According to the American Kennel Association, Shelties are considered a small breed with a dense and long double coat that makes them appear bigger than they are.
Keeping a Sheltie growth chart with you at all times will help you monitor the size of your puppy as they grow.
Are you wondering how big your Sheltie will get? As an adult, Shelties weigh between 15 and 25 inches with a height of around 13 to 16 inches. Males are slightly bigger and taller than females.
Continue reading to learn more about the factors that can impact the growth of your puppy, the developmental stages, and many more!
When Do Sheltie Stop Growing?
On average, a Sheltie puppy reaches their adult size at the age of 12 months. However, some Shelties grow slowly while others grow faster.
So, you should not be worried if your puppy has not reached their adult size by 12 months, as it depends on the lineage of the dog.
You should expect your Sheltie to reach their adult size by the age of 10 months, then they will continue to add extra weight and fill out in the following months.
Their emotional and mental maturity take a while, therefore, expect your Sheltie to behave fully like an adult dog at the age of three years.
Sheltie Weight Chart
It is essential to keep your Sheltie’s weight within the range in the Sheltie growth chart according to their age.
This is because if your puppy is overweight or underweight, they could suffer from health conditions that will affect their growth and development.
The weight of s Sheltie can be influenced by certain factors such as illnesses, genetics, diet, and physical activity. Weighing your vet at home and regular visits to the vet will help keep your Sheltie at an ideal weight.
At three months, a Sheltie should weigh between 6 and 11 pounds, at 6 months, they should weigh between 11 and 20 pounds, and at one year, they should weigh around 14 and 26 pounds.
Sheltie Puppy Weight Chart
| Age | Weight lbs | Weight kg |
|---|---|---|
| 3 months | 6 - 11 lbs | 3 - 5 kg |
| 4 months | 8 - 15 lbs | 3.5 - 7 kg |
| 5 months | 10 - 17 lbs | 4.5 - 8 kg |
| 6 months | 11 - 20 lbs | 5 - 9 kg |
| 8 months | 12.5 - 23 lbs | 5.5 - 10.5 kg |
| 10 months | 13.5 - 24 lbs | 6 - 11 kg |
| 12 months | 14 -25 lbs | 6.5 - 11 kg |
Sheltie Puppy Development Stages
Birth – 2 Weeks
This is the neonatal stage where the puppy is fully dependent on the mother for nutrition, warmth, and potty needs. The puppy cannot regulate their body temperature hence spend most of the time cuddling with the mother for warmth.
The puppy’s eyes and ears are not yet developed at this stage, meaning they cannot see or hear. However, the senses of touch and taste are developed.
3 Weeks – 12 Weeks
This is the transitional stage, and your puppy goes through plenty of growth changes.
Their eyes and ears open, their teeth start growing, their muscles become strong so they can stand and walk around, and finally, they can start socializing with other people and pets.
Weaning happens during this period and when they are 8 weeks old, they can go to new homes.
4 Months – 9 Months
During this period, your Sheltie will start looking more like a dog and less like a puppy. You can start playing with toys and go for short walks for exercise. Since their joints are still growing, avoid overexercising them so that the bones and joints are not injured.
Obedience and socialization training should be done at this stage, as your puppy will begin showing their dominance, but you need to show them that you are the pack leader. Also, this is the time to neuter or spay your Sheltie.
10 Months – 18 Months
Your Sheltie reaches their adult weight and height during this period. This is the period where your puppy will get a full grip of their position in the home so further training is required to help them become a well-rounded and behaved dog.
Your Sheltie will still be active; therefore, you should keep them mentally and physically stimulated.
Adult
As an adult, your sheltie has reached their final size and has mentally matured. However, some dogs may take longer, up to three years to mature emotionally.
This is the stage to monitor your dog’s weight by feeding them healthy foods and exercising them regularly. You should also take them to the vet regularly for a check-up to catch any health condition at an early stage.
How Big Do Sheltie Get?
There are different ways to tell the final size of your Sheltie puppy. The most obvious one is to look at the parents. The size of the parents is a clear indication of your Sheltie’s adult size.
