Click for All The colors of a Sheltie              

          
          
              The Shetland sheepdog, commonly known as the Sheltie,  Originated from the Shetland Islands, which are located in the sea between Scotland and Norway. The ponies, cattle, sheep and other livestock were so essential to their livelihood that the Islanders began to breed small, agile dogs, which were calledToonies to keep the ponies and sheep off the farm and out of the crops. Nobody knows much about the dogs ancestry except that an earlier, larger Sheepdog of Shetland, Various British working collies, Icelandic Yakkie and dwarf spaniels may all have contributed to the gene. nothing is recorded of the shelties history until the end of the century. The 1st breeders to bring the breed back from the brink of extinction developed some differences. Some wanted the characteristics of the Crofters dogs, which were 10-11" tall, weighing 6-10 lbs, pretty, intelligent and hardy. However, other breeders wanted to refine them more. They wanted to  strengthen what they thought were the best traits of the Toonies by crossing them with rough collies. The result was a litter of puppies that were somewhat bigger which under took the name "Shetland Collie". After several efforts to down  size the dog by crossing them with selective toy breeds, they lost the Collie appearance and the idea was abandoned.   In 1909, The Kennel Club recognized the Shetland Collie and a year later, the 1st representive of the breed was registered with the AKC. In 1914, several Collie fanciers objected to the name, therefore, renaming them the Shetland sheepdog. During World War I a breeding ban was imposed and the Shetland sheepdog Progress hit a set back. Once the ban was lifted, american fanciers imported Shetland sheepdogs and by 1929, there were enough Shetland dogs and owners to form a club, known as the American Shetland sheepdog Association. The 1st national specialty for the breed was held in 1933. A breed that had remained less known, was now on the AKC's Top 10 list by 1980. As the years have gone, they have been a very popular breed due to size, beauty, companionship and intelligence.