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Did you know? Shetland Sheepdog are known for their gentle and sweet personality.
They love to keep themselves busy by guarding the farmer’s sheep on the farm. Canines of the Shetland Islands off the coast of Scotland also keep hungry birds and sheep out of the farmer’s garden; they serve as very good herding dogs too.
Shetland Sheepdogs are descendants of the Collie. They are very well popular for their intelligence and their companionship with their ‘Hoomans’
However many people are not yet aware of this amazing breed of dogs. Hence, in this blog post, I’m going to take you on a tour of the characteristics of these beautiful beings and what are the most insane secrets about them.
By reading this blog post, You will have an exact idea about Shetland Sheepdogs and misconceptions related to them. You will also understand if you can go ahead and buy them in India.
Let’s get started, Hooray!
The Shetland Sheepdogs often called the ‘Sheltie’ are a breed of herding dogs that are found in the Shetland Islands near Scotland.
This cute species of dogs are clever, vocal, excitable, and willing to do anything for you! They are extremely trustworthy to their owners, hence they are also known as ‘Shadows’ for their attachment and loyalty to their family.
The Sheltie’s origin is completely undiscovered but it is not a direct relative of the Rough Collie, they were originally a small-mixed breed dog only about 20-30 centimetres.
Not like many breeds that resemble their larger counterparts, the Shetland Sheepdogs were developed by selectively breeding for the smaller and smaller size.
For many years, the Shetland Sheepdog was also called the ‘Toonie’ which was taken from the Norwegian word for farm.
The farmers started breeding the dogs, crossing the Collie with other smaller dogs in order to protect the herd of the Shetland Sheeps.
Many people also speculate that the only task for these types of fluffy dogs was to protect the smaller sheep from birds and other kinds of threats.
Shetland Sheepdogs have a passion for chasing birds, they absolutely love it!
In the early 1800s, the Shetland Sheepdogs were brought to Scotland and England where they were misjudged as a miniature Collie breed.
On the Islands, the farmer started breeding their small shelties to be even smaller for business purposes and selling them at a higher rate to the visitors.
The original Spitz-type working sheepdog is now officially extinct. There was so much crossbreeding that people almost realized that the original dog was disappearing.
The year 1909 marked the first recognition of the Shetland sheepdogs by the English Kennel Club.
The first Sheltie in the world is a female known as ‘Badenock Rose’. However, the first Shetland sheepdog to be registered in the books by the American Kennel Club was “Lord Scott” in 1911.
While they are the most serious when it comes to their job of handling the sheep, they also make excellent partners and companions to their owners and fellow dogs.
The thing here is that they are also one of the top 10 smartest dog breeds in the world!
You would never believe the fact that one little sheltie once saved a young boy from an out-of-control pitbull that is considered the most dangerous dog in the world.
Shelties handle the herd of sheep quite flexibly.
The Shetland Sheepdog was once called ‘The Toonie Dog’
Shelties are few of the only dogs that can handle a herd.
They are known for the wide range of different personalities
Shetland Sheepdogs are famous for their bright smiles.
Shelties hail from the northeastern part of the UK.
They have a double coat
Shelties are quite athletic but are also adaptable
Despite their size, they are rulers in the world of herd guard dogs.
Shetland sheepdogs are the most popular breeds in the United States.
Shelties come in multiple colours and they have a lifespan of 11-15 years. With a healthy lifestyle, Diet, and Regular exercise they can add fun addictions to your family for a dozen years or more.
Shelties have inherited the lifestyle of being in a herd so you must be careful that they don’t harm themselves in the process of chasing a group of cars or vehicles or even larger animals.
An average shetland sheepdog is about 13 to 16 tall in height and weighs around 11 – 30 pounds.
Generally, Shelties are a breed with very few physical health issues however they may have some genetic issues.
Shetland Sheepdog gains weight quite easily and sometimes obesity can become an issue for them.
Shetland Sheepdogs are highly intelligent, energetic and super lovely dogs. Their intelligence and eagerness to learn & please make them ridiculously easy to train.
