Shetland Sheepdog

The shetland sheepdog is a breed of dog that is used for herding small sheep. The etymology of the name is associated with a place called the Shetland Islands located in Scotland. The shetland sheepdogs are more commonly known as sheltie. The dog shares a morphological resemblance with another breed of dog called a rough collie. Due to this, they are also referred to as shetland coolie. They are considered farmers’ friends as they help in keeping the hungry birds away from the farm. The sheepdogs are also a great companion, they are friendly and are considered to be very loyal to the owner. 

They were originally bred in the Islands of Shetland but they are now considered as a popular pet that is globally distributed. During the early days of the dog breed, it was named as shetland coolie but it was formerly changed into shetland sheepdog after a long controversy between the collie and shetland breeders. 

The ancestry of the dog is debatable. Although they share huge morphological similarities with the collie breed, they are believed to be descendent of the mixed breed of dogs. It is estimated that the parental breed of this dog was a mixed breed. The parental breed of this dog is believed to be Scottish Collie and King Charles Spaniel breed of dog. According to many breeders, the dog breed produced from the mating of Scottish Collie and King Charles Spaniel was further selectively bred with the collie breed from mainland England to produce now known miniature shetland sheepdog.

It is important to note that the term miniature shetland sheepdog is not a scientific name and is not used in any scientific or taxonomic classification system, these are terms that are used commonly to refer to the breed and the different variety of this breed. The scientific name for this breed of dog according to trinomial nomenclature is Canis lupus familiaris.

The article focuses on the general description of the breed. The article also discusses the habitat, diet and life span of the breed. Apart from these the health and behavioural traits of these animals are also discussed.

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General Description

The Shetland is an island that is located in Scotland, since these dogs were originally bred in this geographical region they are now termed as shetland sheepdog. The main purpose of selectively breeding these dogs is to use them as herding dogs. They belong to the genus called Canis. They have a sturdy and agile nature but they are very affectionate and loyal to their owners. 

Since they are native to Scotland, they are quite resistant to harsh climate conditions, they almost adapt to all kinds of climates, which also adds to the reason for the popularity of the breed. 

This breed of dogs was originally a Spitz-type dog, but selective breeding for generations with the rough collie breed led to the development of the breed that is seen now. 

The dog breed got recognized by the American Kennel Club and English Kennel Club during the 19th century. The dog named Lord Scott was registered in the American Kennel Club in 1911.

Habitat

They are considered a native breed of Scotland since they were selectively bred by humans they are rarely seen in the wild. These dog breeds are completely domesticated and can adapt to every climate. The preferable habitat for this breed is the geographical location that has colder climate conditions. They are very well adapted to temperate regions.

Morphological Description of the Dog

Shetland sheltie is approximately about 14 to 16 inches which are approximately about 33 to 41 cm long. The morphological features of this dog breed are similar to the rough collie dogs. The average weight of the body of an adult member of the breed is about 20 pounds. They can grow up to 23 pounds. 

Like rough collie, these dog breeds are of double coats. That is the fur has two layers of fur. The undercoat of the dog is comparatively short and dense. The outer layer of the fur is harsher and longer in the shetland sheepdog sheltie. The hair present on the head and ear region is soft and comparatively less dense. The hair on the feet is also very smooth, the body parts like mane and frill have dense and coarse hair. The morphological features of this breed have features like moderate length legs, a tapering muzzle, and brown eyes. Since these features are similar to the rough collie, they are named shetland collie. 

There are various colours in which the miniature shetland sheepdog are available. These colours include golden, mahogany, black. An interesting about shetland blue merle is that they have blue-grey coloured eyes.

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Behavioural Traits 

They are known for their high level of intelligence. In research conducted upon different breeds of dogs, the miniature shetland sheepdog ranked sixth among the breed. The dog breed is also known for its agility and sturdiness. Although they are very agile but are considered to be friendly. They are not solitary animals but is important to note that these dog breeds can survive alone or in the company of other dog breeds. 

These breeds of dogs require grooming. They require early socialization to be properly trained. Since these breeds are naturally bred for herding their instinct for these dogs is to guide and herd animals. When they are domesticated the main hurdle is to maintain their needs of social interaction. 

Diet 

They are omnivorous animals, that is they eat both plant-based products and hunt their prey. The balanced diet of the shetland sheltie includes a blend of protein, fat, and carbohydrates. Protein is the most important part of their diet, it acts as a building block for the muscles. A particularly important high-energy source for this breed is the fat-rich diet, an important point to notice is that this breed required protein and fat should come from animal sources to ensure digestibility and bioavailability.

