Are you curious about the Shetland Sheepdog temperament?
The Shetland Sheepdog is a popular herding breed from the Shetland islands in Scotland!
What is the Shetland Sheepdog temperament like and what types of family do they suit?
Let’s look at the Shetland Sheepdog temperament in more detail to find out if they’re the right breed for you.
The Typical Shetland Sheepdog Temperament
Shetland Sheepdogs are also known as Shelties. Shelties are a working dog in the herding category. They were originally used for herding sheep, poultry, and even ponies!
Shelties are unique as they’re smaller than a lot of other herding breeds. But don’t worry – they certainly pack a lot of personality into their smaller bodies.
Shetland Sheepdogs are known for being energetic and loving towards their owners.
Like many other herding breeds, they’re very loyal. But they can be reserved with strangers and new animals. They’re also known for showing off their natural herding instincts in daily life!
If you’re thinking of getting a Sheltie, it’s important to make sure their temperament is right for your family.
Let’s take a closer look at the Shetland temperament, so you know exactly what you’d be getting!
Are Shetland Sheepdogs Easy to Train?
When used as herding dogs, Shetland Sheepdogs need to learn various commands.
Shelties are known for working side by side with their humans to complete their herding tasks! But how easy is it to train the modern Sheltie?
Studies on Training
This review of canine genetics and behavior suggests Shetland Sheepdogs fall in the middle when it comes to trainability for certain tasks.
However, more recent findings suggest herding breeds like the Sheltie are one of the easiest breed types to train!
They suggest Cooperative Working breeds, including the Shetland Sheepdog, respond better to human cues than other breeds. This study also suggested the breed responds well to positive training methods.
In 2005, researchers Serpell and Hsu used the C-BARQ (Canine Behavioral Assessment and Research Questionnaire) to assess the trainability of various breeds. They, too, suggest the Shetland Sheepdog is one of the most trainable of the breeds studied.
The Shetland Sheepdog is a very intelligent breed, as are most herding breeds and working dogs. Shetland Sheepdogs are known for their success in obedience training.
So if you’re looking for a dog to train in a fun canine sport, this could be the breed for you!
Dedicate a lot of time to training your Sheltie to help it grow into a well-behaved adult!
Are Shetland Sheepdogs Friendly?
Herding breeds like the Sheltie enjoy active play and exercise more than other breed types. This is great if you’re looking for a dog that loves spending time playing and interacting with its owner!
Your Shetland Sheepdog will love nothing more than running around and having fun with you. However, this breed is happiest when they’re getting this exercise and play!
If you’re looking for a dog that enjoys showing its love by cuddling up on the sofa with you all day, this isn’t the best choice.
The Shetland Sheepdog is a great family dog, but how friendly is it to new people? Herding dogs like the Sheltie can be reserved around strangers.
So although your Sheltie will likely form strong bonds with its close family, it may not be the friendliest dog in public.
The Shetland Sheepdog has a higher than average rate of aggression towards strangers, due to a fearful response.
To help your Shetland Sheepdog feel happiest around unfamiliar people, start socialization as early as possible.
Introducing your Sheltie puppy to as many new environments as possible while they’re young will help them be happier and more outgoing around strangers as adults.
So we know the Shetland Sheepdog temperament can be less friendly towards strangers – but are they ever actively aggressive?
Are Shetland Sheepdogs Aggressive?
If you’re worried about getting an aggressive dog, it’s important to research the breed’s temperament first. Are you worried Shetland Sheepdogs temperament is aggressive?
Having an aggressive dog can restrict what you can do with your pet. But are Shelties actually an aggressive breed?
This study suggests that Shetland Sheepdogs have a low reactivity rate to new stimuli. This included instances like a doorbell ringing or other loud sudden noises.
Which suggests Shelties are good at staying calm in surprising situations.
However, in this research Shetland Sheepdogs scored higher than average on stranger-directed aggression. BUT they also scored lower than average on owner-directed aggression! This supports the strong bonds that Shetland Sheepdogs are known to make.
They suggested that Shetland Sheepdogs are more prone to fear than actual aggression.
This survey of dog owners supports this theory. It also suggests that Shelties score higher than average on stranger-directed fear. Early socialization is really important to help reduce this potential aggression towards unfamiliar people.
