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Shetland Sheepdog Personality traits and Temperament
The Sheltie is an active, fun-loving dog. They have a gentle disposition, athleticism, and keen intelligence make him a dog that lives to please and loves to show off. They are a wonderful walking, running, or hiking companions. They are good apartment dogs but need to be trained to control their barking which can often border on the excessive. They do not need excessive exercise but should be taken for a short walk daily.
They have a strong herding instinct and have a tendency to nip around the ankles. They have to be taught that this behaviour is not acceptable. If they are not kept occupied they can become very bored and may conjure up entertainment ideas, many of which the owners might not approve.
Shelties are excellent family companions, and they are very good around children. They are social to other dogs and loves being around cats. They are prone to chase rabbits, birds and other small animals so keep them away from such pets.
They are very reserved to strangers and make very good watchdogs. They will alert the owners to the presence of any intruders and are very voracious barkers. They don’t socialize very easily and will be hard to accept visitors in the house.
Grooming, Haircuts and Shedding
Shelties have a double coat. The undercoat is short and dense, causing the longer, harsher topcoat to stand out from the body. They require a thorough weekly brushing with a pin brush. Tangling is a huge issue with their coats especially the hairs around the ears and special care must be given there. Professional grooming at six-week intervals will prevent the worst shedding and matting, and make it possible to keep up the grooming in the interim. They shed a lot especially during spring and summer. Bathing once a month will be sufficient.
Other basic grooming includes trimming nails, ear care and brushing teeth.
Size and Characteristics
Price Range: this dog for sale may cost between $600 – $700
Life expectancy: the life span is generally of about 12-15 YEARS
Weight: 20-30 pounds
Height: 13–16 inches
Colors: Black & White, Black & Tan, Blue Merle, Tri-color, Sable, Sable & White, Merle
How to Train this dog
Because of their intelligence, willingness to please, and athletic ability, Shelties excel at performance events and are easy to train. Shelties can be trained for agility, competitive obedience, tracking, and herding. They learn best with treats and praise, and be careful not to scold or criticize them as these are sensitive dogs. They can also be taught to perform a variety of tricks that they will use to entertain the owners.
Health Issues and Food
Diet: They need no special diet, but a raw diet can work wonders with this dog. If a dry food is being used measure amounts carefully and always monitor the feeding as these dogs are prone to obesity.
Allergies: Not prone to allergies but may suffer from contact allergies. Not good for people with allergies.
Health problems: Collie eye anomaly is a condition in these dogs which caused blindness. Other commonly occurring issues are hypothyroidism, von Willebrand’s disease, and hip dysplasia. Dermatomyositis is a common skin condition in these dogs.
Mixed breeds
Sheltidoodle is a cross breed between the Shetland Sheepdog and a Poodle. Sheltidoodles are very smart, loveable and energetic dogs. They are friendly to other dogs and can be raised together with children.
Roelis is a cross between the Shetland Sheepdog and the Shih Tzu. They are playful and energetic dogs. They need regular exercises to burn off their energy. They enjoy playing indoors and makes them a good dog for apartment lifestyle.
Feruss is a cross between the American Eskimo and the Shetland Sheepdog. They are lively, intelligent, playful, willing to please and obey, alert and social dogs that make for very good family pets. These dogs are good with all ages though early socialization is needed with small children and other pets in the family.
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Best female and male dog names
You can name your Shetland Sheepdog as Roc or Max if he is a male and Jane or Momo if she is a female.
How to adopt this dog
You can also browse a specific site to adopt a Shetland Sheepdog
Pictures and Videos
Photo Credits: 76boardman, Sharingknowledge