The Shetland Sheepdog, more commonly referred to as the Sheltie, is a small breed of dog that originates in the Shetland Islands of Scotland. They were thought to have been used for herding sheep or chase away other small creatures, but no matter what they were originally bred to do they have a strong herding instinct. Because of their size, they mainly heard ducks and other animals that are smaller in size as well as their owner’s children.

The Shetland Sheepdog is very good with children if they are exposed to them when they are still puppies. You will have to supervise any interaction between the Sheltie and children, not for fear of the dog hurting the kids but the opposite. Because of the dog’s size, it is easy for children to unintentionally hurt the dog while they are playing. The Sheltie tends to be aloof with strangers if it is not properly socialized when it is younger, but if it is they adjust well to new people.

The Sheltie is a highly intelligent dog. They make great family dogs because they are protective and good companion dogs. The fact that they are very trainable—one of the best in some studies—makes them easy to own. They are at home in either an apartment or in the country. They do like to run and play so if they are kept in an apartment you need to spend adequate time with them. If you don’t engage your Sheltie enough, they can develop negative habits like excessive barking, nervousness, and phobias. Luckily, if you take the time and work and play with the dog, you can correct these habits easily.

The appearance of the Shetland Sheepdog can vary somewhat, but not a great amount. There are three main colors: sable (which is the most common), a tricolor, and a blue merle. You can have a few color combinations, but they are rare because they are not accepted within the ring of breeding and therefore tend to be bred out of the dogs. The Sheltie’s ears are bent slightly at the tip and help to give it its signature appearance. The ears can be trained if they bend too low or not at all. This usually takes place when they are puppies because the cartilage is still soft and there is no surgical procedure involved. They have a double coat that needs to be brushed about twice a week. You won’t have to spend a lot of time grooming though as long as you groom consistently.