"Nature, to be commanded, must be obeyed."Francis Bacon
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Caring for an Elderly Pet
Right up front, congratulations of needing to read this article! You have one of the sweetest possessions one can have, a long-term "family member" who you've obviously protected and taken care of. When our pets get older, the signs of age inevitably ...
Dog training for desired behaviors
Teaching a dog proper behavior while it is young is very important. While playing and having fun with your new puppy or dog is certainly important, it is also important to teach your canine companion just what is expected - which behaviors are acceptable ...
Shih Tzu - A Secret Treasure Of Happiness In The Imperial Palace
Eunuchs and their personal hierarchies ran the Imperial households. Li Lien-Yang whom Tzu Hsi (The Empress Dowager) named Chief Eunuch was made responsible for overseeing the breeding and Shih Tzu selections to be presented to her for possibilities of ...
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History
The Shetland Sheepdog can be traced back many years to the Shetland Isles, where they were bred as a herding dog.
Smaller, hardier animals were required to survive the harsh conditions in the Shetland Isles and thus, the Shetland Sheepdog was developed. No official records exist, but it is believed that Sheltie's probably derived from Scottish Collies, which were smaller than today's Collies.
Appearance
Shelties are very pretty little dogs with almond shaped eyes, giving them a very sweet expression.
Shelties should stand at approximately 36 cm tall for females and 37 cm tall for males.
They have very long, thick coats and come in a wide variety of colours; Sable, Tri-coloured, Black and White, Black and Tan and Blue Merle, with many variations inbetween.
Temperament
Sheltie's have wonderful affectionate, gentle temperaments with their owners, but can be a little reserved with strangers. They are certainly not 'lap-dogs', but make wonderful pets because of their kind nature. They have wonderful characters, with an endearing stubbornness that makes them a pleasure to own.
Their strength and intelligence mean that these hardy little dogs excel in many competitive fields, such as obedience and agility.
Grooming
They do require a considerable amount of grooming because of the thickness and length of their coats.
Exercise
Sheltie's are very active little dogs, and are described by many as almost tireless. They enjoy being outdoors and do require a moderate amount of exercise.
Health Problems
The breed is largely free of any major health problems, however Collies and Shelties are known to suffer from some hereditary eye conditions, namely Progressive Retinal Atrophy (P.R.A) and Collie Eye Anomaly (C.E.A).
P.R.A is a rare but serious disease which inevitably leads to total blindness. It is unlikely to be detected until the dog is approximately 2 years of age and although nothing can be done to stop the progression of this disease, responsible breeders are careful to have breeding animals tested so that new litters are not produced from affected parents.
C.E.A is much less serious; statistics suggest that up to 75% of Shelties are affected to some degree, however it is unlikely that the condition will worsen in most cases and a mild affliction will not cause great inconvenience to the dog.
About the author:
Stephanie has written many articles on dogs, which can be found at the Kennel Corner website.
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