The Shetland Sheepdog is so beloved that the breed not only has a cute nickname (with devotees naming the dog Shelties), they also have their very own pet holiday: International Sheltie Day!
When is International Sheltie Day?
International Sheltie Day takes place every year on June 1.
What’s in a name?
The breed’s name is an homage to the breed’s birthplace, the Shetland Islands of Scotland.
This species has been known by several names over the years, beginning with Shetland Colliea nickname that has been despised by the followers of the Rough Collie.
Shelties were also called Dwarf Scotch Shepherdas Fluffy dogit’s a now obsolete Scottish colloquialism for the word “farm”.
Related articles: Name Sheltie from the Shetland Islands!
Fun facts
To celebrate National Sheltie Day, we found out some interesting facts about the breed:
The Shetland Sheepdog’s DNA includes the Scottish Collie, King Charles Spaniel, Pomeranian, Greenland Yakki (a lost breed in the world) and the Rough Collie, introduced in the early 20th century.
Long live Sheltie! The average lifespan of members of the breed ranges from 12-14 years.
A breed of dog with both beauty and intelligence, the Shetland Sheepdog ranks as the sixth most intelligent dog breed in the world, according to a 2023 study. Reader’s Notice report.
A breed that holds the number one spot in the heart of anyone lucky enough to welcome a Sheltie into life, the Shetland Sheepdog also ranks high on the American Kennel Club’s annual list of most popular breeds, coming in at number one. 28th place in 2021.
Often confused with the Rough Collie, the Shetland Sheepdog can be distinguished from that breed by their much smaller frame. (The Rough Collie is about 21-16 inches tall, while the Sheltie is no taller than 16 inches.)
According to American Shetland Sheepdog AssociationSheltie coats can be available in black, merle blue and mink, and can be accented with white patches.
famous shelter
Did you know that a Sheltie named jane’s calamity Ever strolled through the halls of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue? Calvin Coolidge’s Shetland Sheepdog was named by First Lady Grace Coolidge due to the breed’s tendency to get dirty. According to the Presidential Pet Museum, the 30th President even installed a dog tub in the White House just to keep his barking best friend clean. (Learn more about The dogs called the White House home.)
Since 2017, Miley Cyrus has had a Sheltie tattoo on her inner forearm! Adopted by the “Flowers” singer in 2014, Ostrich (who also replied to the sweet sobriquet “mother“) even appeared in the music video for Miley’s hit “Malibu”.
Although the Shetland Sheepdog has yet to win the coveted Best in Show title at the Westminster Dog Show, in 2022 a Sheltie named Bee ran through the Westminster Dog Show Agility Championship with a time of 29.81 seconds and took the lead of the podium!
Disney followers who watched The Wonderful World of Disney in the 1970s probably remember the TV series Catalina’s Little Shepherd Dogwhich has Shetland Sheepdog in the lead role.
Adopt Shetland Shepherd Dog
If you’re thinking of becoming a Shetland Sheepdog pet parent, there are many breed-specific rescue organizations around the United States that specialize in finding permanent homes for Shelties. To find a Shetland Sheepdog or another rescue organization in your area, visit:
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