One of the reasons Shetland Sheepdogs (Shelties) are so popular is in part due to their good temperaments. On the whole, Shelties are submissive dogs who would rather run from a fight than pick a fight. They also love to interact with their people and need to be kept in the house with you in order for their characters to really blossom.
Although Shelties were originally bred to protect herds of livestock, any aggressiveness seems to have been bred out of many pet strains over the decades. But many Shelties are wary or even scared of strange people. Really scared dogs may bite, no matter what their breed. Never force a Sheltie to meet a strange person, dog or other animal if he or she is hesitant.
Sheltie Needs
If you want to be your Sheltie’s best friend, then you need to pay attention to your Sheltie’s needs. These are dogs bred to work all day herding sheep in the unforgiving Shetland Isles. They were not bred to sit on a pillow and stare at a wall all day. They have to be active and get regular exercise or they will go stark raving mad and take you with them. These are not good dogs to live in apartments. They need at least one good walk and one good romp in the yard every day.
You also need to keep a close eye on their diets. Although your Sheltie will explain that she looks rounder because she’s “big-boned” or “big-furred”, she’s probably putting on fat. Shelties love food and will eat to excess in the way that people do. If this food has lots of sweeteners, calories and preservatives, it will transform your calm Sheltie into a hyperactive Sheltie. Fat Shelties are more prone to getting diabetes, heart conditions and arthritis (just like people).
The Shy Sheltie
Although a Shetland Sheepdog has a tough bark, he usually will not back it up with a bite. He is perfectly content to let you do all of the protecting but he sure will let you know if there’s a stranger on your property. He may even follow the stranger about, barking, but will stay out of kicking range.
Many Shelties are shy or seem easily spooked unpredictably. You do need to be patient and understanding with them, especially when they are going through new situations. If you have ever worked with horses or ponies that can easily be startled, then you already know what it takes to work with a Sheltie.
When a Sheltie gets really frightened, they run. You have to have a good lead and collar (or harness) on them when giving them walks. They run a lot faster than you can and you will never catch them once they get rolling. You will save yourself a lot of trouble by getting your Sheltie microchipped as soon as you can.
Althuough all dogs are indivduals, suprising things can make a Sheltie cringe. This writer once saw a Sheltie cower from thr threatening advances – of a guinea pig. Author and dog behaviorist Patricia McConnell, PhD, also notes that Shelties do not like to be patted vigorously when being praised. A gentle stroke and a quiet, “Good girl” or “Good boy” is sufficient.
Breeding Behavior
Shelties are not shy when it comes to finding a mate, particularly the males. Even the best trained male Shetland Sheepdog will suddenly become deaf to his owner if a bitch in heat is about. They will ignore commands and go wandering for many miles when they heed the call of the wild. They may even figure out how to climb chain-link fences or dig underneath them. Escaped dogs looking for a mate can lead to fights, accidents, injuries to your dog and other dogs, fines and unwanted puppies.
You will do your nerves and your dog a favor by getting him neutered or her spayed when the puppy is six months old and in overall good health. Puppies can be safley spayed and neutered earlier than six months, but this depends on the individual puppy and the usual neutering procedures of your veterinarian’s clinic.
References:
Encyclopedia of Dog Breeds.” D. Caroline Coile, Ph. D. Barron’s; 2005.
ASPCA Complete Guide to Dogs.” Sheldon L. Gerstenfeld, VMD. Chronicle Books; 1999.
“For the Love of a Dog: Understanding Emotion in You and Your Best Friend.” Patricia McConnell, PhD. Ballantine Books; 2006.
Dog Breed Info. “Shetland Sheepdog” (Sheltie.)” http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/shetlandsheepdog.htm
