Origin of the Sheltie

As the name of this sheepdog tells, his nativ place is on the shetland islands, situated north-east of scotland. By the years there was breeded a small race, being resistant to the rough weather conditions, in order to keep the likewise small shetland sheep. The dogs had to keep away the sheep from the "toons" (little houses), therefore they have been called "toony-dogs" previous. Alone with a sheep herd they were often brought to a deserted island for some days, where the sheep pastured the scanty grass and mossed at the cliffes. Sometimes the dog had to jump over the back of the dwarf sheep in order to drove them back from the cliffes and to beware them of the fall. That is why the dog had to be small and light. The dog had to care himself for his feed during that time, and it's supposed that he wasn't pampered at his court as he had to participate in the scanty life of the inhabitants of the shetland islands.

The origin of the breed is obscure. Of course different dogs took part in - the border or working collie first of all, who came over from Scotland. Not untill about 1910 the English got attention to the little, laborious and lovely shetland dogs, brought them to Great Britain and began a tendered breed of an uniform type there. By the last years life has very modified, oil business is ruling. The inhabitants are living better now and they also keep large sheep, usually kept by border collies.

So the sheltie, as we call him shortly, has become generally a family dog and becomes fond of friends more and more.

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