Dog breed
Shetland Sheepdog
The Shetland Sheepdog, or Sheltie, is a small, long-coated herding dog from the Shetland Islands that looks like a miniature Collie. It's bright, sensitive and deeply devoted to its people, though it can be reserved with strangers. It learns brilliantly and loves to play, but it also likes to loudly comment on everything happening around it.
- FCI Group I · Sheepdogs · standard no. 88
- Weight
- 7–11 kg
- Height
- 33–39.5 cm
- Lifespan
- 12–14 years
- Origin
- United Kingdom
Temperament
The FCI standard describes the Sheltie as alert, gentle, intelligent, strong and active, affectionate toward its owner, reserved with strangers and never nervous. The AKC gives it top marks for affection, getting along with children and other dogs, playfulness, trainability and watchfulness, and a low score for openness to strangers. A Sheltie picks up new commands quickly and excels at agility and obedience. It is sensitive, though, and yelling or yanking on the leash can shut it down for a long time. It has a herding instinct, so it may try to round up running children or cyclists. It barks readily and with a ringing voice, so it pays to start teaching calm behavior early. It usually lives with the family cat without any trouble.
- Energy
- calmvery energetic
- Affection
- independentvelcro pet
- With children
- not idealgreat
- With other pets
- difficultgreat
- Trainability
- stubborneager to learn
- For first-time owners
- for experienced ownersyes
- With strangers
- waryoutgoing
- Playfulness
- dignifiedeternal puppy
- Shedding
- minimalheavy
- Grooming
- easydemanding
- Being left alone
- strugglescopes well
- Apartment living
- needs a house and yardgreat in a flat
- Barking
- quietvocal
- With other dogs
- difficultgreat
- Protectiveness
- lowhigh
- Drooling
- hardly anya lot
- Cold tolerance
- feels the coldexcellent
- Heat tolerance
- strugglescopes well
Scores of 1–5 compare the breed with other breeds of the same species, based on the sources at the bottom of the page. Every animal is different. How we score traits
Who is the Shetland Sheepdog for?
The Sheltie is a good choice for families with school-age children, people interested in dog sports and first-time owners who want a quick learner and are ready for brushing. It does well in an apartment if it gets daily exercise and activities. It's a poorer fit for buildings with thin walls and sensitive neighbors, homes with small children running around, and people who don't like dog hair on their clothes.
Pros
- very quick and eager to learn
- devoted to its family
- gets along well with dogs and children
- an alert watchdog despite its small size
Challenges
- barks a lot
- long coat needs regular grooming
- reserved with strangers
- sensitive to a harsh tone
Size and looks
| Height at the withers | males 34.5–39.5 cm, females 33–38 cm |
|---|---|
| Weight | males 7–11 kg, females 7–11 kg |
| Lifespan | 12–14 years |
| Coat | long |
| Colors | sable, tricolor, blue merle, black and white, black and tan |
| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
| Classification | Group I: Sheepdogs and Cattledogs (except Swiss Cattledogs) |
| Also known as | Sheltie |
Care and exercise
The Royal Kennel Club recommends up to an hour of exercise a day, but a Sheltie will happily do more, especially when exercise involves learning: agility, obedience, small-dog frisbee, scent games. The double coat, with long outer hair and a dense undercoat, needs regular brushing, and according to the Royal Kennel Club even daily grooming. Pay special attention to the areas behind the ears, the ruff and the trousers. Twice a year the dog sheds heavily. Don't shave a Sheltie down short. Training should rely on rewards and a calm voice. Watch its weight, since this breed gets chubby easily on treats. In summer, walk during cooler hours, because the dense coat makes it harder to cool down.
How much should the Shetland Sheepdog eat?The calculator starts from this breed’s typical weight: calories and grams a day.Health and breed-related conditions
The AKC lists a long set of conditions responsible breeders test for: hip dysplasia, thyroid disease, eye disease, dermatomyositis, von Willebrand disease, gallbladder mucocele and epilepsy. The Royal Kennel Club treats an eye exam with litter screening as the minimum and, as good practice, recommends DNA tests for collie eye anomaly, the MDR1 mutation, two forms of progressive retinal atrophy and von Willebrand disease, plus hip and elbow X-rays. The MDR1 mutation increases sensitivity to certain medications. The AKC gives a life expectancy of 12–14 years.
- collie eye anomaly (CEA)An inherited eye defect typical of collie-type breeds; detected with a DNA test and puppy eye exams.
- dermatomyositis (Sheltie skin syndrome)Inherited inflammation of the skin and muscles, usually on the face, ears and paws.
- von Willebrand diseaseA blood clotting disorder; a DNA test is available.
- hypothyroidismThe AKC lists it among the conditions breeders test for.
- gallbladder mucoceleA buildup of thick mucus in the gallbladder, listed by the AKC.
- epilepsyOccurs in the breed; dogs with seizures should not be bred.
Health tests to ask the breeder about
- eye exam (ECVO), including litter screening
- CEA DNA test
- MDR1 DNA test
- vWD DNA test
- hip and elbow X-rays (HD/ED)
This is general breed information, not a diagnosis. If something worries you, talk to your veterinarian.
Breed history
The Sheltie was developed on the rugged Shetland Islands, the northernmost part of the United Kingdom. Farmers used it to watch over sheep, ponies and poultry, and an old informal name for it was "toonie dog," from the Shetland word for a farm. A smaller size than the Collie made sense in a climate where feed was scarce, which is also why Shetland ponies are so short. The breed lived in isolation for a long time and was almost unknown in the rest of the British Isles until the early 20th century. The Kennel Club recognized it in 1909 as the Shetland Collie, and the name was soon changed to Shetland Sheepdog.
Fun facts
- The Kennel Club recognized the breed in 1909 under the name Shetland Collie.
- An old informal name for the Sheltie was "toonie dog," from the Shetland word "toon," meaning a farm.
- The FCI standard considers a deviation of more than 2.5 cm from the ideal height highly undesirable.
- The FCI standard considers dogs with a smooth, short coat highly undesirable.
Frequently asked questions
Do Shelties bark a lot?
Yes, the AKC gives the breed its highest rating for barking. A Sheltie announces every visitor and every sound. Teaching it to settle from puppyhood helps, but it's unlikely to ever be a quiet dog.
Do Shelties shed?
Yes. The dense undercoat comes out mainly twice a year, but individual hairs are shed all the time. Regular brushing, even daily, prevents mats and keeps hair in the house under control.
How long do Shetland Sheepdogs live?
The AKC gives 12–14 years. Many Shelties stay fit and playful into old age if they are kept lean and have regular eye and thyroid checks.
Is a Sheltie a miniature Collie?
No, it's a separate breed. The Sheltie developed in Shetland from herding dogs that were later crossed with Collies. The ideal dog measures 37 cm at the withers, noticeably smaller than a Rough Collie.
How much does a Shetland Sheepdog weigh?
Adult dogs of this breed usually weigh: males 7–11 kg, females 7–11 kg. Height at the withers: 33–39.5 cm. That range is for healthy adults in good condition.
This breed also appears in
Sources
- 1FCI standard nr 88 – Shetland Sheepdogfci.be
- 2AKC – Shetland Sheepdogakc.org
- 3Royal Kennel Club – Shetland Sheepdogroyalkennelclub.com
Last reviewed: November 12, 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.
