THE ORIGIN OF THE SHELTAND SHEPHERD

The history of the Shetland Shepherd begins in the remote Shetland Islands, located in the north of Scotland. For centuries, the inhabitants of these islands relied heavily on sheep and goat farming for their livelihood, and needed reliable, hardy dogs to assist them in herding.

It is believed that the ancestors of the Shetland Sheepdog were brought to the islands by the Vikings in the 9th century, and that they were crossed with other local sheepdogs to produce a hardy breed adaptable to the inhospitable climate of the islands.

Over the centuries, the Shetland Shepherd remained a relatively isolated breed, working closely with local farmers and developing characteristics specific to its herding work, such as agility, intelligence and the ability to work over long distances.

In the mid-19th century, the breed began to gain popularity outside the Shetland Islands, and was exported to England, where it was bred and developed as a show breed. In 1909, the British Kennel Club officially recognised the breed as the Shetland Shepherd.

THE SHETLAND SHEEPDOG STANDARD

The Shetland Sheepdog is a small, long-haired working dog of great beauty, with no signs of heaviness or coarseness, free action and gracefulness. His build should be symmetrical so that no part of his body appears disproportionate. The coat, the abundant mane and chest, the beauty of the head and the sweetness of expression combine to present the ideal specimen.

The following are the fundamental FCI characteristics of the Shetland Shepherd Dog:

The head of the Shetland Shepherd is refined and elegant but without exaggeration, always balanced with the size of the dog. The characteristic expression is obtained from the perfect harmony and combination of skull and muzzle, from the shape, colour and placement of the eyes and from the correct position and carriage of the ears; the nose and lips are black, the eyes should be brown in all colours (with the exception of the merle, which may be blue or veined), and the ears are triangular and straight, with drooping tips when the dog is alert. 

This breed has a height at the withers of 37 cm for males and 35.5 cm for bitches, weighing between 6.4 and 12 kg, irrespective of sex. 

They have a long and beautiful double coat, identical to that of the Rough Collie, with a rough, smooth texture which is much shorter on the face. The following colours are accepted:

• HAZEL: All shades are permissible, from pale golden to dark mahogany; but these shades should be of a rich tone. Wolf and grey colours are undesirable.

• TRICOLOUR: Intense black on the body, and bright tan markings are preferred.

• BLUE MERLE: Light silvery blue, flecked or mottled with black. Bright tan markings are preferred, although their absence should not be penalised. Large black markings and slate or rust coloured markings on the outer or undercoat are highly undesirable. The general appearance should be blue.

• BLACK AND WHITE / BLACK AND TAN: These are also recognised colours. White patches may exist (except in black and tan) on the forehead, the ruff and forechest, the chest, the limbs and on the tip of the tail. All or some white markings are preferable (except in black and tan), but their absence should not be penalised. White markings on the body are highly undesirable.

HEALTH OF THE SHETLAND SHEEPDOG

The Shetland Shepherd is generally a healthy breed, but there are certain diseases which should be diagnosed by appropriate health tests prior to breeding:

• CEA (Collie Eye Anomaly): Collie Eye Anomaly (CEA) is a congenital and inherited disease. All dogs with CEA have bilateral choroidal hypoplasia (CH), also called chorioretinal dysplasia, a thinning of the vascular tissue at the back of the eye, which does not significantly affect vision. Some dogs also have optic nerve coloboma, a condition in which the nerve tissue is not fully developed in the area where the optic nerve contacts the back of the eye. In a few cases, retinal detachment may also occur. The latter two defects are more serious and can even lead to blindness. CEA is already present at birth and does not progress, so there is no need to worry that an affected puppy will worsen over time. On the other hand, it is worth mentioning that puppies affected with CEA do not suffer any pain.

