Shethund

10-18 lbs
8-16"
United States
Shetland Sheepdog
Dachshund
The Shethund is a hybrid mix of the Shetland Sheepdog and the Dachshund.  This interesting hybrid mix combines two pure breeds which were both bred for hunting and herding tasks.  While that was a really long time ago, they still possess and exhibit these herding and hunting traits today, sometimes making life interesting in the family home, especially if there are other small animals like cats, gerbils or other dogs afoot.  This is a lovable mix of loyalty, intelligence and protection (just a few of her personality traits) that can fit into any home, of any size and located anywhere.
purpose Purpose
Companion, Watchdog, Agility, Competitive Obedience
history Date of Origin
2000's
ancestry Ancestry
Shetland Sheepdog, Dachshund

Shethund Health

Average Size
Male Shethund size stats
Height: 8-16 inches Weight: 10-18 lbs
Female Shethund size stats
Height: 8-16 inches Weight: 10-18 lbs
Major Concerns
  • Intervertebral Disc Disease
  • Deafness
  • Dermatomyositis
  • Von Willebrand's Disease
  • Acanthosis Nigricans
  • Collie Eye Anomaly (CEA)
  • Patent Ductus Arteriosus (PDA)
Minor Concerns
  • Demodicosis
  • Cataracts
  • Mono/Bilateral Cryptorchidism
  • Microphthalmia
  • Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome
  • Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA)
  • Canine Cushing’s Disease
  • Joint Dysplasia
  • Urolithiasis
Occasional Diagnoses
  • Hypothyroidism
  • Epilepsy
  • Portosystemic Shunts
  • Sebaceous Adenitis (SA)
  • Lupus Erythematosus
  • Keratoconjunctivitis Sicca (KCS)
Occasional Tests
  • Brain Auditory Evoked Response (BAER)
  • Internal Imaging (x-ray, CT scan, MRI, etc.)
  • Blood And Urine Analysis
  • Ear Tests and Myringotomy Tests
  • Blood Sugar and Thyroid Tests
  • Yearly Physical Examination
  • Full Chemistry Panel Tests and Blood Count
  • Eye Examinations (both internal as well as external)
  • X-rays of various parts of the skeletal system
  • Dental and Oral Examinations
  • Echocardiography (ultrasound)

Shethund Breed History

The Shethund is a hybrid mix of the Shetland Sheepdog and the Dachshund.  There is very little information available about the hybrid itself, especially as it pertains to when and where the hybrid was developed.  Since there is no historical information available, it is likely that we can assume that the hybrid was developed in the United States, sometime in the late 1900's or early 2000's when interest in mixing pure breeds for various purposes became more popular.  We will look briefly at the histories of the parent breeds to see who and what this hybrid can be.  The Shetland Sheepdog (a.k.a. Sheltie) originated in the Shetland Islands, an area located north of the mainland of Scotland, in the 1700's.  The ancestry is believed to have included (to name a few) Black and Tan King Charles Spaniels, Yakki dogs from Greenland, Scandinavian spitz-type dogs and some of Scotland's working sheepdogs, resulting in the Sheltie we see today.  The Sheltie was bred for herding, at one time being considered a farmer's best friend,  raising the alarm at approaching strangers and shooing away of birds and other unwanted animals from the property and gardens.  Later, breeding with the Scottish herding dogs enabled them to became excellent herders, keeping the flocks and herd in line quite nicely, tasks which they still possess today...especially important for those families having cats, gerbils, other dogs and even kids!  Once referred to as a Miniature Collie, the Sheltie came to North America most likely prior to the early 1900's, where it was officially recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1911 and is the 24th most popular breed in their register.  The Dachshund originated in Germany most likely in the 15th century.  The Dachshund, its name meaning "badger dog", was bred for badger flushing and hunting as well as for hunting fox and even wild boar.  In those days, they varied in size depending upon what animals they hunted, ranging from 30 to 35 pounds for hunting badgers and boars, 16 to 22 pounds to hunt foxes and deer, to 12 pounds for hunting hares and weasels.  As you can imagine, they had excellent hunting skills, their short legs and sturdy bodies making them perfect for these tasks.  Today's Dachshund, still available in standard and miniature sizes with a variety of coat types, is still very agile and has a keen sense of smell, its hunting instincts still intact. The Dachshund was officially recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1885 and is the 13th most popular canine breed in its registry.  The Shetlund hybrid itself is recognized by the Designer Breed Registry.

