Shetland Sheepdog

The Shetland Sheepdog, sometimes called a Sheltie, is a breed of small dog that originated from the Shetland Islands in Scotland. Here, where the main commodities are wool and lamb, the Sheltie was bred to watch over the flocks of sheep. Due to the terrain of the islands, a small dog was needed to guard the herds. Through selective breeding the Sheltie was produced, resulting in a hardy dog with small size and large intelligence. The dogs are independent enough that they can be trusted to watch over the flocks in the absence of the farmer. http://www.petplace.com/dogs/choosing-a-shetland-sheepdog/page1.aspx

The American Kennel Club tells us that both the Shetland Sheepdog and Collie can trace their ancestry back to the Border Collie in Scotland. http://www.akc.org/breeds/shetland_sheepdog/index.cfm

The American Shetland Sheepdog Association, a member of the American Kennel Club, was founded in 1929. http://www.assa.org/

Shetland Sheepdogs(Shelties) are energetic and loyal, which make them good companionship animals. Their high intelligence also makes them easily trainable. They are considered to be one of the smartest breeds of dog. Shelties are loving and affectionate to their family, but they can be skittish around strangers. Shelties seek to stay active by chasing things. For their own safety, they must not be allowed to roam free near roads as they are likely to chase after moving cars.Dog Breed Info Center: Shetland Sheepdog A Sheltie is accomplished at tracking, herding, guarding, and running agility. They love to perform tricks and are excellent watchdogs.http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/shetlandsheepdog.htm

Caution is needed in obtaining your Sheltie from commercial kennels which breed specifically for pet store sales, or when going to a backyard breeder who has little knowledge of the temperament or health problems of the breed. Well-bred Shelties are suited for families with active children, while poorly-bred Shelties can be yappy, high-strung, fearful and nippy, making them unsuitable for families with children.http://www.canismajor.com/dog/sheltie.html

These dogs come in a variety of colors and there are many terms used to describe the coloring of the Sheltie.

• Sable: The coat is basically brown or tan; some have black guard hairs and others have a reddish cast to the coat. There are usually white markings.
• Black: Black, white and tan markings are designated tri-color; when they are marked with white only, they are designated bi-black.
• Blue Merle]: The coloring is a dappled silver and black and will usually have black patches. The dogs may also have blue or black eyes.

Coloring plays into AKC competition, but has no bearing in how good a Sheltie is as a pet, how easily it will take to training, or its temperament. While it seems the public favor the sables, many breed fanciers seem to prefer the tri-colors and the blue merles. http://www.k9web.com/dog-faqs/breeds/shelties.html

• Milesend Shetland Sheepdogs - News of Shows http://www.milesend.eu/news.htm

• CafePress: Shetland Sheepdog Merchandise

• Amazon.com: Shetland Sheepdog Books

• eBay: Shetland Sheepdog Merchandise

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• Sheltie Posters and Prints: http://www.art.com/asp/search_do.asp?...

• Dallas/Ft. Worth Sheltie Rescue http://www.sheltie.org/

• Minnesota Sheltie Rescue http://www.mnsheltierescue.org/

• Northern Virginia Sheltie Rescue http://www.nvsr.org/

• Central Illinois Sheltie Rescue http://www.illinoissheltierescue.com/