The dog you buy will be with you throughout his life (about 15 years) and he will need to fit into your lifestyle. Before you buy, think about how you want the dog to fit in. Will he be your companion, a child's pet, a show dog or a foundation for your future kennel? Do you expect him to be a watch dog or a stock dog? Don't buy a Sheltie if what you need is a Doberman or a Chihuahua. Knowing what you want and starting out with the right individual to fill your needs is the most important factor in successful dog ownership.

HISTORY & ORIGIN

The breed evolved from hardy ancestors which lived in the Shetland Island, off the coast of Scotland. The early Shelties were used as sheepdogs and as protectors of their owner's home and property. Due to the harsh living conditions and close association with the people of the islands, the Sheltie evolved into a miniature herding dog,small and sturdy, a true working dog with a "special something" still evident in his personality today. DESCRIPTION The Shetland Sheepdog is a sound, sturdy, rough coated dog,with color ranging from Sable (gold to mahogany), TriColor(black with tan points and white markings). Blue Merle (merle with tan points and white markings) and a black or blue Bi-Color (without the tan points on face or legs). The Blue Merle is allowed to have one or two "blue eyes" He may have a full shawl collar and white face blaze or may be plain-faced, may have white markings just on his chest and feet. Either variation is perfectly correct .  Size should be between l3"-16" at the shoulder. However, Shelties still vary considerably in size and weight .  Size may vary in any given litter between 12-18 inches and weight between I5-35 Ibs. The Ideal size is 14 1/2 " and about 20 Ibs.

BREED CHARACTERISTICS

The most outstanding characteristic of the Sheltie is his unique temperament. He has an intense desire to please his owner and an enormous capacity for love and affection. The Sheltie is exceptionally trainable and responsive, characteristics which make him an ideal pet and companion, and an outstanding worker in obedience trials. Shelties raised as pets develop a great deal of loyalty to their owners and are natural stay-at-homes, with little desire to roam. They seem to have a natural affinity for children and are gentle and loving companions for them. Because of his sensitive nature the Sheltie reacts negatively to harsh treatment. He seeks and expects response from you and responds best when you respond to him. It takes proper training, socialization and play on your part to enable your Sheltie to develop his personality to its fullest potential. There is a certain charisma about Shelties. They are loving, loyal,openly communicative and never sneaky. They have a very real sense of humor and exhibit a certain gaity without being foolish. The Sheltie with true character is capable of establishing a relationship with his master based on mutual respect and understanding. This Sheltie may seem to others to be "just another dog" because he "turns on" only to his special person, but the relationship becomes obvious when dog and man are working together. If you cannot appreciate the refinements and communication of this kind of relationship between person and dog, you might want to consider another breed. FOR A PET The most important criteria in selecting a pet is temperament and good health. Your pet must be compatible with the people in your house - a bouncy, active Sheltie for a house full of children; a quiet dignified one for Grandma. Pick a steady, sensible puppy that appeals to you. Trust the breeder's judgment, as he is the one that has raised and lived with those puppies for 8 weeks and knows their individual temperaments and will be able to help you choose the one that will be best suited for you. If you are looking for an attractive family pet you must decide whether it is a male or female that you want. Unlike some other breeds there is little difference in temperament between the male and female Sheltie. Both are gentle, loving homebodies whose main desire is to please you. The female comes in season once every six to nine months. She should either be spayed or must be kept away from male dogs at this time. Sheltie males are just as affectionate, tractable and gentle as females and make fine pets. The age of the Sheltie you buy will vary with the purpose of the dog and the lifestyle of the family. If you lead a somewhat unusual life style or if you have a number of small children, a young puppy is probably best. If your child is just a baby, perhaps you should choose a 3 or 4 month old puppy. He can take more rough housing but is still young enough to adjust easily. An older puppy or dog is usually partially trained and housebroke. He may be ideal for the person who doesn't want the hassle of a young, impish puppy. Shelties of any age usually adapt to their new owners with little problem.

FOR AN OBEDIENCE DOG

There is only place to go to buy a prospective obedience puppy-a reputable breeder. Seek a breeder who has bred dogs that have achieved what you are attempting to achieve. Of prime importance is the role of the breeder from the time the pups are born through the first 12 weeks of life ... this is the most important time in a dog's life. Socialization means the dog is to experience as many new adventures as is possible under the most controlled of situations. This, quite obviously, requires a knowledgeable dog person. The top working dog is sensitive and exceptionally responsive to his owner; he is steady and reliable in the midst of strange noises,people, and circumstances. Pick the puppy who is active, quick to respond, willing to please,has a natural curiosity, and shows an affinity for people.

FOR BREEDING OR SHOW

Shop with care, there are many "kennels" advertising show quality puppies for sale that have never bred a Champion or even owned a real show quality dog. Price is no indicator of quality . . on the other hand, do not expect to find a show quality dog at a bargain price. A Show Dog is one who is good enough to win . .. if he is well conditioned, trained and handled properly. Puppies are selected on the basis of their head and body structure, the size, shape and placement of their eyes and ears, their expression and other subtle qualities obvious only to the trained eye. The puppy that may be most attractive to you because it has a full white collar and a nice blaze may well be the least promising show prospect! MARKINGS ARE ONE OF THE LEAST IMPORTANT FEATURES OF A SHOW DOG! A pick of the litter puppy also is not necessarily a show prospect. It may not be a very good litter! A show prospect is a puppy that the experienced breeder feels will conform closely enough to the breed standard ideal to one day acquire the coveted title of Champion . The purchase of breeding stock will be one of utmost importance to your future success. It is not an undertaking to be approached lightly. Your foundation stock will heavily influence the type, quality and consistency of Shelties you produce in later years. You must know the breed standard, the various bloodlines and subtypes and KNOW WHAT YOU WANT BEFORE YOU BUY.

WHERE AND HOW TO BUY A PUPPY

Buy your Sheltie from a local, experienced, breeder-exhibitor! His ultimate aim is to produce the perfect Sheltie, and he spares no expense in trying to breed the best Sheltie he can. His breeding stock will be of good quality and his dogs, receive fine care. The kennel will be clean, the dogs healthy and alert and of sound temperament and he will be happy to show them to you. Make an appointment in advance so he will have ample time to show you his dogs. You can see the puppies' pedigree before purchase and you should expect to see numerous champions in that pedigree. When you purchase a puppy you will be given his diet, a record of his inoculations, his pedigree, and his registration application or certificate. The breeder will probably suggest that you have the puppy checked by your veterinarian within 48 hours for your mutual protection. Breeding top quality dogs is an expensive hobby! If he is lucky the income the breeder receives from the sale of his puppies and stud fees may cover his expenses. For all of the above, you will pay no more ,and probably less than you would at a pet shop.