Sheltie, Sheltie, mini Collie... there are many nicknames given to this adorable little dog of Scottish origin. Very gentle and protective, he is often confused with the Lassie and the Border Collie. But although all three breeds are herding dogs, the Sheltie has characteristics that make him unique. The breed carries a heritage from the times when the Sheltie had on the farms thefunction of keeping birds away from sheep: today this little dog is still attracted to chase pigeons and other birds.

For you to get to know the dog breed better, we have separated the main information and personality characteristics of the Sheltie. Check it out below!

Shetland Shepherd is among the world's smartest dogs

The Sheltie is among the 10 most intelligent dog breeds in the world, according to studies by American psychologist Stanley Coren, who analyzed the behaviors, intelligences and abilities of different breeds and gathered the results in the book "The Intelligence of Dogs." This intelligence makes the Sheltie dog breed one of the easiest to train. fromAccording to Stanley, the dog's personality stands out for its obedience and ability to learn different tricks.

Sheltie dog breed is an excellent herding dog

Among the different forms of canine intelligence catalogued by psychologist Stanley Coren, the Shetland Shepherd stands out in the instinctive one, which is the pet's natural ability for hunting and herding. Working shepherd dogs have some skills that stand out, such as very sharp canine hearing, strong protective instinct, obedience and agility. All these characteristics can beeasily observed in the "mini Collie".

Herding dogs, such as the Shetland Shepherd and Border Collie, are usually loving and loyal to their owners. Even if they don't live on a farm herding sheep, the Sheltie is noted for its learning ability and ability to play sports.

Shetland Shepherd is playful and full of energy

Being a herding dog and one of the most intelligent dogs in existence, you can imagine that the Shetland Shepherd has energy to spare, right?! That's right! The average dog breed needs frequent physical and cognitive stimulation to keep up with all that energy. Frisbee, dog agility, running and hiking on trails are some activities that will keep the sedentary Sheltie away and leave him feeling energetic and energetic.always entertained - which will naturally keep anxiety and stress at bay.

The Shetland Shepherd also has cognitive needs (which is to be expected, since we are talking about an example of an intelligent dog). The breed needs to have its instincts and senses instigated, especially the nose and hearing. In addition to walks, which will allow the Sheltie to have contact with different olfactory and auditory stimuli, teaching tricks to the pet will help a lot in this regard.sense.

Sheltie's protective instinct makes it a reserved dog with strangers

The socialization of the Sheltie is super important in the first months of life. The strong protective instinct will emerge in adulthood, so the breed needs to get used to dealing with different situations from an early age. The Sheltie is often suspicious of strangers and can bark a lot, as it will always be aware of everything around to protect the family.

Herding behavior also needs to be worked on from an early age, because the Sheltie raising in urban centers may feel that it must herd other living beings, including children. Training the dog and correcting inappropriate attitudes will make him live better with everyone!