Grooming
Long hair, don’t care! The feathery locks on a Shetland Sheepdogs are part of their signature look, but it comes with a price tag: They have higher grooming needs than many dogs. Here are some grooming tips for your Shetland Sheepdog:
Brushing: Their double coat and long fur mean Shelties need to be brushed with a pin brush at least two to three times a week, ideally every day to help prevent their fur from matting. You’ll want to pay particular attention to mats behind the ears, under their legs or on the back of your Sheltie’s legs. A professional groomer can help you determine how to best keep your Shetland Sheepdog puppy mat-free all the way through adulthood. Like many longer-haired dogs, Shelties have seasonal “coat blowing” that occurs when the weather transitions from warmer or cooler or vice versa. When a dog blows their coat, they shed it in chunks of fur instead of a lot of little hairs. Your Sheltie will need brushing more than once a day during this time, since they’ll shed more than normal for a few weeks.
Bathing: As for bathing, this is one area where you’ll get a break on grooming. Like most herding dogs, the Shetland Sheepdog coat tends to stay fairly clean if brushed consistently. Bathing your dog just once or twice a month—sometimes even just once every two months—is sufficient unless they got extra dirty playing outside.
Nail trimming: Shelties need their nails trimmed regularly, but the frequency depends on how often they’re walked and on what surfaces. Many will just need a nail trim every two to three weeks. You can check their nails during their regular brushing session to see how long they are, or talk to a groomer about how often you should trim their nails.
Dental care: Veterinarians recommend brushing your dog’s teeth daily with a toothpaste made for dogs. Daily brushing can keep tartar under control and improve your Sheltie’s overall health. If you start brushing your dog’s teeth as a puppy, they’ll get used to the feeling faster. You can also try brushing just a quarter of their mouth a day while they get used to the sensation. Your veterinarian can help show you the best way to brush your dog’s teeth. You should also visit your vet for a professional yearly teeth cleaning.
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Training
To say Shetland Sheepdogs are very smart would be an understatement. In fact, researcher Stanley Coren ranks Shelties as the sixth-smartest dog, even above Labrador Retrievers! Their intelligence and eagerness to please make them an ideal candidate for training and learning new tricks.
Shelties are bred to be problem solvers, and as their pet parent, you’ll want to add new skills to their training repertoire on a regular basis to keep them interested and engaged. Keep the training sessions short, so you aren’t trying to force your Sheltie to do something they’re not interested in. If you need any help, look for a certified trainer who specializes in positive reinforcement and ask them for advice.
These dogs can thrive at many jobs, from herding to being a therapy dog or more active agility training. Because they’re so small, they wouldn’t be great at protection work, but they’ll be natural watchdogs in your home, keeping an eye out for anything suspicious, and sounding the bark alarm as needed.
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Diet
Shetland Sheepdogs typically do well on high-quality, commercial dog food. Be sure to factor in your dog’s age and choose a formula that fits their stage in life, whether they’re a puppy, adult or senior. Your veterinarian can help you nail down a feeding chart to guide you on how much and how often to feed your dog based on their specific diet.
Since they are smaller in size, it’s important to keep your Sheltie at a healthy weight and not overfeed them, which helps prevent health issues like hip dysplasia, which can occur in this breed. When determining how much to feed your dog every day, don’t forget to calculate the calories in treats or extra kibble that you might use while training them. Interactive food toys can also be something Shelties really enjoy and help engage their brains as they eat.
But again, consult with your veterinarian, as they will be in the best position to help you pick the right food for your dog based on their individual needs.
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Exercise
Shetland Sheepdogs are active dogs with a high energy level. They don’t need to be on-the-go all the time, but they do need outlets multiple times a day to get all their beans out, and need about an hour of daily exercise. They’ll love running around in a yard or in the countryside, but if your Sheltie is a city dog, then make sure you take them on walks or jogs regularly that last 30-60 minutes each day.
Shelties absolutely love herding—it’s what they were bred to do! Since most pet parents don’t have a flock of sheep around, consider signing your Sheltie up for dog sports, like herding or agility courses. This is a great way to meet your Sheltie’s exercise needs and can provide an opportunity to lean into your dog’s natural speed, intelligence and energy.
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Environment
Shetland Sheepdogs will love running around in the countryside or playing in a home’s large yard. These affectionate dogs do tend to bark a lot, so you might not want one in an apartment with paper-thin walls. They can be trained to curb that natural instinct, but they won’t stop barking completely. But as long as they get about an hour of exercise a day, they can be happy with city life too. They are a great match for both first-time pet parents and more experienced pet parents.
These dogs love their family and are happy to relax at home after a day of play. Shelties can be a little shy, however, so if yours is the party house, they probably won’t be making the rounds and catching up with Susie from three streets over.
Shelties are great in multi-pet households—they get along well with other dogs, and since they don’t have a strong prey drive, they can make a great companion for cats. They also are well-suited for families with young children, since they tolerate kids in their family well. However, you should still watch them closely around kids they don’t know and make sure that children don’t play too roughly with them, and that everyone respects each others’ boundaries.
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