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Toy Sheltie

History

The Shetland Sheepdog, or Sheltie as it is usually known, evolved on the bleak little islands off the north coast of Scotland known as the Shetland Islands. Here everything developed in proportion to the landscape -- diminutive. The Shetland pony looks like a miniature Shire horse, and the cattle and sheep are also much smaller than their relatives elsewhere. Therefore, it was necessary that the herding dogs also be small. So a miniature race of working collies evolved from the Scotch Border Collies, the Yakkie Dog, the King Charles Spaniel and the Pomeranian. Living conditions on this little island were very harsh and the shepherd needed a dog that was intelligent, courageous, hardy, loyal, obedient and gentle with an all-weather coat since he had to work in rain and snow and varying extremes of temperature. To meet these requirements the Sheltie emerged. The original Shetland Collie or Toonie Dog was not supposed to exceed 12 inches nor 14 pounds according to the Shetland Stud book set up in 1908. As the Shelties were bred in Scotland and England, the collie breeders objected to the name and it was changed to the Shetland Sheepdog and so remains today. Shelties were first registered in the United States in 1911 but there was no real interest in the breed until 1924 when Catherine Coleman Moore began Sheltieland Kennels by importing an English female, Kilvarock Lassie. All of the founding stock for American Shelties trace to English dogs. The American Shetland Sheepdog Club was founded in 1929 at the Westminster Kennel Club Show with our present standard adopted in 1959. The American Kennel Club presently recognizes the breed in the Herding Group. Breeding Shelties on other than the Shetland Islands seemed to cause an increase in size, apparently due to the climate and also due to crosses in the early 1900's to small rough coated Collies to improve coat and head type. The Kennel Club (English) recognized the breed in 1909 and in 1910 the first standard was written and raised the size to 15 inches. The breed was, at times, classified as a toy dog. Today, Shetland Sheepdog breeders object just as strenuously to the still used "Toy Collie" as Collie breeders once did to "Shetland Collie."

From the island of Fetler came the early and most highly regarded of the Shetland Sheepdogs, just after the turn of the 20th century. James A. Loggie's dogs are the foundation of the breed. Lerwick Hakon, Lerwick Jarl, Lerwick Olaf and Zesta where shown in 1913 at Croft's Show in London, England. Edward R. Stettinius owner of Kilvarock Lassie, a sable & white (DOB 10/11/1922), is one of the most famous bloodlines in the U.K. Bred in Scotland by Mr. Cusin and sold (imported to the US) by Catherine E. Coleman of Williamsburg, MA.

Shetland

Sheepdogs originated in the Shetland Isles of Scotland. They were bred to endure rough climates, harsh terrain and work all day under rugged conditions. Shetland Sheepdogs (commonly called Shelties) are not Collies in miniature - though many erroneously think this. Though the two breeds bear resemblance in color, Shetland Sheepdogs are a separate breed entirely. Also erroneously called Toy Collies, Shetland Sheepdogs are far from toys! This is a hard working little dog. Do not let the size fool you.

Shetland Sheepdogs are a very willing breed. They take fast to training, though their sharpness can be a bit much for someone not used to fast thinking dogs with a drive to work. The breed requires daily exercise as well as some form of mental activity. Ten minutes of fetch in the back yard will not be enough for this active little dog. They excel in Obedience and Agility competitions. A bored Sheltie is not a good thing. Boredom can lead to fence running and excessive barking as well as other undesirable behaviors and hyperactivity. A Sheltie should be wary of strangers but never shy. Proper socialization and training when it is appropriate to bark is a must.

Shetland Sheepdogs range in size from 13 to 16 inches at the shoulder with weight being proportionate to height. Over- and undersized dogs may appear and this will not hurt their quality as a companion or performance dog though these dogs cannot be shown in Conformation and should not be bred. Colors include sable, tri-color, blue merle, bi-black, bi-blue and color headed white. (See the section on Colors).

The Sheltie has a double coat with harsher guard hairs and a soft, woolly undercoat. Ideally, they should be brushed weekly with increased brushings during sheds to remove the undercoat. They do not require shaving in the summer. Attention to teeth and nails round out grooming for a pet dog.

