Advice For Your First SHETLAND SHEEP DOG

Shetland Sheepdog - (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Planning of getting a dog, like Shetland sheepdog, is definitely a life-changing decision to make. Your new pet will have his share of the time you originally devoted to yourself and family. Costs of high-quality dog foods, regular vet checkups, training and other needs will also increase the height of your monthly expenses. However, if you are well aware of the things needed to raise a pet and ready to provide these things, then there is no reason for you not to bring home your first Shetland sheepdog.

Shetland sheepdogs, although bred to be small, are great herding dogs and many of them do have a strong herding instinct. They tend to chase and herd animals like squirrels and ducks. Also, never leave your pet alone with the kids. Kids can be rough when playing with the dog and besides, even kids are not exempted from being herded by a sheltie. Be wary that a kid running across the yard may trigger your pet's herding instinct. The best way to deal with this is to educate kids on how they are going to react when this happens. When the sheltie starts to nip, running away and making noise is discouraged for it will only encourage the dog to do more. But staying calm and saying "no" in a firm voice can help get the dog to stop what he's doing.

Being small dogs, they are at risk of acquiring human-induced behavior called Small Dog syndrome. Dogs with Small Dog syndrome believes that he is the leader of the pack and must keep his humans in line. However, this problem subsides when the human surrounding the dog shows proper leadership in addition to exercise and daily walks that keep him physically and mentally busy.

Grooming this breed seems difficult given their double coat, with the outer coat that is usually long and rough and inner coat that is thick yet soft. Regular brushing (at least once every week) will suffice however frequency is encouraged to increase the beauty and make the coat tidier. They are known to shed twice every year, usually during spring and winter. Females will also shed right before or after giving birth.

While the above-mentioned information can be helpful to you in raising your first Shetland sheepdog, you can still increase your knowledge concerning proper dog ownership. Your trusted friends (sheltie owners), veterinarian and breed club members can be great mentors as well.

By Richard Cussons Richard Cussons understands that every Shetland sheepdog needs proper care and training. Check out sheltiesavvy.com to learn more about this breed and how to become expert in training shelties. Article Source: EzineArticles

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How Are SHELTIES Different From Collies?

At first glance, Shelties and Collies look almost the same. As puppies, they might even look identical but as they reach adulthood, the size difference becomes more obvious.

A Shetland Sheepdog (left) and a Rough Collie.
(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The reason for their striking similarity is because earlier Shelties were crossbred with Collies. This was in order to refine the diminutive herding dog from the Islands of Shetland. Despite this fact, the quantity of the Collie breed in Shetland sheepdogs is small. The two breeds were raised separately which fostered independent developments. The Collie progressed in Scotland while the Sheltie evolved in the Shetland Islands. Marked differences can be found in each of the breed's history, size, physical characteristics, and temperament.

Compared to the Sheltie, the Collie has been present in history books since the 17th century. 1655 wooden carvings show pictures of dogs that look identical to today's Collies. These herding dogs originated from Scotland. Initially, they were named "Colleydogs" because of the duties they performed for their owners. Many farmers raised these puppies to later herd the sheep in the country's highlands. A Colley is a black mask found on the sheep.

In the Shetland Islands, an antique copper etching dating back to 1840 contained pictures of a small dog. This was the first evidence of the Shetland sheepdog's heritage. Shelties also herded sheep but unlike its counterpart, the Collie, Shelties were used to keep sheep away from "toons" or small villages. Collies herded sheep in the mountains, while Shelties herded sheep away from the crops. Sheep were notorious for eating what farmers have planted. For this reason, Shelties were originally known as "Toonie Dogs".

Again, there is a resemblance in the coats but one can still tell them apart. The Collie's original colors were black and white, which no longer exists. Today's breed can come in blue merle, sable, and tricolor. Collies used to be bred with the Gordon Setter which is responsible for the tricolor puppies. Coats of this breed can be long or short. The short-coated variety makes it look naked compared to its long-coated cousins.

The Sheltie's original shades were tan and white. This also no longer exists. Today's Shelties come in black and white, sable, tricolor and blue merle. Tales of how a yacht that was visiting the islands left a King Charles Spaniel. This became the source of tricolor puppies. The gene could be traced back to that Spaniel. The Shetland Sheepdog should not have a short coat. It must have a harsh upper coat, in addition to the thick undercoat. Collies and Shelties both have rich coats. In the areas surrounding the head, chest, and tail, the fur is especially thicker.

Probably the most obvious difference between the two breeds is the size. A Sheltie's height ranges between 35 and 39cm, depending on the sex. These dogs weigh 7-12 kg. Collies are much bigger. Their height range is 51-61cm at the shoulders. Ideally, a Collie's weight should be within 18-30kg.

Both dogs are known for their alertness, willingness to please their owners and for being active. Shelties, however, are a bit livelier compared to Collies.

By Lea Mullins Lea Mullins, a long time dog owner, provides information on how are Shelties different from Collies. Visit TrainPetDog.com to learn about taking care of puppies. Article Source: EzineArticles

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