If you got your puppy from a reputable breeder, you should have access to the parent’s information or even see the parents.
However, if you adopted your Sheltie from a rescue center, you could do a DNA test and predict their size using the results. Another way is to track their size using the Sheltie weight chart.
You can also look at the paws, if they are proportional to the body then your puppy has reached their adult size and if not, then they are still growing.
On average, Shelties stand at a height of between 13 and 16 inches with a weight of between 15 and 25 pounds.
Male vs Female Sheltie Size Chart
Male Shelties are slightly larger than their female counterparts in terms of weight and height. Shelties have a height of between 13 and 16 inches with a weight of between 15 and 25 pounds. However, males can be about 2 inches taller and 5 pounds heavier, on average.
You can measure the height of your Sheltie at home. You need a tape measure and a flat surface, and if your Sheltie cannot stand straight on their own, ask a family member to help.
First, you need to find the withers, it is below the neck and is the highest point between the shoulder blades. Then take the tape and measure from the ground to the withers, and that is your Sheltie’s height.
Will Neutering/Spaying My Sheltie Affect His Growth?
Spaying is the surgical removal of ovaries in female dogs while neutering is the removal of testicles in male dogs through surgery.
These procedures should be done at the right time to avoid growth issues as reproductive hormones are responsible for the closing of the growth plates.
The recommended time to spay or neuter your Sheltie is between the ages of four and nine months.
Spaying is known to reduce the risk of ovarian cancer and prevent unwanted pregnancy while neutering protects your dog from testicular cancer, reduces aggressive behavior, and prevents breeding.
Speak to your vet to know exactly when to spay or neuter your Sheltie if you are not planning for them to be a breeding dog.
Mini Aussie Shepherd Vs Sheltie Size
The main difference between the two dogs is size as Shelties are smaller than Mini Aussies. Also, Mini Aussies are more independent and have lots of energy compared to Shelties.
Mini Aussies are considered a medium to large breed while Shelties are a small to medium breed. Generally, Shelties have a height of between 13 and 16 inches with a weight of between 15 and 25 pounds.
Mini Aussies on the other hand weigh between 20 and 40 pounds with a height of between 13 and 18 inches.
Factors That Affect Sheltie Growth
Genetics & Gender
Like humans, puppies inherit their physical characteristics from their parents. So, there is a high chance that your puppy will resemble their father or mother when they grow up, meaning their weight and height can be the average of the parent’s size.
Unfortunately, your puppy can also inherit health conditions. That is why you should source a Sheltie from reputable breeders who can give you the medical history of the parents.
Generally, male Shelties are larger than female Shelties.
Nutrition
Whether you are feeding your Sheltie home-prepared or commercially manufactured food, ensure that it is high in quality and approved by your vet. The diet should be appropriate for your Sheltie’s age at all stages of growth.
Monitor your dog’s daily calorie consumption to prevent them from gaining unnecessary weight.
Feeding them treats during training can be helpful, but excessive amounts can lead to obesity. Also, learn which human foods are dangerous for your dog and which ones are not.
Physical Activity & Health
Shelties are athletic and active dogs and only require moderate amounts of exercise to stay fit. They adapt easily to their family’s way of life and can be kept as a city dog as long they get sufficient exercise.
They enjoy going out with their owners and exercises that stimulate their body and mind such as herding, agility, tracking, and obedience.
There are health issues that Shelties are susceptible to as a breed such as hip dysplasia, thyroid disease, dermatomyositis, and eye disease.
How Much To Feed A Growing Sheltie Puppy?
The amount of food that you feed your Sheltie puppy depends on their activity level, age, and size.
Between the ages of 3 and 5 months, your Sheltie needs to eat between 1.5 and 2 cups of food daily distributed between three or four mealtimes. Before three months old, your puppy should eat between ½ to 1½ cups of food divided into four mealtimes.
To ensure that your puppy grows healthy and strong, they need a nutritious and balanced diet that contains enough amounts of protein, fat, carbohydrates, fiber, calcium, and phosphorus.
