Although not a very friendly dog with strangers, the Shetland Sheepdog is a very docile and affectionate animal with its family. In that sense, he seeks to please his tutors in every possible way, being a playful and active animal, it is easy to be enchanted with him.

As the name implies, the Shetland Sheepdog is a herding dog, and is among the 10 smartest breeds in the world! So, do you want to acquire an animal of this breed? Well, read on and discover its main characteristics, values of the puppies and see how to take care of the Shetland Shepherd! Check out!

First, it is important not to confuse this dog with the Collie breed, which is also a herding dog. In this sense, although very similar, the Shetland Shepherd dog is a smaller animal, originating in Scotland, more precisely on the island of Shetland, hence its name.

Furthermore, their similarities with Collie dogs suggest that they had a common ancestor, although it is difficult to specify this information. Thus, the most accepted theory is that dogs of the Collie and Border Collie breeds were crossed with other sheepdogs from the island of Shetland, in the mid-1700s.

Thus, the first examples of this shepherd appeared, which was widely used to care for sheep and ponies on the island. Although it emerged at this time, it took almost 100 years for this breed to leave Scotland and make its way to England, where it became known as the Miniature Collie.

Furthermore, it was only in 1909 that the breed was officially recognized in the country, and only in 1911 in the United States. Although he is widely used for his herding skills, the Sheltie, as his admirers call him, is a great companion dog these days.

As you might already suspect, this dog is smaller than a Collie dog, covered in thick, smooth, long hair. The breed has varied colors, having black, merle, blue and tan coat always with white spots.

The limbs of the Shetland Sheepdog are strong, even if smaller, quite resistant and muscular. Thus, it is an agile, alert dog, with small and erect ears, although the tips are slightly bent. It has a low tail, and a compact and balanced body.

Well, the value of a Shetland Shepherd puppy can vary according to its ancestry, the sex of the puppy and even its Pedigree. In this sense, dogs descended from competing animals, especially champions, will certainly have a higher value.

Generally speaking, a Shetland Shepherd puppy can cost R$10,000.00! However, you can find reliable kennels with puppies for sale from R$5,000.00. By the way, it is important to verify the origin of the breeder and, if possible, visit the place to meet the parents of your future pet.

That way, you can make sure that the place guarantees the well-being of the animals, in addition to making sure that the puppy is healthy. In addition, it is also important to look for references and indications from the kennel, in order to avoid indirect funding from non-regularized institutions. So keep an eye out!

As already mentioned, the Shetland Sheepdog is well known as the Miniature Collie. That is, they are smaller than their relatives, being small animals. In this sense, these dogs vary in height between 33 centimeters and 40 centimeters at the withers, with the female being smaller than the male.

In addition, they also don't usually weigh much, ranging from 6 kg to 10 kg only. It is worth remembering that dogs that are very overweight can be obese animals and it is necessary to take them to a veterinary appointment for evaluation.

In addition, these dogs are quite resistant, with a strong body and very healthy! However, because they are related to Collies, they also have some genetic and hereditary diseases such as eye and heart problems. But don't worry, his life expectancy is long and he can live past 13 years old.

Additionally, it's important to take your dog to the veterinarian regularly for routine checkups. Also try to keep vaccination and deworming up to date to avoid future health problems.

First of all, as you might have guessed, the Shetland Sheepdog requires special attention with its thick coat. Therefore, set aside at least two days a week to give your pet a good brushing, avoiding knots and excessive hair loss.

In addition, like all herding dogs, the Shetland Sheepdog has a lot of energy. Although he is a small dog, he requires physical activities such as walking, running and playing daily. However, it is a very adaptable breed and can do well in smaller environments such as apartments.

However, this is not a dog that likes to be alone, and may develop unwanted behaviors such as excessive barking. Therefore, it is important to make sure that he has the company of someone in the family, as they are dogs with a very strong protective instinct.

In addition, they are not very sociable animals with strangers, and this side of them needs to be developed from a young age. With its family, however, the Shetland Sheepdog is very loving, docile and gentle. They are great pets for children, in addition to being quite intelligent. That is, it might be a good idea to teach him tricks, as he learns quickly!

Finally, it is worth remembering that this dog is the smallest of the Collies, and usually eats much less than the others of this lineage. Still, it's important to keep an eye on him and offer him a good quality food to make sure he eats healthy throughout his life.

So, do you like herding dogs? How about meeting the bigger version of the Shetland Shepherd, the Collie dog? Well, access our content below and check out everything about this docile, loyal animal and considered one of the smartest dogs in the world! See all about it!