Shethund Breed Appearance

Your Shethund hybrid is a mix of the Shetland Sheepdog and the Dachshund and, as such, can inherit the appearance traits of one or both parent breeds.  Breeders and owners of the Shethund describe her as weighing from 10 to 18 pounds when fully matured and having the body, coat and muzzle of the Sheltie and the little short legs from the Dachshund parent.  Also, depending on which breed parent has the most influence in the bio mix, her coat colors can be brown, tan, red, sable, blue merle and white, her coat being double coated with a long, straight topcoat and a short, fluffy undercoat or it can be smooth or wiry, long or short, her eyes dark and almond-shaped with blue eyes possible if her color is blue merle, a black nose, and ears set high which are either long and soft and hanging down or smaller erect with tips breaking forward.  She'll likely have a tail which is longer but not curled or arched over her back.
Eye Color Possibilities
blue Shethund eyes
Blue
brown Shethund eyes
Brown
Nose Color Possibilities
black Shethund nose
Black
Coat Color Possibilities
black Shethund coat
Black
brown Shethund coat
Brown
cream Shethund coat
Cream
sable Shethund coat
Sable
blue Shethund coat
Blue
white Shethund coat
White
Coat Length
coat
Short Medium Long
Coat Density
coat density
pin
Sparse Normal Dense
Coat Texture
coat texture
Shethund straight coat texture
Straight Wiry Wavy Curly Corded

Shethund Breed Maintenance

Your Shethund hybrid falls into the moderate category of maintenance and shedding. Her coat is not considered hypoallergenic, with brushing frequency dependent upon which parent breed has dominance in the bio mix, the smooth coat needing brushed once a week and the longer, thicker coats needing brushed daily, especially during seasons of higher shedding.  She is in the low category for drooling and smell.  She is a frequent barker, so this will need to be taken into consideration for those living in noise restricted areas.  She is in the moderate category for hunting drive and tendency to wander, making it very important to keep her on leash when she's outside the house, fenced yard or other safe enclosure.  She is an active canine who will need daily exercise of 1 to 2 hours to keep her fit, healthy and happy.  She'll need to have her ears checked weekly, cleaning them as needed with a cotton ball and an approved canine ear wash.  Be sure to check her toenails on a weekly basis, trimming as necessary unless she is able to keep them worn down in her normal exercise activities.  Brushing her teeth two or three times a week will help to avoid development of periodontal disease and the tooth loss which can accompany it.
Brushes for Shethund
Pin Brush
Pin Brush
Slicker Brush
Slicker Brush
Deshedder
Deshedder
Nail Clipper
Nail Clipper
Brushing Frequency
fur daily fur weekly fur monthly
Shethund requires weekly brushing
Daily Weekly Monthly

Shethund Temperament

Your Shethund hybrid is a mix of the Shetland Sheepdog and the Dachshund and can inherit the temperament and personality traits of either or both of the parent breeds.  The traits which she can inherit are friendliness affection, aggressiveness, courage, gentleness, and intelligence. She is also known to be independent, social, loving, lively, loyal, playful and responsive.  She has a high level of sensitivity and can be a frequent barker.  She's a good fit for new owners, but if you have kids, be aware that she'll need appropriate socialization at a very young age to be more assured that she'll get along with the younger ones who may not know how to play with and touch her.  She'll probably get along with the family cat, but keep in mind that she has a high hunting drive.  This could result in her attempting to "herd" small animals and even the kids due to her deep seated hunting and herding instincts.  She also possesses a high level of tendency to wander, another deeply rooted instinct in her heritage.  She'll likely get along with strangers, though she may be wary at first, warming up to them once she senses there is no danger of them to her human family.  There is some independence which is contributed by the Dachshund parent, but for the most part, she should be relatively easy to train as she does also have a strong desire to please those she loves. She has a high amount of energy which needs to be managed on a daily basis to keep everyone in the household happy.

