Greater St. Louis
Shetland Sheepdog Club
Shelties are one of America’s favorite breeds. With so many diverse and favorable qualities, it’s no wonder that many owners say, “once you’ve owned a Sheltie, you’ll never want a different breed.”
TEMPERAMENT
The classic Sheltie temperament is sensitive and responsive, and many have an uncanny perception about commands, requests, and situations. Often they will comfort sad owners, joyfully celebrate when their people are happy, and are able to detect exactly where their owners are injured or hurting. Many are reserved towards strangers, and may bark at first and take a while to approach.
Well known for their gentleness, Shelties are excellent companions for families with children. Shelties tend to have a special attentiveness for their young owners. On the whole, the dogs typically have a good balance of high-energy playtime and quiet cuddle time (meet at least one of the parents of any puppy you are considering to purchase, as this will give some indication of the puppy’s temperament).
Shelties also crave pleasing their owners, and they have a drive to excel. This, coupled with an impressive attention span and keen intelligence, makes them fierce competition in herding, agility, obedience, and conformation, among other sports.
PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS
The Sheltie is a medium size dog, ideally standing between 13-16 inches at the withers (top of the back, at the base of the neck). Healthy weight varies from 15-30 lbs, depending on the height of the dog.
Shelties are most famous for their beautiful double coat, which has a similar texture, fit, and white marking pattern as the famous Collie, Lassie. The coat’s base layer (undercoat) is downy soft, and dense to insulate the dog from cold and rainy weather. The outer layer (guard hair) is made of harsher hair (texture varies for each color variety) that stands away from the body to create the trademark profile of the breed.
Despite their uncommon beauty and short stature, Shelties are very hardy, strong, and capable. They have a stockier build than their Collie cousins, and yet are very athletic. They’re built for endurance to work long hours on difficult terrain with an effortless gait, so they are good candidates for sports and exercise companions.
HISTORY & BACKGROUND
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