sheltie – shetland sheepdog
The shetland sheepdog, often known as the sheltie, is a breed of herding dog. Less favored nicknames are the toy collie and the miniature collie. They are small dogs, and come in a variety of colors, such as sable, tri-color, and blue merle. They are very intelligent, vocal, excitable, energetic dogs who are always willing to please and work hard.
They are partly derived from dogs used in the Shetland Isles for herding small sheep or, just as likely, for chasing sheep and birds out of the crofter’s gardens, along with several very small or toy breeds such as the King Charles Spaniel (not to be confused with the more modern Cavalier King Charles Spaniel), the Pomeranian, and the now extinct Yakki Dog. The breed was formally recognized by The Kennel Club in 1909
