Shetland Sheepdogs: Is It The Right Pet for You?

Opting to adopt a Shetland sheepdog as your pet? Well, yes, you can always have this breed of dog as your cuddly, energetic and intelligent pet at home. However, it is also important that you learn more about this breed of dog before you own one or more as your pet. Remember, it's just one way on how you would know if the Shetland dog or Sheltie is the right dog for you and for your family.

Brief Description:

Shelties are sheep herding dogs that originated in Scotland particularly in the islands of Shetland. Their height of the male and female would range to 13 - 16 inches and the weight would range to 14 - 26 pounds. Their color would vary and it would range from blue merle, tri color and sable. This breed of dog was officially acknowledged in 1909 by the Kennel Club and the other kennel organizations would follow eventually in recognizing this breed of dog.

Characteristics:

Generally, Shelties are energetic since they are the herding type dogs. They are also very agile and when it comes to running, they can literally run fast and can cover a wider scope of the ground area.

Shetland dogs are also bright. Indeed, you can easily teach them the usual training methods. Well, they are very obedient anyway and they are quick in learning. Of course they are also devoted to their owners. The excellent thing about Shelties is they can get along with kids. Well, if you have a kid at home, these breed of dogs are "companionable" but be mindful since they are also playful.

Care and Health:

Shetland dogs are well adapted to both warm and cold climates. Take note, they have a soft and dense coat and undercoat that protects them from the elements. However, you may deal with their shedding every now and then.

Now when it comes to grooming, it is a must that you regularly groom your Sheltie in a pet grooming shop. Of course you can also do it your own to ensure that the canine smells fresh all the time and there are no tangled furs.

When it comes to their general health, they can do well with proper diet and good exercise. You can provide healthy dog food and also you have to let them run or jog along with you every morning.

Take into account, bringing the dog to the vet on a regular basis is also a must to ensure health of the dog. Well, there are instances where these breed of dog would have dermatomyositis which you may see in their skin so be cautious and make sure that your dog is free from certain diseases.