Shetland Sheepdog

This page is educational reference material for preparing questions. A licensed veterinarian examines the animal, makes the diagnosis, and sets the treatment.

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A loud, bright herding dog in a small coat

Shetland sheepdogs stand about 13 to 16 inches and weigh 15 to 25 pounds. Lifespan is often 12 to 14 years. They are playful, sensitive, and busy. Children who are not chaotic usually do well. The double coat blows hard enough to fill a bag, and shaving it is a bad idea that ruins the coat cycle.

They herd feet and they comment on the street. That is workable in a house with a job for the dog: tricks, agility, or actual stock. It is miserable if the plan was a quiet decorative pet. Other dogs are usually fine. Thunder and strange men can be a lifelong project if the puppy was not introduced to the world.

The collie gene list, plus the gallbladder

Collie eye anomaly, MDR1 drug sensitivity, and hip dysplasia are the starter tests. Dermatomyositis shows up in some lines as skin and muscle lesions on the face. Gallbladder mucocele is a Sheltie problem: vomiting, belly pain, and a surgical emergency when the gallbladder is in trouble. VCA explains MDR1. A dog that vomits and seems painful needs the vomiting guide and a clinic, not a bland-diet experiment that stretches for days.

Shetland sheepdog questions

Are Shelties just small collies?

They look related and they share some diseases. They are a separate breed. A Sheltie is 13 to 16 inches, not a collie that stayed small.

Why do they bark so much?

Herding dogs announce everything. If nobody teaches a quiet, the hobby becomes the window. Apartment life needs that training on purpose.

Which drugs are dangerous?

Many Shelties carry MDR1, also called ABCB1. Ivermectin and several other drugs can poison them. Test once and put the result in the vet record.