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| The Shetland Sheepdog | |
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- Physical Characteristics - |
| The Shetland Sheepdog (known as a Sheltie) originated in | |
| the Shetland Islands. Although the standard size is | |
| between 13-16" at the shoulders, shelties can be as small | |
| as 10" and as large as 22". Smaller shelties have weighed | |
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as light as 8 lbs. and the bigger ones tipped the scales at |
| 55 lbs. Neither size nor weight affect the personality of | |
| the dog. | |
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| Sheltie colors vary. Most people are familiar with the look | |
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of a "little Lassie" which is sable and white. This can range |
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| What is a Sheltie? |
in shade from a very light "golden" color to a dark |
| mahogany referred to as "shaded sables". Tri-color is | |
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black with tan and white markings on the face and lower |
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| body. Bi-blacks are black with white markings. Blue | |
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merle is gray, black, tan and white and no two appear |
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| alike. Bi-blue is gray, black and white. | |
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Adoption Procedures |
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| While shelties shed heavily twice per year, normal | |
| shedding can be kept to a minimum with regular | |
| grooming. Shelties need to be brushed at least once a | |
| week for about 30 minutes. Regular grooming with the | |
| correct tools will keep your sheltie looking its best and | |
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shedding to a minimum. |
| - Personality Traits - | |
| Shelties make wonderful family pets. They are extremely | |
| intelligent animals that love to please their owners. | |
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Shelties are loyal, friendly and protective of their families. |
| While some can be very shy, most are cautious with | |
| strangers but will warm up in time. | |
| Shelties are well known as "barkers" and some are worse | |
| than others. Obedience training (which shelties just love) | |
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and discouraging unnecessary or inappropriate barking |
| helps. It is best to begin working on the barking when | |
| your dog first arrives in your home. | |
| Because shelties originally were bred as herding dogs, | |
| many of these herding instincts still remain strong in some | |
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dogs. They can "herd" the children, other pets and even |
| family members. Running or spinning in circles is not an | |
| uncommon behavior with an excited sheltie. | |
| Shelties normally get along with other dogs, but prefer | |
| other shelties. Although most of them are good with | |
| children - some have no tolerance for them. Because they | |
| love being with their "people", they make great companion | |
| pets. | |