Shethund Activity Requirements

Your Shethund hybrid is an active canine, needing her daily exercise periods of at least 1 to 2 hours each day.  This exercise can be accomplished by several daily walks or jogs, playtime in the dog park or fenced yard, interactive games of fetch, Frisbee, flyball, agility training and obedience training.  She is rated high in the hunting and wandering categories, so you will find it necessary to keep her on leash when outside the house or fenced yard or other safe enclosure.  If you ignore this recommendation, you will likely find yourself getting more exercise than planned as you chase her down the street, around the block or through the woods as she pursues a small animal or some interesting scent which has attracted her attention.  She is small enough that she will get along nicely in an apartment or condo, as long as any noise restriction is considered and as long as she has appropriate exercise opportunities every day.  She can also get along great in a family home with or without a fenced yard, with appropriate exercise opportunity, in a rural or urban setting.  She is best suited to a temperate climate, provided she is given adequate and appropriate protection and precautions for those hotter or colder temperature extremes.
Activity Level
low activity medium activity high activity
Low Medium High
Rec. Walk Mileage Per Week
7 miles
walk mileage
Minutes of Activity Per Day
90 minutes
activity minutes

Shethund Food Consumption

Cups Per Day
1 cups
cup per day cost
Daily Cost
$0.80 - $1.00
food bowls daily cost
Monthly Cost
$25.00 - $30.00
food bag monthly cost

Shethund Height & Weight

6 Months
Male Shethund size stats at six months
Height: 9.0 inches Weight: 11.0 lbs
Female Shethund size stats at six months
Height: 9.0 inches Weight: 11.0 lbs
12 Months
Male Shethund size stats at 12 months
Height: 12.0 inches Weight: 14.0 lbs
Female Shethund size stats at 12 months
Height: 12.0 inches Weight: 14.0 lbs
18 Months
Male Shethund size stats at 18 months
Height: 12.0 inches Weight: 14.0 lbs
Female Shethund size stats at 18 months
Height: 12.0 inches Weight: 14.0 lbs

Shethund Owner Experiences

Cody
7 Years
2 People
House
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Cody is a wonderful dog. He loves kids. Heroes not get along with all dogs but has is friend group. He is very intelligent and has learned many tricks. He has a memory like I have never seen in a dog. I rescued him 7 years ago. He had been at the rose for 6 months. He was adopted once but was brought back as they said he would not house train. Once we figured out Cody's habits and preferences, it was easy to train him. He does not like being confined in a crate where he would defecate and then role in it if we went away. He has been a dream once we started leaving him free to roam the house while we are away.
2 years ago
Astrid
3 Years
2 People
Apartment
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Fetch
Walk
Play
Snuggle
My dog was a rescue and I didnt realize she was a Shethund until I saw some pictures that looked a lot like her. She is extremely sweet and loving, not aggressive at all but will defend herself if another dog is aggressive toward her first. She gets along well with other dogs in doggy daycare, but barks at new humans who come to the house until she is sure that her family is ok with them (after that, she is friendly to them). Health wise she has some anal gland issues and also was very sensitive to heartworm meds (vomiting) but otherwise very active and healthy. She is highly intelligent and learns tricks quickly, and is very food motivated. Her agility and ability to jump, combined with her high intelligence, makes her kind of a bandit, she will try to jump on the kitchen table when we are gone to see if there is any food up there... but she looks so cute doing it! Overall she is a wonderful dog and gets along with everyone, even little children.
3 years, 8 months ago
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Sketch of smiling australian shepherd