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.