Another feature that is important to note is that these breeds do not have any specific carbohydrate requirements, the carbohydrate sources are required to provide additional energy as well as fibre and essential nutrients. The digestion of food that is based on plant products is important. Whole grains, vegetables, beans, or legumes serve as the primary sources of carbohydrates. The complete diet of 3% and 5% dietary fibre ensure healthy digestion of the shetland collie.

The overall fat requirement of shetland collie differs according to the different stages of life.

A miniature shetland sheepdog puppy requires about  22% protein and 8% fat in its diet. Small shetland sheepdog develops into a full size fairly quickly, additional protein and fat may be of benefit. An adult shetland sheepdog sheltie requires about 18% protein and 5% fat. Additional nutrients like prebiotics, probiotics, and glucosamine and chondroitin are used to provide support for digestion as well as healthy bones and joints.

Reproduction

Similar to all dogs these breeds are also considered seasonal breeders. They mate by sexual reproduction. The fertilization process for these animals is internal. Although these are domesticated breeds of dogs, which undergo sterilization after attaining sexual maturity. Sexual maturity is attained at the age of 6 or 7 months.

The dog breeds which are allowed to reproduce produce a litter size of 5 to 18 small shetland sheepdog puppies. The parental care in these breeds is not very high. An interesting point about dogs is that they follow an oestrous cycle. During the mating season the temperature of the female body rises and the level of sex hormones, like progesterone increases.

Since they are categorized into the category Mammalia, the female members of the species are known to have mammary glands. These glands undergo lactation after birth. The sole purpose of this is to provide nutrition to the young offspring. 

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Health and Lifespan

The average life span of these dogs is 12 to 13 years. Although these breeds are considered to be strong and agile breeds they have predisposed to some medical conditions. An interesting fact is shetland sheepdogs is hypoallergenic Examples of such medical conditions include, 

• Hypothyroidism-  It is a condition in which the levels of thyroid hormone drops. The levels of the thyroid hormone control the metabolism of the body. In case the body suffers from eight gain, thinning coat, dry skin, slow heart rate, and sensitivity to cold.

• Collie Eye Anomaly- Since they are related to the rough collie breed they are also predisposed to this genetic disorder. Miniature shetland sheepdogs are predisposed to this health condition. This condition is generally found in puppies and can lead to permanent damage in the eyesight and eventually leads to complete blindness.

• Von Willebrand's Disease- This is a medical condition in which the shetland collie is deficient in the clotting factor VIII antigen (Von Willebrand factor). In this condition, the dog breed bleeds excessively. The clinical symptoms of this disease include nosebleeds, bleeding gums, or bleeding in the stomach or intestines, which may also be present.

• Hip Dysplasia- It is a common condition that is found in every breed of dog, in this condition the femur doesn't fit into the pelvic socket of the hip joint. Hip dysplasia can exist with or without clinical signs.

• Dermatomyositis- This is an inherited skin disease, in this condition the skin develops severe lesions. These lesions vastly affect the muscles of the body. Skin lesions develop on the head, ears and front legs which is followed by extensive hair loss and scarring on the face and ears, as well as on the legs and the tip of the tail. The collie breed of dog also suffers from a medical condition.

Taxonomic Classification

The taxonomic classification is the system of categorizing different animals. This is based on the level of similarity and dissimilarity two breeds share. The taxonomic classification of the shetland collie is given below.

• Kingdom- Animalia

• Phylum- Chordata

• Class- Mammalia

• Order- Carnivora

• Family- Canidae

• Subfamily- Canine

• Tribe- Canini

• Subtribe- Canina

• Genus:- Canis

The scientific name of the animal according to trinomial nomenclature is Canis lupus familiaris

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Summary at a Glance

• The dog breed was developed in the Shetland Islands of Scotland.

• The scientific name of the dog is  Canis lupus familiaris, they are classified in the genus.

• Shetland sheepdogs are also known by the name of, shetland collie, miniature shetland sheepdog, shetland sheepdog sheltie.

• The dog breed was created as a herding and guarding dog.

• The distinctive morphological feature is the presence of long double coat fur, moderate length legs, a tapering muzzle, and brown eyes.

• They are known for their intelligence and agility.

• They are an omnivorous breed,  eat whole grains and meat.

• They are sexually reproducing animals.

• The average lifespan is about 12 to 13 years.