Sheltie Breed HistorySheltie breed history goes back to the early 1900s. Of course the breed started in the Shetland Islands, located off the coast of Scotland. That is where the name Shetland Sheepdog comes from and of course, that is commonly shortened to Sheltie. And as you may know, this breed is also referred to by other name variations, such as a Miniature Collie. The Shetland islands are located north of Scotland and are not far from Norway. The capital of the Shetland islands, Lerwick, is where the first Shetland Sheepdog was first registered in 1908 but when registered with the English Kennel Club in 1909, it was registered as a Sheltie. The exact beginnings of the breed are unknown but there is a written record of dog on the island dating back to the mid 1800s. Some early records indicate crosses with Collies but there may be other crosses as well. These other crosses would help to account for some of the unusual coloring such as the Blue Merle. Sheltie breed history is discussed at length at the American Shetland Sheepdog Association (ASSA). Return to Breed Overview Return to Shetland Sheepdog Station home
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