Sheltidoodle | Dog Breed Facts and Information

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Sheltidoodle

30-40 lbs

14-19"

Unknown

Shetland Sheepdog

Poodle

Sheltipoo, Sheltiedoodle

The Sheltidoodle, also known at the Sheltipoo, is one ofmany designer dogs that have been developed in the past several decades, adeliberate hybrid of the Shetland Sheepdog, a small but sturdy herding dogdeveloped on the Shetland islands off of the coast of Scotland, and a versatileGerman duck hunting dog that we know today as the Poodle. This hybrid is anextremely intelligent and sensitive canine who is affectionate and responsiveto their families, but reserved and polite with strangers. Their mildprotective instincts make them excellent watchdogs and they do quite well with polite,easy going children, but some Sheltidoodles may become somewhat hyper-reactive, makingthem less appropriate for loud or rowdy households.

Purpose

Companion

Date of Origin

Unknown

Ancestry

Shetland Sheepdog and Poodle

Sheltidoodle Health

Average Size

Height: 14-19 inches Weight: 40-50 lbs

Height: 14-19 inches Weight: 30-40 lbs

Major Concerns

Canine Hip Dysplasia (Chd)
Sebaceous Adenitis
vonWillebrand’s Disease
Patent Ductus Arteriosus (PDA)
Gastric Dilation Volvulus (GDV) or Bloat
Ulcerative Dermatosis

Minor Concerns

Deafness
Cataracts
Glaucoma
Diabetes
Color Dilution Alopecia
Corneal Dystrophy
Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA)
Collie Eye Anomaly (CEA)

Occasional Diagnoses

Hypothyroidism
Epilepsy
Hemophilia
Cardiomyopathy
Mitral Valve Dysplasia
Lupus Erythematosus
Malassezia Dermatitis/Otitis
Cryptorchidism
Cushing’s Disease

Occasional Tests

Eye Examination
Brain Auditory Evoked Response (BAER)
Blood and Urine Tests
X-rays or other radiographic imaging
Electrocardiograph (ECG - measures rate and rhythm)

Sheltidoodle Breed History

The Sheltidoodle is a deliberate cross breed between theShetland Sheepdog, a small herding dog, developed to deal with the smaller thanaverage livestock on Scotland’s Shetland islands, and the versatile and intelligent Poodle. Despite their appearance, Shetland Sheepdogs are not simply miniaturizedRough Collies, and they have a long and enigmatic ancestry. While there werecontributions to the breed from both rough and smooth Collies, the Shetland Sheepdogsare a very distinct breed that includes contributions from many breeds. Althoughrecords of their development are murky at best, other breeds that arespeculated to have made a significant contribution to the Shetland breedinclude the Scotch Collie, Icelandic Sheepdogs, King Charles Spaniels, Border Collies,and the Pomeranian. Most sources also claim an extinct dog breed known as theGreenland Yakki is significant to the Shetland Sheepdog’s development, as wellas an unknown variety of spitz dog from the Nordicarea. Originally developed on the Shetland Island, these dogs were calledToonies by the locals employed as farm dogs to help manage the diminutive livestock that is unique to theisland. Tourists visiting the island in the 1800s recognized their value as acompanion animal and bought many of the little dogs, thereby distributing themthroughout the world. The Poodle, often referred to as the French Poodle isanother breed that is not quite what it might first appear; a canine that hasbeen commonly associated with dog shows, circus rings, and extravagance is actuallyan athletic animal that was developed as a hunting dog in Germany rather than France,and was employed to find and retrieve game, particularly waterfowl, for hunters,a practical rather than extravagant companion. Both their name and their signature haircutare said to reflect this original purpose, as Poodle is a shortened version ofthe name they were given in Germany, the Pudlehund from a combination theGerman words “pudle”, which means tosplash about, and “hund”, or dog, and theunusual haircut may have been designed to reduce drag and tangling, whileleaving the vital organs and joints still protected with a thick layer of hair.While their exceptional intelligence and trainability have allowed them tobranch out into many roles, including circus dog, therapy animal, and favoredcompanion chosen by individuals from street performers to kings, queens, andpresidents, standard and occasionally miniature sized poodles are still utilizedin their original capacity today, although they are generally clipped short allover to prevent tangling in the weeds. The standard sized Poodle is mostcommonly utilized in this cross, however,some breeders may utilize miniature or toy Poodles, which is likely to affectthe size, temperament, and health concerns of the hybrid.