Fear can result in unwanted aggression. And although we don’t want our dogs to show aggression, we also don’t want them to be scared or unhappy!
Do Shetland Sheepdogs Like Other Dogs?
If you want a new pup in your family, but already own other dogs, you’ll need a breed that likes other dogs.
So let’s look at whether Shetland Sheepdogs temperament is a good fit with other dogs!
Shetland Sheepdogs score much lower than average on dog-directed aggression. In fact, they have the lowest mean score of the 11 breeds in this study!
Shetland Sheepdogs tend to be a peaceful breed that get along well with other dogs. However, if your other dogs are small, you need to be aware of the Sheltie’s natural instincts.
Let’s take a closer look at these next.
Natural Instincts
Some natural instincts can be really tough to control, even with training. The Shetland Sheepdog temperament is affected by some strong natural instincts.
Shelties are known for trying to chase moving things. This includes passing cars, bikes, or even small running animals or children. This can be problematic if you have small animals or young children in your family.
Although Shetland Sheepdogs don’t mean any harm with these behaviors, they can occasionally even nip at heels when ‘herding’. Plus, if your Sheltie tries to chase vehicles, it can be dangerous for your pup!
You can try to control these instincts by keeping your Sheltie on a leash when walking outside. This can help stop it from chasing after cars and potentially getting hurt.
However, these instincts are harder to control in the home.
If you have small children or other small pets that run around your home a lot, consider these instincts before getting a Shetland Sheepdog.
Shelties are known for being vocal dogs. Herding breeds often use barking to assist in their job.
So don’t be surprised if you get a Sheltie and it barks quite a lot!
Are Shetland Sheepdogs Good Family Pets?
Now that we know a little more about the Shetland Sheepdog temperament, you may know whether or not it is the breed for you.
These energetic herding dogs make strong bonds with their families. So they are great for those wanting a loyal dog.
But, families with young children or other small pets, should be aware of natural instincts that can lead to chasing or nipping.
Shelties make a great choice for those looking for a friendly dog. Socialize the pups from a young age to help prevent shyness and fear in new situations!
Do you have Shetland Sheepdog?
What is your Sheltie’s personality like?
Tell us all about your Shetland Sheepdog experiences in the comments!
References and Resources.
Tyrone Spady and Elaine Ostrander, ‘Canine Behavioral Genetics: Pointing Out the Phenotypes and Herding up the Genes’, The American Journal of Human Genetics, 82:10-18 (2008)
Lindsay Mehrkam and Clive Wynne, ‘Behavioral Differences Among Breeds of Domestic Dogs (Canis Lupus Familiaris): Current Status of Science’, Applied Animal Behavior Science, 155 (2014)
Marta Gacsi (et al), ‘Effects of Selection for Cooperation and Attention in Dogs’, Behavioral and Brain Functions, 5:31 (2009)
James Serpell and Yuying Hsu, ‘Effects of Breed, Sex, and Neuter Status on Trainability in Dogs’, Anthrozoos, 18:3 (2015)
K. A. Houpt, ‘Genetics of Canine Behavior’, American College of Veterinary Behaviorists, (2007)
Deborah Duffy (et al), ‘Breed Differences in Canine Aggression’, Applied Animal Behavior, 114 (2008)
Helena Eken Asp (et al), ‘Breed Differences in Everyday Behavior of Dogs’, Applied Animal Behavior Science, (2015)
Scott M says
Our Sheltie was our first dog after years with cats. She is sensitive to many sounds in the house but has improved quite a bit. With three older boys in the house there is a lot of activity so she has plenty of stimulation.
She is shy but pleasant to all neighbors and most dogs. Her biggest disagreements seem to be with smaller bossy breeds but not all. She does not like other dogs that are very hyper or aggressive (usually puppies). She is best friends with a Jindo and a Rottweiler in the neighborhood.
The biggest obstacle we have had to overcome is joggers. She desperately wants to chase/herd them. Over the years we have gotten to the point where she will “stay” and in turn “sit” but reluctantly. Her desire to her joggers is almost insatiable. Cars are hit or miss. Zero interest in birds or squirrels. Cats driver her nuts but she was ok with our older cat (wanted to herd him). Lol.
