Should Be Spayed or Neutered

The Humane Society says that 3 million unwanted dogs are put down in the US every year because pet owners refuse to de-sex their dogs. Backyard breeding is a catch-all term for accidental or deliberate breeding by pet owners. Some do it because they think it'll be cute. Or they'll make money selling the puppies. Or they just HAVE to propagate the DNA of their beloved pet because they're so awesome.

Most of us just don't like the idea of de-sexing our babies, as if they're one day going to leave home, get married, and start a family. The reality is that a dog is a companion animal, not a child. She already has a family: you. What justifiable reason do you have to put her through pregnancy and birth, then take her puppies away from her forever? Moreover, with so many unwanted dogs in the world, there's just no way to justify backyard breeding as an ethical practice.

There are also physical and psychological benefits to spaying females and neutering males. It's natural to feel weird about de-sexing but it's a no-brainer when you consider the overall benefits. The best time to spay a Sheltie is 6-9 months before her first heat cycle, and the best time to neuter a Sheltie is 6-12 months once he's reached his adult size.

De-sexing your Sheltie is an ethical and health-driven choice.

10. Shelties Live for 12-15 Years

Smaller dogs tend to have a longer life expectancy than larger dogs, with Shetland Sheepdogs typically having a lifespan of 12 to 15 years. Their longevity is influenced by genetics, diet, exercise, and overall care. One of the most common issues in Shelties is overfeeding, which puts stress on the joints and organs.

The most common causes of death in Shelties (as with most breeds) are cancer, heart disease, and kidney failure. Take care of your Sheltie's diet and oral health, ensure he gets ample daily exercise, and take him for annual vet checks and vaccinations to maximize his lifespan. It's also worth reading up on genetic diseases in Shelties so you're prepared to spot any warning signs.

Our beautiful elderly Shelties.

To learn more about the wonderful world of Shetland Sheepdogs, download my 160-page PDF ebook, Shelties: The Complete Pet Owner's Guide, now in its fifth edition.

The guide features hands-on advice on raising a Sheltie illustrated with 100+ photos from Sheltie owners around the world. It's much loved by those who followed the adventures of Howard and Piper Woofington Moon, the inspiration behind Sheltie Planet.

Click here to learn more.