Breed profile
Shetland Sheepdog
Explore the care, lifestyle and household factors that matter before making a commitment.
SizeSmall
ExerciseModerate
GroomingHigh
ChildrenGood
BarkingModerate
HealthModerate
What this means
Source-linked data has been researched to help you make an informed decision about life with this breed.
Read how evidence is handledAt a glance
Key facts
Size classSmall
Adult weight9 kg
Exercise needModerate
Energy levelVery high
BarkingModerate
Grooming effortHigh
Health burdenModerate
Breed profile
Life with this breed
Home and lifestyle
- Flat suitability
- Limited fit
- Alone tolerance
- Low
- Energy level
- Very high
- First-time owner fit
- Limited fit
Care and training
- Minimum daily exercise
- 60 minutes
- Mental stimulation
- Very high
- Trainability
- Good
- Grooming effort
- High
- Professional grooming
- Low maintenance
- Shedding
- Moderate
Household fit
- Children
- Good
- Dogs
- Moderate
- Cats
- Moderate
- Prey drive
- Moderate
- Visitors
- Moderate
Health and evidence
- Health burden
- Moderate
- Heat tolerance
- Moderate
- Cold tolerance
- Good
Health-burden evidence confidence: Medium.
Recorded health considerations
- Collie eye anomaly
- Progressive retinal atrophy
These are breed-level considerations, not a diagnosis or a guarantee that an individual dog will be affected.
Children and pets need supervision and careful introductions. Individual behaviour varies.