However, they are a little stubborn and too smart for their own good as well. So a dog trainer has to always keep them motivated and focused during their training.
I’m sure with time and patience you will be able to train your sheltie to be a well-behaved family member.
Make sure you reward them after every successful attempt at training them in order for them to remember the action.
Shetland sheepdogs train well when they’re with a group of other dogs since they’re actively socially interacting with other breeds.
The amazing little gorgeous Shetland Sheepdogs have become a subject of controversy in the UK.
Some of the people had proposed a split to recognize the ‘American Shetland Sheepdog’ as a separate breed altogether. Ever since the foundation of the American Shetland Sheepdog Association, the breed has gone separate ways from its UK counterparts.
Hence they claim to issue a warrant for the separation of American Shetland Sheepdogs as a different breed.
But the interesting fact here is that this wasn’t the first controversy surrounding our fluffy being.
The origins of the Shetland Sheepdog are extremely difficult to track down since there aren’t any records as such. What breed lead to the creation of a Sheltie is still unknown.
The breed’s name was initially kept as Shetland Collie but was formally changed due to the controversy with Rough Collie breeders.
Shelties resemble Rough Collie to a large extent making them almost similar looking to the latter breed.
There has also been a strange story of a black and tanking Charles being left by a visiting yacht that is the reason for the preponderance of the black and tans registered on the first Island.
Another breed that might be responsible for the creation of the Sheltie would be the Yakki.
How to Take Care of a Shetland Sheepdog and Is There a Way to Adopt Them in India?
Chances are that you have chosen a Sheltie as your family member because they are
Loyal and a loving companion
Good with your children and other pets.
Vigilant Guard dogs
Extremely sweet and gentle
Isn’t it?
I know, I know… They’re the best!
But you also need to take care of them very well, otherwise, chances are they may get uncomfortable with the atmosphere they stay in or even suffer from their health issues.
Supervise them like you would with a toddler. Keep your doors closed and block off rooms if necessary. The trick will keep them away from any harmful object that should not be consumed.
They are most likely to get affected due to their dental issues so you need to brush their teeth at least three times a week if not every day.
Brush their coats on a weekly basis.
Clean their ears on a weekly basis even if they’re puppies.
Please take them out for a daily walk and frequent play sessions with other animals.
Try to involve them in dog sports that’ll keep them agile, and obedient and develop their social skills.
A Sheltie always has a strong chase instinct so they need to be leash-walked and try to keep it within the fence if possible for safety purposes.
Don’t give your dog human food.
Always feed them a high-quality diet.
Make them exercise every day but don’t stress them out.
Shetland Sheepdogs are pretty much available in India as well, But they are definitely not in demand. The canines are commonly available in metropolis cities and are not readily available in other parts of the country.
These dogs have a decent tolerance to the humid temperatures of India and thus they thrive easily in the country but the main reason for their low demand is always the low availability and the high price for it.
If you’re planning to get a Sheltie from a breeder make sure you concentrate on buying from a trustworthy breeder only.
The Average Price of the Shetland Sheepdog in India Is
Sheltie Puppy – Rs 30,000 to Rs 40,000
Puppy (KYC Registered) – Rs 40K to Rs 50K
A grown-up Sheltie – Rs 50K to Rs 80K
If you are sure that you can take care of a Sheltie then only go for it otherwise it’s not wise to adopt and leave them unattended.
Shetland Sheepdogs are a marvellous breed of Dogs, you just need to be vigilant and take care of them as an awesome dog parent would!
Shelties are excellent companions for children who know how to handle a dog. But sadly they are bought without any kind of clear knowledge about what goes into owning one and they often end up with rescue groups after owners abandon them on the streets.
When it comes to other dogs the Shetland Sheepdogs have a definite preference when choosing ‘friends’ even if they don’t live with other Shelties.
At first, they may have an unfriendly approach towards different breeds of dogs but that goes away with time. Shelties also get along with cats of any breed, Cats also love to put the canine in its place for trying to herd them which is rather a quite funny scenario to watch!
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