Breed library

Shetland Sheepdog

Also known as Sheltie.

Shetland Sheepdog photograph.
Shetland Sheepdog sable.jpg - Flickr user nickobec (Nick Cowie). CC BY-SA 2.0. Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Shetland_Sheepdog_sable.jpg. License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0. License: CC BY-SA 2.0.

Breed overview

The Shetland Sheepdog, also known as the Sheltie, is a breed of herding dog that originated in the Shetland Islands of Scotland. It was formally recognized by the Kennel Club in 1909. It was originally called the Shetland Collie, but this caused controversy amongst Rough Collie breeders of the time, so the name was changed. It is a small dog, clever, vocal, willing to please, and trustworthy. Like the Shetland pony, Shetland cattle, and the Shetland sheep, the Shetland Sheepdog is a hardy but diminutive breed developed to thrive amidst the harsh and meagre conditions of its native islands. While the Shetland still excels at herding, today it is often raised as a working dog or family pet.

  • Breed type: dog breedBreed reference breed kind.
  • Country of origin: United KingdomBreed reference country of origin.

Breed facts

  • Unlike many miniature breeds that resemble their larger counterparts, this breed was not developed simply by selectively breeding the Rough Collie for smaller and smaller size.
  • The original sheepdog of Shetland was a Spitz-type dog, probably similar to the modern Icelandic Sheepdog.
  • Many of the early Shetlands were black and white or black and tan and this colouring can still be see in the muzzle of some sable dogs today whose muzzles are referred to as "smutty muzzles".
  • Pomeranian dog ancestry is likely given the appearance of the breed.
  • The first club for the breed called for a dog similar to the Rough Collie except in size, the standard called for dogs to be no taller than 15 in.

Size and appearance

The general appearance of the Shetland is that of a miniature Rough Collie. They are a small and double coated dog with a well shaped head. They have a long coat which becomes short around the face giving it the appearance of a mane.

  • Height reference: 33 - 38 cmAdult breed reference quantity from the article infobox. Original value 33 - 38 cm. Unit conversion where applicable: 1 inch = 2.54 cm; 1 pound = 0.45359237 kg. Original field and references are retained in the revision-pinned article evidence.
  • Height reference: 35.5 cmBreed reference height. female.
  • Height reference: 34.5 - 39.5 cmAdult breed reference quantity from the article infobox. Original value 34.5 - 39.5 cm. Unit conversion where applicable: 1 inch = 2.54 cm; 1 pound = 0.45359237 kg. Original field and references are retained in the revision-pinned article evidence.
  • Height reference: 37 cmBreed reference height. male.
  • Coat layers: double
  • Coat length: long
  • Coat length: short
  • Coat texture: straight
  • Height category: medium
  • Height category: short

Personality and behavior

His research found that an average Shetland could understand a new command in fewer than five repetitions and would obey a command the first time it was given either at or above 95% of the time.

  • Attachment and attention seeking (C-BARQ mean): 1.96 / 4Owner-reported attachment and attention seeking factor mean for US reference population Shetland Sheepdog.
  • Chasing (C-BARQ mean): 1.55 / 4Owner-reported chasing factor mean for US reference population Shetland Sheepdog.
  • Dog-directed aggression (C-BARQ mean): 0.73 / 4Owner-reported dog-directed aggression factor mean for US reference population Shetland Sheepdog.
  • Dog-directed fear (C-BARQ mean): 0.90 / 4Owner-reported dog-directed fear factor mean for US reference population Shetland Sheepdog.
  • Energy (C-BARQ mean): 1.87 / 4Owner-reported energy factor mean for US reference population Shetland Sheepdog.
  • Excitability (C-BARQ mean): 1.90 / 4Owner-reported excitability factor mean for US reference population Shetland Sheepdog.
  • Familiar-dog aggression (C-BARQ mean): 0.39 / 4Owner-reported familiar-dog aggression factor mean for US reference population Shetland Sheepdog.
  • Non-social fear (C-BARQ mean): 1.00 / 4Owner-reported non-social fear factor mean for US reference population Shetland Sheepdog.
  • Owner-directed aggression (C-BARQ mean): 0.10 / 4Owner-reported owner-directed aggression factor mean for US reference population Shetland Sheepdog.
  • Separation-related problems (C-BARQ mean): 0.53 / 4Owner-reported separation-related problems factor mean for US reference population Shetland Sheepdog.
  • Stranger-directed aggression (C-BARQ mean): 0.47 / 4Owner-reported stranger-directed aggression factor mean for US reference population Shetland Sheepdog.
  • Stranger-directed fear (C-BARQ mean): 1.09 / 4Owner-reported stranger-directed fear factor mean for US reference population Shetland Sheepdog.
  • Touch sensitivity (C-BARQ mean): 0.72 / 4Owner-reported touch sensitivity factor mean for US reference population Shetland Sheepdog.
  • Trainability (C-BARQ mean): 2.79 / 4Owner-reported trainability factor mean for US reference population Shetland Sheepdog.

