Scottish Shetland Sheepdog Club

In Shetland through the ages, livestock has evolved on a diminutive scale in proportion to the landscape. Similarly the type of dogs that herded the livestock also evolved as a diminutive working dog, and this became known as the Sheltie. The Sheltie was probably a generic collie, and it was almost certainly the local shepherd's dog.

There was no breed standard, the shepherd just needed a tough, courageous, intelligent little dog. An engraving of 1840 in Lerwick shows a Sheltie in the foreground. Then in Lerwick, 1908, the 'Shetland Collie Club' was formed in an attempt to preserve the breed.

(Founded 1909)

Christmas time in 1914 the Kennel Club recognised the breed. The preferred breed name 'Shetland Collie' was refused, and the breed was named the 'Shetland Sheepdog'. Therefore the club represented by this website can be justifiably proud of being the originator of the Sheltie as a pedigree dog!

The Shetland Sheepdog, or Sheltie is a particularly well proportioned and handsome dog. The Sheltie is a dog of great intelligence and trainability. It still has many of the characteristics of a working sheepdog, and makes a fine guard dog, for it is loyal and affectionate to its owners, but wary of strangers.

The club requested Kennel Club recognition in 1909, but this was refused; later the same year The Scottish Shetland Sheepdog Club was formed.

As the Kennel Club refused to recognise the breed, the Scottish club produced its own stud book, effectively providing a standard for the breed. Eventually at

Latest Updates / News

The Scottish Shetland Sheepdog Club 2022 Champioship Show Schedule and the 2021 re-scheduled Championship Show Schedule can now be downloaded here

***2022 SSSC Calendar is now available***

The Scottish Shetland Sheepdog Club Calendars and Christmas cards are now available.

Can we thank everyone for the photos submitted for the calendar and obviously we can only use a small selection of the ones submitted.

Calendars £6.00

Christmas Cards £4.00 for 10

Plus postage

We have the postage costs for different combinations of calendars and Xmas cards. These are all second class, large letters, for UK. If you would like a cost for any other combinations please get in touch.

If you wish to purchase some please contact Mrs Derena Ritchie, derena.ritchie@gmail.com

**Memebership Subscription for 2021**

In view of the lack of events in 2020, the club committee are offering anyone who paid their subscriptions for 2020, will not need to pay subs for 2021.