• PRA (Progressive Retinal Atrophy): There are two types of photoreceptor neurons in the retina: rods (located more on the periphery of the retina) and cones (located closer to the centre). These photoreceptors gradually deteriorate so that the retina is no longer able to capture light and, as it is unable to send information to the brain, the animal gradually stops seeing. On many occasions, it is difficult to detect and the owner does not realise until the disease is very advanced.

• RETINOPATHY: Retinopathy encompasses all non-inflammatory diseases affecting the retina. The most common are hypertensive retinopathy, a complication of retinitis pigmentosa and hypertension, and diabetic retinopathy. Diabetic retinopathy is the most common retinopathy, and is mainly a vascular complication of diabetes that affects the eyes of the sufferer.

• CATARACTS: There are several causes of cataract disease in dogs. One of them can be by nature or due to the dog's age, as we have already mentioned above, due to the rupture of the crystalline lens. But there are also other causes of cataracts in dogs, such as trauma, injury, inflammation of the eye or diabetes. However, the most common cause or the one most commonly diagnosed is hereditary cataracts. Age is not a determining factor in this cause as they can appear when the animal is young. 

• CD (hip dysplasia): Hip dysplasia is a multigenic and osteoarticular disease that can be hereditary and degenerative. Therefore, there may be different factors to try to predict whether the disease can be developed or not. It is necessary to bear in mind that, although it may be a hereditary disease, it does not always have to develop as the dog may not transmit it to its descendants.

• MDR1: The MDR1 gene is a gene that codes for P-glycoprotein. A mutation in this gene causes this protein, which is necessary for the transport of many drugs through the blood to different organs in the body, not to be produced. It is responsible for preventing the transport of many drugs across the blood-brain barrier, i.e. it is responsible for limiting the penetration into the brain of a large number of drugs that would be toxic and even fatal if they reached the brain. Therefore, dogs with this mutated gene can allow the passage of certain drugs into the brain which in normal dogs have no harmful effect because they cannot reach the brain, but which in dogs with the mutated gene can reach the brain and cause very serious effects.

THE VERSATILITY OF THE SHELTAND SHEPHERD

One of the most remarkable characteristics of Shetland Shepherds is their herding ability. Despite their size, these dogs are excellent at leading herds of sheep and cattle. Their agility, instinct and ability to work as a team make them excellent herders, even though they may be much smaller than other traditional herding breeds.

In addition to their abilities as herding dogs, Shetland Sheepdogs excel in obedience, agility, rally and other canine competitions. Their intelligence and willingness to learn make them ideal for participation in a variety of sports and tests of skill.

Of course, it is also important to note that the Shetland Sheepdog is an excellent choice as a therapy dog. Thanks to their friendly, empathetic and easily trained nature, these dogs are ideal for providing emotional support to people in therapeutic settings.

Shetland Shepherds have an innate ability to connect with people and read their emotions. Their loving and reassuring nature makes them comforting companions for those suffering from anxiety, depression or other emotional disorders. The presence of these dogs can help reduce stress, improve mood and promote social interaction in therapeutic settings.

In addition, their compact size makes them suitable for accompanying people of all ages in hospitals, nursing homes or rehabilitation centres. Shetland Sheepdogs are able to adapt to a variety of situations and environments, making them versatile and effective therapy companions.

THE PERSONALITY OF THE SHETLAND SHEEPDOG

Temperamentally, the Shetland Sheepdog should be alert, friendly, intelligent and generally a loyal companion. They are known to be good companion dogs as well as excellent working dogs in activities such as herding, canine competition and therapy. Their ability to learn quickly and their willingness to please their owners make them versatile and easy to train.

CONCLUSION

The Shetland Shepherd is an amazing, super intelligent breed whose small size makes it ideal for those who want to get started in the world of agility or competitive herding but, at the same time, want a more balanced and manageable dog than a Border Collie or Bobtail. 

The Shetland Shepherd will become an incredible companion who will steal our hearts as long as we take care of his physical and mental needs and brush his coat every day, having to go to the groomer's once a month.