We Shelties are off-the-charts smart! According to Dr. Stanley Coren, a canine psychologist who performed a study of dog breed intelligence in the 1990s, we are the 6th most intelligent breed! Dr. Coren studied us and figured out that we are able to learn a command after hearing it less than five times, and we follow those commands at least 95% of the time! We can also learn up to 250 different words and even understand simple math! So if you’re looking for a dog you can train with ease, I’m the pup for you!

We Shetland Sheepdogs get our name from our homeland – the Shetland Islands, which are in between Scotland and Norway. The humans believe that my earliest ancestors were a Spitz breed related to the Icelandic Sheepdog. We were later bred with other breeds from the mainland (the Border Collie and Rough Collie) as well as smaller companion dogs like the Pomeranian and King Charles Spaniel. We used to be called Toonie dogs (toon is the old Shetland word for farm) because we helped our humans herd and protect native Shetland sheep on their farms. But my ancestors weren’t just protective of sheep – we also protected our families, which is why we’re such great family dogs! Our ancestors came to England and Scotland in the early 1800s when visitors to the islands discovered us “miniature Collies” and fell in love with our small size, furbulous looks, and gentle personalities. It took a while for our breed to be officially recognized in England because our breed varied a lot due to crossbreedi