Shetland Sheepdogs are wonderful companion animals that will be just as happy in the suburbs or the farm as long as they get proper exercise and mental workouts. In the right environment, they are great family pets. If you are interested in this breed, look for reputable and responsible breeders or rescue groups. This is a popular breed and popularity encourages much irresponsible breeding by uninformed people for the sake of a sale.

Shelties are an extremely difficult breed to master judging due to the many types that appear in the ring. These types are due to the youngness of the breed and the varied hereditary components from the black Zetland Toonie (Picts’) dog, the red Icelandic, the smutty muzzled Yakki, the then-large Pomeranian (all Nordic Spitz breeds) the Border Collie, the Blenheim King Charles Spaniel, and lastly, the Scotch Collie. Rough Collie crosses were done as late as the 1940’s on a clandestine basis. There were originally two stud books – Book “A” for the 10”-12” toy type that was sold off Islands and Book “B” for the 12”-15” working dogs that remained on the Islands. The Shetland Collie (their original name) was first shown as a Collie in the “Under 27 lb” class. In 1914, when the English Kennel Club recognized the Shelties as a separate breed, only stud book “B” was adopted as the true breed. But the throwback to toy type still emerges on occasion and is not a desirable type among knowledgeable breeders.

The shetland sheepdog, also nicknamed the Sheltie or minature colllie, originated in Great Britain from the Shetland Islands. During the 1700's fishing boats bringing king charles spaniels, "Yakki" dogs from Greenland and spitz-type herding dogs from Scandinavian countries were allowed to go onshore and often left little remembrances. The Sheltie is related to other collies directly or by ancestors. These dogs proved to be alert, eager working dogs, for the toon or town (or from tun, norwegian for farm) and were called Tonnie dogs. The Shetland Islands are bare and rugged with inhospital territory for raising stock, and it's natives were rugged too and developed animals, like minature cattle, dwarf sheep, tiny shetland ponies which were herded by small sheep dogs. The small farms known as crofts and the crofters thought highly of there gentle herding dogs. There easy going manner made them gentle with stock. Early literature refers to the dogs as "nondescript" Shetlander named Loggie, standardized type for the show ring and the breed was entered in Crufts in 1906, were shown with the collies as minature. During WWI a fancier introduced a collie into the surviving lines and, created the type know at this time. The Sheltie standard in height and marking requirements, due to having the Rough Collie cross recently in the lines some specimens may be larger then desired but still make wonderful companions. He is 13-16 inches in height from foot to shoulder, comes in several colours, like sable and white, tri, etc. These "apartment size" collies (Shelties) are highly intelligent, willing to please, healthy, docile and great with children, as with the other collies, regualr grooming schedule keeps their plush coats looking attractive

Grooming How much grooming your Sheltie will need depends on the individual dog. The Sheltie is a very clean dog, and with a minimum of effort can be kept beautiful and comfortable. On the average, a daily once-over, combined with a weekly vigorous brushing, is all that's required. Shelties also require periodic nail trimming, ear care, and teeth cleaning to prevent early tooth loss or gum disease. Male Shelties normally shed their undercoat about once a year, while females usually she twice a year, shortly after their "heat" cycles. Exercise: Your Sheltie will adapt himself to your way of life. If you lead a quiet life-style, with no exercise, so will he, but it will not be healthy for him. If you have a fenced-in yard, where he can run around, fine. If not, long walks, or throwing a ball in the park, will keep both you and your Sheltie in shape. Shelties will do well in any environment as long as the necessity for regular exercise is understood.

Socialization This is the way you teach your Sheltie puppy how the world works. This is done by going on "field trips" to the park, playground, shopping center, a friend's home or gatherings where your puppy is welcome. A puppy that is not given this frequent away-from home experience between 12 and 20 weeks of age may not develop that outgoing, friendly Sheltie temperament. Training: Shelties are extremely intelligent, and quick to learn. They are happiest when they are participating members of the family. Shelties are ready for beginning obedience classes at four to six months of age.

FAULTS Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree. Too weedy or too high on the leg. Too short on the leg. Absence of teeth. Too long, too soft in back. Coarse skull. Glass or wall eye. Pendant lips. Leathers too short, too long or folded. Shy temperament.