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Shetland Sheepdogs or
"Shelties" are obedient, smart, lively, affectionate, and
friendly. These dogs were bred to be sheep herding dogs. Their
average lifespan is 12-14 years old. |
| Shelties usually weigh around
20-25 lbs. and are usually 13-16 inches tall. They should live and
sleep indoors. |
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Shelties require weekly
brushings because their coat is so thick. |
| The coats can be
tricolor (white, black, tan), black, blue merle, sable, bi-blue (blue-gray
and black), or bi-black (black and white). One eye can be a
different color than the other and this is very common. The coats
are very thick and their ears are small and held semi-erect.
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If Shelties gain too much
weight they may develop hip displasia, so daily exercise is a must. |
| Some hereditary diseases the
Shelties might inherit are hip displasia (poor development of the hip
joints) and von Willebrand's disease (a bleeding disorder). Most of these diseases can be detected by regular veterinary
check-ups and testing. |
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