Shetland Sheepdog: Facts You Need To Know Before Adopting Shetland Sheepdogs

Breed Description
The Shetland Sheepdog is an agile, strong and lightly built breed of dog. These high-speed little dogs make quite a jumper. They are a combination of speed, endurance, intelligence, and agility that turns out to be an excellent herder. These breeds generally weigh around 14 to 18 pounds for males and 12 to 16 pounds for females, while commonly standing around 13 to 15 inches tall for males and reaching 12 to 14 inches tall for females. .

Coat
The Shetland Sheepdog is a double-coated breed with a long, harsh, straight outer coat and a short, shaggy undercoat. These dogs generally come in shades of black to sable to gold, or may come mahogany with white or tan markings in varying sizes.

Exercise
The Shetland Sheepdog has a strong herding instinct. They especially enjoy chasing and herding things like ducks, squirrels, and even children. They love the opportunity to run around in an open area. These dogs are very active and will require daily exercise to prevent behavior problems.

Temper
The sweet and affectionate Shetland Sheepdog is an ideal companion. These enthusiastic, affectionate and intelligent dogs make excellent watchdogs as they are wary of strangers. They generally get along very well with children and other animals, as long as they are well socialized. These are very obedient dogs and are a joy to train.

Overview
The Shetland Sheepdog has stood guard for farmers on the Shetland Islands in Scotland, keeping hungry sheep and birds out of their garden. They have even been used as herding dogs. Now, they are excellent family companions and very competent in dog sports.

Watch out
The Shetland Sheepdog does not require as much grooming. They would require brushing twice a week with a pin brush to remove the top coat hair. When doing this, be careful not to damage the inner layer. These dogs are moderate shedders and typically shed twice a year.

Training
Due to the Shetland Sheepdog’s high intelligence, training is usually successful and simple. It’s even easier, especially if the training starts when they are still puppies. Not that it would be difficult to train an older one. They would still be trainable, using the correct training methods. They will do well in vocational classes where they can be socialized and trained at the same time. This can usually be a success as this breed is highly intelligent and will learn quickly. Part of their general personality is their inherent willingness to obey quickly, which makes training exceptionally easy for this breed. This is mainly due to their strong herding instincts that are born with these herding breeds.

character
Loyal and devoted, the Shetland Sheepdog has a spirit full of life, eager to obey and please, which makes training easy. These are affectionate and loyal dogs that show their deep devotion to their family.