Shetland Sheepdog
A mini Border Collie — smart and devoted, but very vocal for a flat.
About the Shetland Sheepdog
The Shetland Sheepdog, also known as the Sheltie, is a breed of herding dog that originated in the Shetland Islands of Scotland. It was formally recognized by the Kennel Club in 1909. It was originally called the Shetland Collie, but this caused controversy amongst Rough Collie breeders of the time, so the name was changed. It is a small dog, clever, vocal, willing to please, and trustworthy.
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA)
Key facts
- Origin
- United Kingdom
- Weight
- 6–12 kg
- Height
- 33–41 cm
- Lifespan
- 12–14 years
- Est. monthly cost
- $109 (≈ $1308 per year)
- Purchase price
- $1,650–$2,900 from a breeder
Where the monthly cost comes from
Routine care for a Shetland Sheepdog averages about $109 a month, or roughly $1,308 a year. That figure is summed from the measured US line items below — food is scaled to this breed's body weight and grooming to its coat — not quoted from any single clinic or breeder.
| Category | Per month |
|---|---|
| Food (scaled to 9 kg) | $149.88 |
| Treats | $60.00 |
| Routine veterinary care (adjusted for this breed's known issues) | $347.55 |
| Medications (flea, tick, heartworm) | $101.85 |
| Grooming (5/5 coat requirement) | $600.00 |
| Toys | $37.00 |
| Licence | $15.00 |
| Total | $109 |
Pet insurance is not in that total. The average US accident-and-illness premium is $676 a year for a dog, but most pets are not insured, so adding it to every breed would overstate what a typical owner pays.
If you insure, board and budget for emergencies
Owners who carry insurance, leave the pet boarded when travelling and set money aside for emergencies land near $211 a month — about $2,537 a year. This is a modelled budget, not a survey result:
| Item | Per year |
|---|---|
| Routine care, as itemised above | $1,308 |
| Pet insurance (NAPHIA average premium) | $676 |
| Boarding (10 days at $25/day) | $250 |
| Emergency fund (one ~$900 event every 3 years) | $300 |
| Fully-loaded total | $2,537 |
Boarding rate from MarketWatch ($25/day). Emergency allowance modelled on Rover's finding that a typical emergency visit starts near $300 and reaches $4,000 with diagnostics and an overnight stay. The number of boarded days and the once-in-three-years emergency frequency are our own planning assumptions, stated here so you can substitute your own.
Includes routine vet visits, food, grooming and supplies. Excludes emergencies, training, boarding and the purchase price above. Method and sources: data sources.
Temperament and care profile
Health issues to watch
How it compares
Pick a second breed to see a side-by-side breakdown of cost, size, shedding and lifestyle fit.
- Shetland Sheepdog vs Siberian Husky
- Shetland Sheepdog vs Bichon Frise
- Shetland Sheepdog vs Great Dane
- Shetland Sheepdog vs Border Collie
- Shetland Sheepdog vs Labrador Retriever
- Shetland Sheepdog vs Golden Retriever
- Shetland Sheepdog vs Poodle
- Shetland Sheepdog vs German Shepherd
- Shetland Sheepdog vs Maltese
- Shetland Sheepdog vs Yorkshire Terrier
- Shetland Sheepdog vs Rottweiler
- Shetland Sheepdog vs Alaskan Malamute
Breeds closest to this one
Ranked by measured similarity across shedding, grooming, energy, trainability, apartment fit, child friendliness, vocalisation and adult weight.
- Pembroke Welsh Corgi — about $22/month less
- Miniature Schnauzer — about $14/month less
- Border Collie — about $5/month less
- Samoyed — about $13/month more
- Poodle — about $7/month more
- Beagle — about $35/month less
- German Shepherd — about $7/month more
- Bichon Frise — about $4/month less