An unbalanced diet can have negative effects on your puppy’s physical and mental growth and development.
If you have concerns about what food your puppy should eat, speak to your vet and he/she can recommend the best food.
What Are The Most Common Conditions To Be Aware Of In Growing Sheltie Puppies?
There are health conditions that Shelties are prone to as they are growing, and you should be aware of them to can catch them early and provide treatment. They include:
- Heart disease – the most common heart issue is the valvular disease which can be prevented by prioritizing your puppy’s exercise to keep them at a healthy weight.
- Von Willebrand’s Disease – this condition affects the platelets, and if your Sheltie is suffering from it, their blood will not clot faster which may cause excessive bleeding.
- Diabetes – this may be caused by obesity, therefore, ensure that you feed your Sheltie only the recommended amount to prevent them from gaining weight.
- Hyperthyroidism – this condition lowers the level of thyroid hormones which can lead to aggression, weight gain, and dry coat and skin.
Do Sheltie Experience Growing Pain?
Not all Shelties experience growing pain, but some do. Growing pains may affect the bones and joints and might affect their daily activities such as walking and jumping.
If you notice that your Sheltie is hesitant to go for their daily walks or move around the house or limp, then they could be experiencing growing pain.
To minimize the pain, ensure that your Sheltie has a normal weight, reduce the physical activity until the pain is gone, and avoid doing strenuous activity in the future.
You should also take your puppy to the vet for a medical check-up as they could be suffering from arthritis or other joint issues.
What To Do If My Sheltie Is Not The Right Weight?
If your Sheltie is not the right weight, it means that they are either overweight or underweight. When the weight of your Sheltie is far from the numbers shown in the Sheltie size chart, you should contact your vet for assistance.
Your vet may rule out any health conditions that may be causing the changes in weight and give you steps to follow to help them lose or gain weight.
If they are underweight, your vet will suggest adding supplements to their diet so they can absorb essential nutrients which leads to weight gain.
You should also increase their food portions which increase their caloric intake and reduce or eliminate exercising them until they have enough energy.
On the other hand, if your Sheltie is overweight, the first thing that you need to do is reduce their food portions. Secondly, increase their physical activity to burn more calories.
Finally, you should eliminate treats from their diet and feed them fresh fruits and vegetables as snacks.
How To Properly Weight My Sheltie?
Weighing your Sheltie at home enables you to monitor their weight and in case there are any changes you can take them to the vet for examination.
It is recommended that you weigh your Sheltie twice every year, but if they are suffering from any health condition, you should weigh them more often, that is, every three months.
Use a bathroom scale to find the weight of your Sheltie at home. First, measure your weight by stepping on the scale and recording the number.
Secondly, gently pick up your Sheltie, step on the scale and record the number on the screen. Finally, subtract the first value from the second value, and that is your puppy’s weight.
Alternatively, you can buy a dog’s measuring scale and place your puppy on it, then read the values showing.
Sheltie Genetics And Common Health Problems
Shelties are generally healthy dogs, but they are prone to the following health conditions:
- Patellar Luxation – this condition happens in most small breeds like the Shelties. This is where the kneecap moves out of position causing difficulty and pain when straightening the leg.
- Hip Dysplasia – this is the condition where the thighbone is fully detached or partially floating out of the ball and socket of the hip joint, causing limping and hesitation when it comes to climbing the stairs and jumping.
- Dermatomyositis – this is a disease that affects the muscles, skin, and blood vessels and causes dramatic inflammation. Symptoms include scaling, redness, hair loss, and crusting.
- Collie Eye Anomaly – this is a developmental disease that causes several eye abnormalities such as underdeveloped choroid, holes in various parts of the eye, and blindness.
Final Words
Shelties are not big dogs despite the illusion that they give with their thick double coat. Instead, they are quite nimble and small dogs, keen to put their herding instincts to work and remain busy.
Despite being compact and small, Shelties have high energy and like to engage in physical activity such as running.
If you are looking for a small dog that does not take up so much space, a Sheltie puppy is the right choice for you. They are affectionate, intelligent, and can be protective of their owners.
