Shetland Sheepdogs are wonderful companion dogs. They are close relatives of the Rough Collies, which are descendants of the Scottish Border Collies. The Shetland Sheepdog was bred around the 1700s by crossing the Border Collie with the Yakkin of Iceland. They are docile dogs, alert to their surroundings and have a loyal and affectionate temperament.

In appearance, Shetland Sheepdogs resemble the rough coated Collie very much, except that they are smaller in size. The profile of a Shetland Sheepdog, when seen from the side, resembles a kind of blunt wedge. The muzzle tapers a little from the ears and till the nose. The nose is black in color and the eyes are almond shaped and dark colored. However, blue merle Shetland Sheepdogs with bluish coats may have blue eyes. The ears of a Shetland Sheepdog are small and three fourths of it point straight upwards while the rest is folded down.

Shetland Sheepdogs have a luxurious coat. The fur is double coated and spread in abundance all over the body of the dog. The coat is long on the body, but shorter near the head and legs. The resultant effect of the long and short coat length makes it seem as if the Shetland Sheepdog has a mane around its chest and neck. The Shetland Sheepdog has a tight and soft undercoat whereas the outer coat is straight and rough to touch. In spite of its appearance, the coat is easy to care for. Regular brushing of the coat is important, but combs should be used sparingly. The coats of Shetland Sheepdog need to be misted a bit before brushing and all the mats and tangles should be got rid of thereafter. Shetland Sheepdogs are heavy shedders and they shed their thick undercoat twice every year. During shedding, the dirt and mud is also shed, which is why shampooing the dog becomes a necessity during that time.

The color of a Shetland Sheepdog’s coat ranges from blue merle and sable to black along with varying shades of white and tan. There are three primary colorations - the sable color which may differ from golden to mahogany; the tri color which consists of tan, white and black coats; and the blue merle which is a shade of grey over other colors. Lesser known color varieties include the bi-black coats and the bi-blue coats. The sable coated Shetland Sheepdogs are the most common ones and can be seen frequently in the show rings.

The rest of the body of a Shetland Sheepdog is quite athletic and muscular with an arched neck. When measured from the shoulder joint to the extreme end of the pelvic bone, the size of the Shetland Sheepdog should be moderately long. The average size of a full grown Shetland Sheepdog ranges from thirteen to sixteen inches for the male and twelve to fifteen inches for females. Their weight should ideally fall in between fourteen to twenty seven pounds.

The Shetland Sheepdog has a long tail, which is heavily feathered and can sometimes have a slight curve. Uncurled tails point straight towards the downward direction. The length of the tails usually reaches the hock.