The lovable Sheltie
The Shetland Sheepdog, often known as the Sheltie, is a British breed of herding dog that originated in the Shetland Islands. The original name was Shetland Collie, but this caused confusion with the Rough Collie (the familiar and much larger dog often just known as a collie), so the breed's name was formally changed.
Like the Shetland pony, Shetland cattle and the Shetland sheep, the Shetland Sheepdog is a hardy but small breed developed to thrive amidst the harsh and meagre conditions of its native islands. These days the Sheltie is still used for herding, but is also very popular as a family pet.
The Sheltie's origins are obscure. It is partly descended from both the Rough Collie and the King Charles Spaniel, and was an even smaller sized breed in the past.
The thick, double coat of the Sheltie provides excellent protection from bad weather. The undercoat is dense and woolly. Shelties are either black, blue merle or sable, and are marked with white, tan or both.
The dogs are intelligent, loyal, friendly and eager to please, and take well to training.
Further reading
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