Shethund

The Shethund is a hybrid mix of the Shetland Sheepdog and the Dachshund.  There is very little information available about the hybrid itself, especially as it pertains to when and where the hybrid was developed.  Since there is no historical information available, it is likely that we can assume that the hybrid was developed in the United States, sometime in the late 1900's or early 2000's when interest in mixing pure breeds for various purposes became more popular.  We will look briefly at the histories of the parent breeds to see who and what this hybrid can be.  The Shetland Sheepdog (a.k.a. Sheltie) originated in the Shetland Islands, an area located north of the mainland of Scotland, in the 1700's.  The ancestry is believed to have included (to name a few) Black and Tan King Charles Spaniels, Yakki dogs from Greenland, Scandinavian spitz-type dogs and some of Scotland's working sheepdogs, resulting in the Sheltie we see today.  The Sheltie was bred for herding, at one time being considered a farmer's best friend,  raising the alarm at approaching strangers and shooing away of birds and other unwanted animals from the property and gardens.  Later, breeding with the Scottish herding dogs enabled them to became excellent herders, keeping the flocks and herd in line quite nicely, tasks which they still possess today...especially important for those families having cats, gerbils, other dogs and even kids!  Once referred to as a Miniature Collie, the Sheltie came to North America most likely prior to the early 1900's, where it was officially recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1911 and is the 24th most popular breed in their register.  The Dachshund originated in Germany most likely in the 15th century.  The Dachshund, its name meaning "badger dog", was bred for badger flushing and hunting as well as for hunting fox and even wild boar.  In those days, they varied in size depending upon what animals they hunted, ranging from 30 to 35 pounds for hunting badgers and boars, 16 to 22 pounds to hunt foxes and deer, to 12 pounds for hunting hares and weasels.  As you can imagine, they had excellent hunting skills, their short legs and sturdy bodies making them perfect for these tasks.  Today's Dachshund, still available in standard and miniature sizes with a variety of coat types, is still very agile and has a keen sense of smell, its hunting instincts still intact. The Dachshund was officially recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1885 and is the 13th most popular canine breed in its registry.  The Shetlund hybrid itself is recognized by the Designer Breed Registry.