Shetland Sheepdog puppies

About the Shetland Sheepdog

The Shetland Sheepdog was developed on the Shetland Islands, where small, hardy herding dogs kept sheep and ponies off the crofts, and the breed later took in Rough Collie blood that gave them the outline they have today. They weigh 6.8 to 11.3 kg and stand 33 to 41 cm, under a long double coat of harsh straight outer hair over a short, very dense undercoat. They are quick, sensitive and strongly attached to their family, and distinctly reserved with people they do not know.

Energy is high but the breed adapts well and does fine in a city given enough walking and something to think about. They are among the most trainable dogs going and excel at obedience, agility, herding and tracking. Weekly brushing is the minimum, more when they shed, with mats behind the ears and under the elbows to watch for. Barking is the sticking point, rated five out of five, and it is usually driven by boredom, so the answer is more work rather than more shouting.

What to expect at eight weeks

At eight weeks a Shetland Sheepdog puppy is sleeping around 18 to 20 hours a day, is not house trained, and cannot hold on for more than an hour or two at a stretch. A small breed puppy at eight weeks is light enough to carry everywhere, which is exactly how you get them socialised before the vaccination course finishes. They will still need four meals a day. This is a high energy breed. At eight weeks that shows up as intensity rather than stamina, and they will need a job to do long before they need long walks. Grooming needs are high. Start daily brushing and short, positive handling sessions at eight weeks, well before the adult coat arrives, or the first professional groom will be traumatic. The socialisation window is open and closing: everything they meet calmly now, from vacuum cleaners to men in hats, is easier for the rest of their life.

Health worth knowing about

Conditions this breed is reported to be predisposed to. Predisposed does not mean inevitable, it means ask about it.

• Collie eye anomaly and choroidal hypoplasia (CEA/CH), detectable by DNA test
• MDR1 drug sensitivity, detectable by DNA test, which affects safe dosing of several common drugs
• Progressive retinal atrophy (BBS2-PRA and CNGA1-PRA), detectable by DNA test
• von Willebrand disease (vWD3), detectable by DNA test
• Hip dysplasia, screened under the BVA/KC Hip Dysplasia Scheme, and elbow dysplasia under the BVA/KC Elbow Dysplasia Scheme
• Inherited eye disease, screened under the BVA/KC/ISDS Eye Scheme, including litter screening

Your Shetland Sheepdog puppy's first six months

• Vaccination schedule, dated for your country.
• Worming and parasite schedule.
• Feeding calculator. Set expected adult size to Small for a Shetland Sheepdog.
• Adult size predictor, to check growth against the 6.8 to 11.3 kg adult range.
• Puppy names and the first week checklist.

Kit sizes: crate 24 inch (24 x 18 x 20 in, 61 x 46 x 51 cm) for an adult of up to 11.3 kg; chew toys made for small breeds. Worked out the same way as the crate size calculator. PetMD bases a crate on the dog's own measurements, not weight or breed alone, so measure once the puppy is home.

Buying guides for this

• Best crate for a puppy: wire, plastic or soft, and how to size one with a divider

Other small breeds

More on the Shetland Sheepdog

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Sources

• akc.org for adult weight and height, life expectancy, energy, grooming, shedding and the temperament ratings, coat type and health notes
• fci.be for country of origin
• royalkennelclub.com for the Royal Kennel Club exercise or grooming band, used where it asks for more than the AKC score
• Health notes from Shetland Sheepdog breed information at https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/shetland-sheepdog/. Discuss any of these with your own vet.

Photo: Flickr user nickobec (Nick Cowie), CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped. All photographers are listed on the photo credits page.