Sheltidoodle Breed Appearance

The Sheltidoodle is a medium-sized dog that is the productof two canines who can be quite different in appearance, leading to quite a bitof variation between individual dogs, even within the same litter. Both parentbreeds are rather squarely built with long, straight legs and deep chests, sothis will be true of their offspring as well. The head and face of the ShetlandSheepdog is quite divergent from that of the Poodle and the hybrid may takeafter the Sheltie, with a wedge-shapedhead, and a long, tapered muzzle that is rounded at the end, or after the Poodlewith a narrower, dome-shaped head and a muzzle that is straight and fine, itmay even take characteristics from both parents. Their eyes are typically mediumin size and either oval or almond in shapeand while most will have eyes that are a dark brown, some Shelties may passdown blue or parti-color eyes, particularly if they have any merle colorationand they may inherit the erect, triangular ears of the Shetland Sheepdog, thelonger drop-ears of the Poodle, or anything in between.

Sheltidoodle Breed Maintenance

One of the largest differences between the two parent breedsis the difference between their coats. The Sheltie has a double layer coat,consisting of an extremely dense undercoat which pushes an outer coat of long, straighthairs away from the body everywhere except the face and the lower legs, where thehair is short and lays flat against the skin. The Poodle, on the other hand,has a single layer of curly hair all over their body that sheds very little but never stops growing. While theSheltidoodle usually has curly or wavy fur, the coat may be either single ordouble layered and the actual structure of the fur can resemble either parentbreed. Dogs that inherit the double-layered coat from the Sheltie breed shedmore heavily and require more frequent brushing than their single layeredcounterparts while those that inherit the ever-growingcoat of the Poodle will require clipping or trimming on a regular basis andmore frequent bathing than those with the coarser fur structure of the ShetlandSheepdog.

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Sheltidoodle Temperament

The Sheltidoodle is typically a well-mannered animal that isparticularly attentive and responsive. These traits, coupled with their highintelligence, make them an extremely trainable animal, as long as gentle trainingtechniques are used, however, they are prone to separation anxiety and boredomif not given enough mental stimulation or left alone for too long. They typicallyrespond to strangers with a polite butreserved manner, with mild but sensible protective instincts. Early andextensive socialization helps to prevent their naturally reserved nature fromturning into excessive watchfulness or undue timidity, but some dogs may still develophypersensitivity to touch, quick movements, or loud sounds, so they may not bethe best choice for very young or particularly active children. They areusually peaceful with other animals, including other dogs, although some maygive in to the urge that is inherent to shepherding breeds and their offspring,to chase and herd other animals.

Sheltidoodle Activity Requirements

The Sheltie is a fairly quick and energetic breed, and whilethe Poodle is not as relentlessly active as some retrieving breeds, they are still athletic dogs that require daily physicalactivity to remain healthy and stable. While an hour of physical activity eachday should meet your Sheltidoodles exercise requirements, it is important to engagetheir intellect on a daily basis as well. You can combine physical and mentaltraining with these dogs by engaging in activities such as canine freestyledance, agility courses, retrieving and field trials, herding activities, andtrick and advanced obedience training. While this dog may be able to adjust toapartment living, it would require additional exercise each day and earlytraining to avoid excessive vocalization and most Sheltidoodles would be muchhappier in a larger home with a yard to run in.

Activity Level