Private Lessons Group Classes
Other Services
Day Training Dog Walking Star Academy
Free Pack Walks Take the Free Assessment
About(208) 247-8073
Breed Guide

The Shetland Sheepdog: What They Were Bred to Do

The dogs kept grazing animals away from crops, which called for alertness and barking.

What drives your dog?

Breed is a starting guess. Take the free drive test to see which job your dog actually runs on, with three ways to give them that job this week. We email you the result.

Take the Drive Test Book a Free Evaluation

Where the Shetland Sheepdog came from

The Shetland Sheepdog comes from the Shetland Islands off Scotland. Farmers there kept small dogs to herd sheep and ponies and to keep them out of crops and gardens.

The island dogs were small and hardy. Over time breeders brought in other dogs, including Rough Collies, which gave the Sheltie its look as a small Collie. The first name, Shetland Collie, upset Collie breeders, so it was changed to Shetland Sheepdog.

The AKC recognized the Shetland Sheepdog in 1911. Today they are popular family dogs and sport dogs.

  • Early 1900s Collie blood is added to the island dogs
  • 1909 The Kennel Club in Britain recognizes the breed, after it is renamed from Shetland Collie
  • 1911 AKC recognizes the Shetland Sheepdog

The job a Shetland Sheepdog was bred for

The dogs kept grazing animals away from crops, which called for alertness and barking. That is why many Shelties bark to warn, are watchful of strangers and herd family members.

Sports that fit a Shetland Sheepdog

  • Agility. Quick, light and eager to please
  • Obedience. Sensitive and very trainable
  • Herding. Instinct is still strong
  • Rally. A good fit for a clear communicator
  • Scent work. A gentle confidence builder

Training tips for a Shetland Sheepdog

  • Use soft, upbeat training, since many Shelties are sensitive.
  • Teach a quiet cue and reward silence.
  • Build confidence slowly around new sounds and people.
  • Reward staying calm when things move fast.

Body and health

Small and light, but a thick coat means heat needs watching.

Fun fact. In Stanley Coren's dog intelligence rankings, which measure how well dogs learn and obey, the Sheltie came in sixth.

Breed is where we start

A study of more than 18,000 dogs found breed explains only about 9 percent of the differences in behavior between dogs (Morrill and others, Science, 2022). So your Shetland Sheepdog is a starting guess, not a label. We find the drive your dog actually runs on, give it a job, and teach you to read them.

Take the Drive Test Book a Free Evaluation

Looking for a different breed? See what 75 breeds were bred to do.