The Origins of the Sheltie
Shetland Sheepdog Shelties have been known to exist since the early 1800s. Originally 
called toonies, these dogs were used to herd sheep in the Shetland Islands. Due to the harsh conditions of the Islands, scarce food and little shelter, these dogs needed to be small in size in order to have a better chance at survival. Although a distinct breed, it was not until 1909 that they were acknowledged by the English Kennel Club as the Shetland Collie, due to confrontations with Collie lovers who believed they were a distinct breed. Brought over to New York in 1911, this breed soon spread across the United States and three years later, gained its own classification as the Shetland Sheepdog. The ASSA (American Shetland Sheepdog Association) was created in 1929 and continues its dedication towards Shelties today. According to the American Kennel Club, by the late 1970's shelties were listed as one of the top ten most popular dogs. In 1992, Shelties were considered the ninth most popular breed and in 1998, they were number 15. Shelties remain a popular breed today.
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