Shetland Sheepdog

Sheepdogs & cattledogs

Small

Median 13.4 y

FCI group 1 · Sheepdogs and Cattledogs (except Swiss Cattledogs) · Derived from the adult weight midpoint (8.5 kg)

Median survival across 2,698 UK dogs (VetCompass, McMillan 2024) · half live 10–16 y

The Shetland Sheepdog, also known as the Sheltie, is a breed of herding dog that originated in the Shetland Islands of Scotland. It was formally recognized by the Kennel Club in 1909. It was originally called the Shetland Collie, but this caused controversy amongst Rough Collie breeders of the time, so the name was changed.

Playful

Energetic

Bright

Summary from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA) · reference ranges from the Kintail breed dataset

Adult weight

Reference

Male

7–11 kg

Female

6–10 kg

Breed club figure (the American Kennel Club)

Weight for age

Stock data

Male

Female

Expected range

Expected range from the breed's own adult weight, kilograms. Growth reference: Salt et al. 2017, WALTHAM (6.5–9 kg band).

Heat cycles · females

Stock data

First heat

8–12 mo

typical

Interval

180 d

typical

Bleeding

~9 d

typical

Proestrus 9d

Estrus 9d

Diestrus 52d

Anestrus 110d

General figures for dogs, not for this breed — individual cycles vary widely.

Questions people ask

Adult males usually weigh 7–11 kg and females 6–10 kg. Most are close to their full size by around 17 months, though the last little bit of filling out takes longer. Growth reference: Salt et al. 2017, WALTHAM (6.5–9 kg band).

No Shetland Sheepdog cycle figures are published here yet, so this is general guidance rather than a breed number: most females have a first season somewhere between six and fifteen months, and cycles then settle to roughly every 180 days. Smaller breeds tend to start earlier and larger ones later.

The median is 13.4 y. Median survival across 2,698 UK dogs (VetCompass, McMillan 2024) · half live 10–16 y. How the later years go comes down to weight, teeth, exercise and regular check-ups far more than to the breed.