Sheltidoodle

The Sheltidoodle is a deliberate cross breed between the Shetland Sheepdog, a small herding dog, developed to deal with the smaller than average livestock on Scotland’s Shetland islands, and the versatile and intelligent Poodle. Despite their appearance, Shetland Sheepdogs are not simply miniaturized Rough Collies, and they have a long and enigmatic ancestry. While there were contributions to the breed from both rough and smooth Collies, the Shetland Sheepdogs are a very distinct breed that includes contributions from many breeds. Although records of their development are murky at best, other breeds that are speculated to have made a significant contribution to the Shetland breed include the Scotch Collie, Icelandic Sheepdogs, King Charles Spaniels, Border Collies, and the Pomeranian. Most sources also claim an extinct dog breed known as the Greenland Yakki is significant to the Shetland Sheepdog’s development, as well as an unknown variety of spitz dog from the Nordic area. Originally developed on the Shetland Island, these dogs were called Toonies by the locals employed as farm dogs to help manage the diminutive livestock that is unique to the island. Tourists visiting the island in the 1800s recognized their value as a companion animal and bought many of the little dogs, thereby distributing them throughout the world. The Poodle, often referred to as the French Poodle is another breed that is not quite what it might first appear; a canine that has been commonly associated with dog shows, circus rings, and extravagance is actually an 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 haircut are said to reflect this original purpose, as Poodle is a shortened version of the name they were given in Germany, the Pudlehund from a combination the German words “pudle”, which means to splash about, and “hund”, or dog, and the unusual haircut may have been designed to reduce drag and tangling, while leaving the vital organs and joints still protected with a thick layer of hair. While their exceptional intelligence and trainability have allowed them to branch out into many roles, including circus dog, therapy animal, and favored companion chosen by individuals from street performers to kings, queens, and presidents, standard and occasionally miniature sized poodles are still utilized in their original capacity today, although they are generally clipped short all over to prevent tangling in the weeds. The standard sized Poodle is most commonly utilized in this cross, however, some breeders may utilize miniature or toy Poodles, which is likely to affect the size, temperament, and health concerns of the hybrid.