One of the mysterious dog breeds in the world is probably the famous Shetland Sheepdog or simply known as the Sheltie. Its direct ancestor is undefined and the reason behind its temperament is vague but whats certain is the fact that the Sheltie first appeared in the rocky terrains of Shetland Island of Scotland. The Sheltie looks like a small Collie but according to some, the Sheltie is not the result of intentional breeding that will result to a miniature Collie.

The Sheltie was said to be the result of various breeding between the Scottish Rough Collie, Pomeranian, Greenland Yakki (now extinct), and the King Charles Spaniel or is a direct descendant of one of these breeds. In Shetland Island, the Sheltie was believed to do herding tasks just like the other Collies. Contradictions supply, however, that the Sheltie was not used for herding but rather for chasing small creatures such as ducks and squirrels.

Today, the Sheltie is a well-known family pet and companion and it excels in this field outstandingly. Moreover, additional likable disposition of the Sheltie is its eagerness to please the master, obedience and extreme loyalty. With proper and correct training, the Sheltie is a potential skillful dog and reliable household companion.

If not often exposed to people in the beginning, this breed has the tendency to become aloof towards strangers when it grows up. It does well around people especially children and therefore should be socialized at a young age. The Sheltie is a superb watch dog as well, barking as a signal when there is an approaching human or car towards the house.

Even though the Sheltie has never been bred to become herders, it still possesses a natural herding instinct and this brings puzzlement to a lot of breeders. This herding energy should be released through various activities such as running and chasing in a wide area. Doing this will also help the Sheltie become healthy and fit mentally and physically.

The average height for the Sheltie is 13 to 16 inches while its weight ranges from 14 to 27 pounds. The Sheltie has an outer coat and an inner coat as well. The outer coat is long, rough and water-repellent and serves as a body guard while the inner coat is softer and serves as a comfort against hot or cold weathers.

The generally accepted colors of the Sheltie are sable, tri-colour and blue merle. Sable can be golden or mahogany while tri-colour is a combination of black, white and tan. The blue merle color is composed of grey, white, black and tan.

In 1909, the English Kennel Club first registered the Sheltie. In 1911, the first Sheltie was registered in the American Kennel Club named Lord Scott. The Sheltie is an adorable and fascinating little breed and because of these and its many positive features, it became a favorite of many families around the world.