"All life is an experiment."Ralph Waldo Emerson
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Can I Give My Dog The Flu?
Avian Flu and Other Zoonotic Diseases Everyone seems on edge about the latest outbreak of avian flu. People in China are told to kill their poultry in order to keep the virus from spreading. Meanwhile people in the United States watch on in fear that the ...
Children and Toy Dog Breeds: Fact Verses Fiction
Because my wife is a toy dog breeder, it isn't unusual for her to get several calls a week from people who practically beg her to sell them a puppy. They cite their financial and social ability to care for the puppy and often try and avoid the question of ...
Why Should You Collect Cat Collectibles?
Let the cat out of the bag! True, you will know various cat collectibles in here. No secret will be hidden, and no cat collectibles you wouldn’t know. Everything is here for you. You needn’t put a mouse as bait…hmmm!!!You sure will find this small ...
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History
The Shetland Sheepdog can be traced back many years to the Shetland Isles, where they were bred as a herding dog.
Smaller, hardier animals were required to survive the harsh conditions in the Shetland Isles and thus, the Shetland Sheepdog was developed. No official records exist, but it is believed that Sheltie's probably derived from Scottish Collies, which were smaller than today's Collies.
Appearance
Shelties are very pretty little dogs with almond shaped eyes, giving them a very sweet expression.
Shelties should stand at approximately 36 cm tall for females and 37 cm tall for males.
They have very long, thick coats and come in a wide variety of colours; Sable, Tri-coloured, Black and White, Black and Tan and Blue Merle, with many variations inbetween.
Temperament
Sheltie's have wonderful affectionate, gentle temperaments with their owners, but can be a little reserved with strangers. They are certainly not 'lap-dogs', but make wonderful pets because of their kind nature. They have wonderful characters, with an endearing stubbornness that makes them a pleasure to own.
Their strength and intelligence mean that these hardy little dogs excel in many competitive fields, such as obedience and agility.
Grooming
They do require a considerable amount of grooming because of the thickness and length of their coats.
Exercise
Sheltie's are very active little dogs, and are described by many as almost tireless. They enjoy being outdoors and do require a moderate amount of exercise.
Health Problems
The breed is largely free of any major health problems, however Collies and Shelties are known to suffer from some hereditary eye conditions, namely Progressive Retinal Atrophy (P.R.A) and Collie Eye Anomaly (C.E.A).
P.R.A is a rare but serious disease which inevitably leads to total blindness. It is unlikely to be detected until the dog is approximately 2 years of age and although nothing can be done to stop the progression of this disease, responsible breeders are careful to have breeding animals tested so that new litters are not produced from affected parents.
C.E.A is much less serious; statistics suggest that up to 75% of Shelties are affected to some degree, however it is unlikely that the condition will worsen in most cases and a mild affliction will not cause great inconvenience to the dog.
About the author:
Stephanie has written many articles on dogs, which can be found at the Kennel Corner website.
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