She is on special dietary food after she struggled with regular food. Problem solved.
She does not like warm temps at all. We tend to do shorter walks on hot days or go early and then at night. Walks are 20-30 minutes in length. Setting aside 10 minutes of play time is also helpful.
She LOVES snow. She would stay out all night if we let her (not a chance). She licks the snow and rolls around in it. It’s fun to see.
Keep a close eye on a Shelties paws. Ours will occasionally chew at hers and wear off the fur. In winter her paws sometimes seem to get agitated by too much ice and or maybe salt. She will pause on walks to shake off her paw or chew at it. A good gentle cleaning at home helps.
Because of the depth of fur, #2 can get messy if not solid. We have gotten into the habit of giving her brief baths with about 2” of mild warm soapy water. Very relaxing for her!
Shelties can be fun and affectionate dogs. They are more “pleasant” than overly affectionate and remind me of a cat. They love to sit near you at night and will sleep next to you but are not slobbering, crawl on you kind of dogs.
They are super smart dogs, just not always to your advantage. It takes dedicated training to get them to behave in your favor consistently but the time is well spent and worth it. They are beautiful dogs who draw daily compliments for their looks and pleasant demeanor around neighbors.
Renee says
I love my Sheltie ! He is affectionate , learns quickly, and is a great companion! He is so gentle with my 2 grandchildren, 5 and 20 mo old- never aggressive , and if they are too rambunctious he just finds a quiet corner to curl up in. He “ hugs” me by pressing his head against me when I pet him. Fireworks upset him, understandably, but he’s a really great pet!
Linda says
I love Shelties but my newest Sheltie was gotten just before Covid hit and he didn’t get the exposure he needed to other humans or dogs. He is barks and growls at people when we walk and bikes and cars. It is very stressful to walk him so I take him later at night when no one is out. I’ve tried different harnesses not sure how to fix this problem.
Eileen says
I adopted a sheltie from a rescue at a year 1/2 years old. I had another sheltie from a rescue before him so I thought I knew what I was getting into-not! This sheltie must not have been socialized at all and it is extremely difficult to walk him. I use the SPORN non-pull mesh harness purchased on Amazon. He still pulls but it has some padding that goes under his legs as he was getting cuts from pulling. If you can get him into some classes. My dog does extremely well in agility and obedience. Still not good around other dogs so that is hard for me also. Like you I walk at a time of day when other dogs aren’t plentiful as he goes bonkers when he sees other dogs. If I see another dog coming at us and I can go behind a building to avoid the other dog I do so. I did not know it would be this hard but I do love him and it is what it is. Good luck you are not alone!
Jeff says
My yearling Sheltie has his own Twitter account.
Kelly Flemming says
Sheltie temperament varies substantially dog to dog and has everything to do with exposure early on. I was very mindful of this with my current sheltie and he is the ideal dog; he has zero fear of strangers or other dogs, has no shyness whatsoever. He loves to do any and everything.
When we go out of town, our previous sheltie breeder watches him with her sheltie pack and other customer dogs. Her grandchildren are often there (under five) and they overwhelm some of the dogs, but not mine. They try riding him, pulling his fur and he’s just got his ears back and tail wagging. He’d never nip or have a fear response.
A believe a big part of the success was raising him properly, but also having a daily, vigorous outlet for exercise, which for him is through fetch. He lives for it and loves it beyond words. Without it, I don’t know how else he’d get that energy out.If not, i’m sure he’d be anxious, stressed and very problematic.
To speak further on sheltie shyness, we’ve had 4 and one displayed some shyness. The others not at all, all of them being related but raised differently. Pay attention to the dogs parents and know what energy to expose your dog to new people/dogs to with and do it OFTEN with shelties. It’s important not that people come over with dogs but that you go to tons of new environements with them from day one. This way they dont develop a “safe” home base area that everywhere else feels overwhelming or stressful; as shelties are preexposed to being this way.
