Shelties are wired to herd and bark at anything that moves, including running kids, cyclists, and the doorbell, and that is the breed working as designed, not a training failure you can fully eliminate.
13.4years, median
0.9 years above the all-dog median of 12.5.
Measured, not estimated: the middle age at death across 584,734 UK dogs, 284,734 of them deceased. Based on 2,698 dogs of this breed. 95% confidence interval 13.1 to 13.6 years. Half lived longer than this, half did not. UK dogs, so treat it as the best available figure rather than a promise about yours.
In the same study, small breeds as a group had a median of 12.7 years and long-muzzled breeds 12.1. This breed is small and long-muzzled.
McMillan et al. 2024, Scientific Reports 14:531 — open access · CC BY 4.0Health tests to ask the breeder for
American Shetland Sheepdog Association sets the tests a Shetland Sheepdog needs for a CHIC number in the OFA's open database. A CHIC number means the tests were done and the results are public. It does not mean the dog passed them: ask for the results for both parents, or look them up yourself on ofa.org.
- Hip Dysplasia (OFA Evaluation or PennHIP Evaluation)
- Eye Examination by a boarded ACVO Ophthalmologist
- Progressive Retinal Atrophy (BBS2) DNA test
- TWO electives from: von Willebrand's Disease Type III DNA test; Multiple drug sensitivity (MDR1) DNA test; Autoimmune Thyroiditis (OFA evaluation); Collie Eye Anomaly DNA test; Elbow Dysplasia (OFA); Dermatomyositis 3-gene DNA test; Delayed Postoperative Hemorrhage (DEPOHGEN) DNA test
When to spay or neuter a Shetland Sheepdog: the UC Davis study of 35 breeds has a suggested guideline for the breed. For males it is any age. For females, 2 years or later. The spay and neuter page has the numbers behind it and what the guidelines say for a dog this size.
- von Willebrand's Disease Type III DNA test
- MDR1 DNA test
- Autoimmune Thyroiditis (OFA)
- Collie Eye Anomaly DNA test
- Elbow Dysplasia (OFA)
- Dermatomyositis 3-gene DNA test
- Delayed Postoperative Hemorrhage (DEPOHGEN) DNA test
- Degenerative Myelopathy DNA test (not CHIC)
- Progressive Retinal Atrophy CNGA1 DNA test (not CHIC)
- Patellar Luxation (not CHIC)
- Congenital Cardiac evaluation (not CHIC)
- Dentition certification (not CHIC)
Test names as the club lists them; checked September 2026. OFA CHIC breed page. How to use this at the breeder: check a breeder.
Adopt a Shetland Sheepdog near you
Shelters and rescues list Shetland Sheepdogs and Shetland Sheepdog mixes on Petfinder. Enter a ZIP code to see who is waiting within 100 miles.
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Living with a Shetland Sheepdog
Shelties are smart, biddable, and easy to train, but that intelligence needs an outlet, daily exercise plus mental work like obedience or agility, or it comes out as barking and herding behavior aimed at your family. The coat looks glamorous but sheds heavily and mats without twice-weekly brushing, and many Shelties are naturally wary of strangers and loud noises, so early socialization matters more than the gentle-collie reputation suggests.
Health you should know about
- Collie eye anomaly — an inherited eye condition present from birth that can range from mild to causing blindness; genetic and eye testing is widely recommended before breeding.
- MDR1 drug sensitivity — a gene mutation common in herding breeds that can cause dangerous reactions to certain common medications, including some parasite treatments and anesthetics; a simple DNA test identifies carriers.
- Hip dysplasia and hypothyroidism — joint and hormonal conditions documented in the breed.
- Dermatomyositis ('Sheltie skin syndrome') — an inherited inflammatory disease affecting skin and muscle, seen in the breed.
Read the full Dog Care Guide first — costs, daily time, and everything a dog needs before you choose a breed.
Naming a Shetland Sheepdog? Scottish dog and cat names, 79 of them, with what they mean.
Sources — 2 references
Last reviewed October 2026. 2 sources listed below. Written and maintained by Petdeals.io. General care information, not veterinary advice — for a sick animal, call a vet.