Sheltie Shepherd

Because the Sheltie Shepherd is a designer dog, you need to consider the history of the parent breeds to get an idea of their origin. The German Shepherd is from Germany and was developed by a man named Captain Max von Stephanitz from the German Calvary in the 1800s to herd and protect large groups of sheep. The Captain and other shepherds chose a variety of shepherding dogs with certain characteristics such as a strong sense of smell, strength, speed, and intelligence. They were also popular as a military dog, delivering meals and other supplies to the troops in WWI. In 1899, a dog named Horan was the first German Shepherd to be registered. They went through some name changes due to the discord with Germany although they were back to being called the German Shepherd before too long. They eventually became known for their bravery and intelligence and were used in police and military work, search and rescue, and assisting the disabled. The German Shepherd was recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1908 and they are the second most common breed of dog. The Shetland Sheepdog got their name from the Shetland Islands in Scotland where they were first discovered. They were bred from the Border Collie, King Charles Terrier, and the Icelandic dog to herd sheep. The breed was also used to herd cattle, horses, and chickens as well as being a loving and loyal family pet. When the British Navy returned to England from the Shetland Islands where they trained, they brought back some of these dogs, who immediately became popular. The American Kennel Club accepted the Shetland Sheepdog into their club in 1911. The Sheltie Shepherd takes after their hard working and determined ancestors.