Exercise and activities

As the name suggests, Shetland Sheepdogs can and have been used as sheepdogs, and they still participate in sheepdog trials.

Training and enrichment

Care planning: choose one everyday skill to practice and keep a record of each session. Note the cue, the reward your dog enjoys and what went well. Rotate familiar games and new activities, and use your notes to choose the next small step.

Coat and grooming

Care planning: use the coat details above to discuss a grooming routine with your groomer. Record brushing sessions, baths and appointments in the app. Add the tools you use and your preferred schedule so the whole household can follow the same routine.

  • Coat layers: double
  • Coat length: long
  • Coat length: short
  • Coat texture: straight

Health and lifespan

A Japanese study of pet cemetery data found a life expectancy of 14.3 years with 239 dogs, higher than 13.7 overall life expectancy. A UK study found a life expectancy of 13.4 years for the breed compared to an average of 12.7 for purebreeds and 12 for crossbreeds.

Living with this breed

Care planning: compare this profile's adult dimensions, coat care and available activity information with your household's routine. Make a shortlist, plan who will handle daily care and save the questions you want to ask a breed club, rescue or breeder.

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Breed history

Unlike many miniature breeds that resemble their larger counterparts, this breed was not developed simply by selectively breeding the Rough Collie for smaller and smaller size. The original sheepdog of Shetland was a Spitz-type dog, probably similar to the modern Icelandic Sheepdog. Strong evidence suggests that this dog was bred with the Yakki, an Icelandic dog that accompanied whalers from Greenland who landed in the ports of the island. When the breed was originally introduced breeders called them Shetland Collies, which upset Rough Collie breeders, so the name was changed to Shetland Sheepdog. During the early 20th century (up until the 1940s), additional crosses were made to Rough Collies to help retain the desired Rough Collie type - in fact, the first English Shetland champion's dam, Gesta, was a rough Collie. The year 1909 marked the initial recognition of the Shetland by the English Kennel Club, with the first registered Shetland being a female called Badenock Rose. The first Shetland to be registered by the American Kennel Club was "Lord Scott" in 1911.

Clubs and further reading

Sources

  1. Wikidata structured breed dataWikimedia contributors Retrieved 2026-10-14.License: CC0 1.0. Wikidata contributors (CC0).
  2. National C-BARQ breed and all-breed means from USA.PLOS ONE / Figshare Retrieved 2026-10-14.License: CC BY 4.0. Bohland, Kyle R.; Lilly, Meghan Leanne; Herron, Meghan E.; Arruda, Andréia G.; O’Quin, Jeanette M. (2023). National C-BARQ breed and all-breed means from USA.. PLOS ONE. Dataset. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0289356.s003 CC BY 4.0. Selected rows and field names adapted; values unchanged.
  3. Shetland Sheepdog - WikipediaWikipedia contributors Retrieved 2026-10-14.License: CC BY-SA 4.0. Adapted excerpts from Wikipedia contributors, Shetland Sheepdog, revision 1368890036. CC BY-SA 4.0. Formatting, citations and selection changed. Source history: https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Shetland_Sheepdog&action=history
  4. File:Shetland Sheepdog sable.jpgWikimedia Commons Retrieved 2026-10-14.License: CC BY-SA 2.0. Shetland Sheepdog sable.jpg - Flickr user nickobec (Nick Cowie). CC BY-SA 2.0. Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Shetland_Sheepdog_sable.jpg. License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0.
  5. Palipaws everyday care planningPalipaws Retrieved 2026-10-14.License: Palipaws original factual summaries. Palipaws. Original care-planning text, separate from breed measurements and licensed article summaries.
  6. AKC national parent club directoryAmerican Kennel Club Retrieved 2026-10-14.License: Factual reference only. Names and verified external links only. No source descriptions, logos or endorsement reused.