Often referred to as Sheltie, this dog breed is a popular house pet. They're an agile and very energetic herding dog with a harsh and straight long coat and a dense undercoat. You can often find Shetland Sheepdog puppies with blue, black, or sable merle with quite a lot of white markings. These bright dogs are a joy to play with and they can’t get enough hugs and kisses.
Although the Shetland Sheepdog can be reserved around strangers and bark from time to time, once it gets comfortable there is no end to the amount of love it can give. You’ve probably also heard that this dog breed likes to tune in with the mood of the house. Well, there is some truth in it. Many Shelties are an exact replica of their adoptive parents. So, if you are happy, they will share your happiness! There is nothing better than that.
The Shetland Sheepdog is always eager to please and is an obedient, quick, and very intelligent companion. Despite their small size, these pups do love to jump around and have fun. But their brightness and eagerness are what sets them apart.
This dog breed is a world-class herding animal that displays agility and obedience. It is also a very affectionate companion, especially if you have another dog around the house.
When the two dogs get introduced, the Shetland Sheepdog is often seen as a kindred spirit. This dog breed loves to play and almost always displays friendly behaviour. It is not uncommon for them to be a little standoffish the first time they meet a friend. But, with time, all these boundaries can be lifted and the Shetland Sheepdog can enjoy a positive relationship.
When it comes to cats, this dog breed can get along just fine. First, however, the cat will put the Sheltie in its place, and then they can play.
Talk about obedience! Overall, you can expect the Shetland Sheepdog to learn tasks and tricks rather quickly. But, because of their constant energy, you would have to provide it with the necessary mental and physical stimulation. That’s where regular exercise can come in handy.
The Shetland Sheepdog is a perfect family companion. It loves a welcoming home with charming adoptive parents but it won't like spending too much time in the house alone. What this dog needs is love and attention. So, the owner that provides that will always keep the Shetland Sheepdog in perfect shape.
Because of this breeds friendly and obedient nature, you don't have to worry about being an expert trainer to train it. With a little bit of effort and attention, you can go a long way.
This dog breed has seasonal shedding. So, it is best to brush it about 2 to 3 times a week, just to make sure their coat is silky smooth. Because of their double coat, you can expect the fur to end up everywhere around the house. With regular brushing and the occasional bath, you will find it is easier to remove some of the loose hair and avoid matting.
One of the most important things to remember about this dog breed is that shaving is not recommended. Since its coat creates a natural protection against heat and sunburn, you should avoid shaving it. Instead, a regular trim will prove useful, particularly during the hot summer days.
The Shetland Sheepdog is often quite healthy but the older it gets, the bigger the odds are that they will develop some health issues such as eye disease, thyroid disease, or hip dysplasia.
To keep your dog in tip-top shape, it is a good idea to do a hip evaluation once a while and pair it with an ophthalmologist visit.
This will make sure that whatever illness might affect him, you can still keep it in check.
To help protect them if they become sick or have an accident, you can purchase Shetland Sheepdog Pet Insurance. This is a practical way to reduce healthcare costs and get a more affordable medical treatment for your canine friend. Shetland Sheepdog Pet Insurance can help you gain access to the necessary treatment, regardless of how complex the condition may be.
Hip Dysplasia is an inherited condition that means the thighbone doesn’t fit snuggly in the hip joint.
The symptoms are generally pain and lameness which will vary in severity and can be present in one or both rear legs.
Sadly, it’s not uncommon for the disorder to lead to hip replacement.
Make sure you ask any breeder if the puppy’s parents have been tested and cleared for Hip Dysplasia. If they have not, or the issue is present in one or both, find another breeder.
Patellar Luxation is a relatively common problem that occurs when the patella is not properly lined up. This causes the Femur (thigh bone), Patella (kneecap), and Tibia (calf) to slip out of place. When this happens, the dog will generally skip or hop.
There are four grades, ranging from I, an occasional luxation causing temporary lameness in the joint, to grade IV, in which the turning of the tibia is severe, and patella cannot be realigned manually.
The constant rubbing caused by this issue can lead to arthritis, a degenerative joint disease and severe levels of Patella luxation may require surgery to avoid further issues and pain.
Collie Eye Anomaly is an inherited condition which causes changes and abnormalities in the eye, sometimes leading to blindness.
Changes can include choroidal hypoplasia (an abnormal development of the choroids), coloboma (a defect in the optic disc), staphyloma (a thinning of the sclera), and retinal detachment.
Usually, Collie Eye Anomaly occurs by the time the dog is two years old and sadly there is no treatment.