Maria says
I love shelties! I first fell in love with the breed when my uncle from england would bring his three shelties to our family reunions. I now own my own sheltie and he is the best dog ever and everyone absolutely adores him that visits. He loves to be cuddled, sits on our laps and sleeps at the foot of my bed. He is very energetic enjoying our fenced in acreage and as long as the weather isn’t extreme he wants stay outside all day running around (on nice days I eventually have to practically drag him inside because he would stay outside on a nice warm breezy day 24/7 if he could). As far as barking goes knowing my uncle’s dogs were crazy barkers I wanted to immediately establish with my sheltie that when I say “Enough” that means it’s time to stop barking. He is now two years old and even when he is excited if I say “Enough” he stops barking. Intelligence wise he is the most intelligent dog I have ever owned. As soon as I got out of the car the day we brought him home he immediately went outside (he was just 8 weeks at the time) and housetraining him was a breeze. He also loves to herd my poultry which he started all by himself. He is very gentle with the poultry, never nips at them and does all of the work rounding them all into the coop (if only I could train him to clean the coop too lol). He loves having a job herding and always gets a prance in his step when he’s finished rounding everyone up at night as if he’s saying “Hey mom look what I just did!”. I love my sheltie so much and even now as I’m writing this he is curled up on my lap sleeping.
Julia says
My shelter is a 3 year old male. This is the 3rd one I have owned. They are loyal and affectionate to our family members but that’s it. He doesn’t care for other people and children. He’s no mean just wants no part of them. He is very energetic and demands to play a lot. He likes to catch frisbee and chase and play with my labradoodle. He and all of my shelters have been obsessed with food and you really have to watch there weight being short and little legs. He barks a lot when he hears noises is protective. I love him but may not be for family who want a cuddle dog. That’s my labradoodle.
Larisa says
I have a sheltie male. He loves kids and other animals, gets along with out other small breed dog and cat. He has made the lives of our cat and small older dog much more enjoyable, they are much happier and more playful since he joined our family. He was the easiest dog ever to train, extremely smart, everyone’s favorite in the neighborhood. He barks at strangers but as soon as they talk to him he just melts. I have several elderly neighbors that stop by almost daily to play and do tricks with him, they bring him treats. I don’t mind because he loves the attention. He loves his exercise, sometimes will walk 4 miles with me and then still come home and run around with the cat. He chases squirrels but so does my other dog, I think he wants to be friends.
Loretta Stastny says
I have a year old Sheltie, he has a big personality that is for sure. He is loving, loyal & vocal. He’s in his second obedience class & learning very fast. He gets along great with my other dog & cat, but he’s having a little trouble socializing with other dogs outside our home. He is good on walks but it’s when other dogs get too close he gets aggressive. I think it’s just he’s unsure of his place socially & I had him neutered pretty early. I’m working on this with him & a friend of mine & his dog since his dog is very tolerant & good with other dogs. But if you are looking for one of the best dogs ever, a Sheltie is your dog. My last Sheltie lived to just shy of 13, I’m hoping this guy will too!
Tammy Holcomb says
My sheltie like most is very loyal to me and my Tennant. He is 1 year old and he is training very well. For me everyday is a new experience on training. I did start exposing him at an early age. He likes most people and tolerates different situations well the only one he is bad about is the vet. Still a work in progress on the tires of anything he wants to chase, and squarrels in the back yard. He don’t chase children and he loves to play with the cat. He loves to learn new tricks and I take him to work on occasion for the residents to pet and love. They need it especially during this time of quarantine. He just loves being fussed over by them. If he is an example of this breed, they are in fact a people pleasure and loveable companion.
Anita says
When I was married my husband and I had a Sheltie. HE WAS THE BEST DOG DOG IN THE WHOLE WORLD.
Amy J Zappia says
This was written as if about my Sheltie! Mine is very intelligent, highly energetic, loyal beyond belief and loving. He is also skiddish with anyone outside my house, barks at everything and chases any animal that steps foot or wing on my property. A very special breed who won’t disappoint if you put the time into training and play. Not an apartment dog by any means. I love my Sheltie. He’s my second. I’d never even consider another breed.
Dan Defalco says
Our sheltie is one year old, loves being with our family, strangers, not so much. There is a lot of noise where we live, a busy street and car dealer outside our big back yard. She does not like it so much, but she’s a great dog, the noise makes her a little nervous.