Sheltie Care

The Sheltie--which is the common name for a Shetland Sheepdog--is a small- to medium-sized herding and farm dog that also makes a fantastic family pet. Shelties are intelligent, athletic, and resourceful, and are beloved by owners everywhere--and fortunately for those owners, Sheltie care and maintenance doesn't take a great deal of time. Below you'll find plenty of details on raising a Sheltie: puppy development, living environment, exercise needs, diet and nutrition, and lots more. For answers to all your questions about Shetland Sheepdog care, keep reading!

Like all dog breeds, Shelties need consistent exercise to maintain their health, happiness, and longevity. And as herding and farm dogs, Shelties are both athletic and intelligent, so they'll need activities that stimulate both their bodies and their brains. They'll need quite a lot of it too! Though this amount may vary depending on its age and overall activity level, the typical adult Sheltie will need at least 60 minutes of exercise per day. You can begin exercising a Sheltie puppy at three months old by taking it on short (10- to 15-minute) walks, then increasing the walks' duration as the puppy grows.

There are, of course, a few precautions to take when exercising your Sheltie: first, puppies younger than nine months old shouldn't participate in activities that include a lot of jumping and running, as doing so can injure their still-developing bones and joints. And a Sheltie, regardless of age, has an incredibly strong herding instinct, and will try to "herd" most moving objects--people, other animals, bicyclists, even cars!--when in public. This means you'll need to leash your Sheltie while you're out and about so it won't naturally follow these instincts. These dogs are also highly social (they love their people, in other words), so your Sheltie will benefit most from any activities that you, its owner, participate in with the dog. A Sheltie will absolutely love running free in a large, fenced yard--but it'll be more likely to do so if you're in the yard with it.

It's vital that you give your Sheltie some exercise every single day. A bored or restless Sheltie is an unhappy one, and it'll probably turn hyperactive and destructive; these dogs have high barking tendencies too, and a under-exercised Sheltie will sound its loud, piercing bark until you're sick of it! So giving your Sheltie consistent exercise will save the dog's sanity--and your own as well. Here are a few ideas:

• Walking/Jogging: Two 20-minute walks/jogs per day is a good target
• Fetch: Can be played indoors or out
• Dog Park: Shelties love the company of other dogs
• Canine Sports: These dogs are fantastic competitors in agility, flyball, and obedience trials
• Hiking: Great bonding activity

When indoors, it's a good idea to give your Sheltie access to one or more balls or chew toys that will allow the dog to release any pent-up energy. It's also recommended that you have a consistent daily exercise schedule for your Sheltie, such as walks or jogs after breakfast and dinner along with a play period in the afternoon.

Maintenance for these dogs in terms of shedding and drooling is moderate overall. For the Shetland Sheepdog, shedding is almost a way of life--but luckily, drooling is basically a non-issue.

Shelties have thick double coats with a dense undercoat, and the harsh topcoat tends to stand away from the body--a combination that cause these dogs to shed a good bit for most of the year. And during shedding season (which is normally in the spring for males and spayed females, and both spring and fall for unspayed females) these dogs shed like crazy. Owners say frequent brushing and occasional use of an undercoat rake helps some; other owners regularly take their Shelties to professional groomers, who will clip and thin the coats to reduce the shedding further. Unfortunately, all the brushing, raking, and clipping in the world won't completely stop Sheltie dog shedding, so owners will need to vacuum the floors and use lint rollers on clothes and furniture on a regular basis.

A Sheltie may drool a bit in anticipation of food, but very little otherwise. If your Sheltie is drooling excessively, it may be a sign on a medical issue, in which case a veterinarian should be consulted.

Sheltie diet and nutrition is ultra-important in keeping these dogs healthy and fit. As athletic, active dogs, Shelties will need food that's high in animal proteins (meaning the food will list the protein from a specific source in its ingredients, not simply "meat" or "meat by-products"); Sheltie food will also need lots of carbohydrates for added energy, and omega fatty acids for a healthy coat and skin. For these reasons, the most sensible and popular choice is premium dry food. Dry food that's high-quality is more expensive, but your Sheltie will need to eat less of it, and these premium foods contain the necessary nutrients listed above that cheap foods simply don't have. Some breed experts say feeding a Sheltie only raw, fresh, or home-prepared food is best, but many owners find this "fresh" diet for their Sheltie to be too expensive and inconvenient, so premium dry food is the most common choice.

But how much to feed your Sheltie? And how often should you feed it? An adult Sheltie--and the amount may vary depending the dog's age and activity level--will need about 1½ cups of dry food per day, divided into two meals. A puppy, again depending on its age, will need a bit less: about one cup per day, divided into three meals. And it's recommended that you give puppy food to your Sheltie pup until it's nine months old, after which you can switch to an adult formula. For more details on feeding Shelties, reference the chart below:

Though the above-listed portions may seem small, it's best to try and stick to them. An overfed (and under-exercised) Sheltie has a fair tendency to become obese--and as an athletic breed, a fat Sheltie will be an unhappy one. It'll have breathing, digestive, and joint problems, not to mention a shortened lifespan. You can properly manage your Sheltie's weght in several ways: give the dog plenty of exercise; establish a consistent feeding schedule so your Sheltie gets used to eating at the same time every day; no feeding the dog table scraps, which are typically extremely fattening for canines; and perhaps most important, do not "free-feed" your Sheltie. Free-feeding is leaving food in the dog's bowl all the time so it can eat anytime it wants. Veterinarians agree it's the primary cause of canine obesity, and is a thoroughly unhealthy practice. Put your Sheltie's dish down only at mealtimes, and pick it up 15-20 minutes after the dog begins eating, even if food remains.

If you're worried your Sheltie is overweight, give the dog this simple Ribs Test: run a hand along its side, and if you can't feel any ribs, it's diet time. Decrease your Sheltie's daily food intake by one-fourth, and add an extra walk or play period to its daily exercise schedule.

Opinions differ over what's the best dog food for Shelties. Most breed experts and enthusiasts say that ideally, a Sheltie does best with a diet consisting of raw or cooked meat, fresh fruits and vegetables, and other prepared foods--but, they admit, that sort of diet may be too difficult for some Sheltie owners to maintain for their dogs. In that case, the most popular and sensible choice is premium dry food.

In a manner of speaking, Shelties are both indoor and outdoor dogs. They enjoy nothing more than nice long romps in a fenced yard, but they'll be happiest if allowed to live inside, where they can watch over their human "herd." For a Sheltie, apartment living might be okay, but plenty of daily outdoor exercise is a must. The ideal environment for these dogs, then, is a home with a large, fenced yard.

In regards to climate, Shelties are comfortable in most temperatures, and can handle hot and cold weather with equal ease.

Due to their very thick undercoat and abundantly long outer coat, this breed may not thrive in hot areas. They do require outdoor walks and playtime so if the owner insists on having a Sheltie in these conditions they should take care to exercise them during the coolest part of the day.