Shetland Sheepdog vs Shiba Inu vs Staffordshire Bull Terrier – Which one is a better dog breed for you?

"Find similarities and differences between Shetland Sheepdog vs Shiba Inu vs Staffordshire Bull Terrier" Compare Shetland Sheepdog and Shiba Inu. Which is better: Shetland Sheepdog or Shiba Inu or Staffordshire Bull Terrier?

General Appearance Hair & Care Characteristics Good With Health Factors Reproducibility Show differences only

Name	Shetland Sheepdog	Shiba Inu	Staffordshire Bull Terrier
Origins	Scotland	Japan	England
All Dog Breeds By Country Of Origin
Group	Pastoral Dogs (Herding Dogs)	Companion Dogs	Hunting Dogs
Popularity Rank	24	45	82
Reviews	5	1	7
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Other Names	Miniature Collie, Shetland Collie (obsolete), Dwarf Scotch Shepherd (obsolete), Toonie Dog (obsolete), Sheltie	Brushwood Dog, Japanese Small-Size Dog, Japanese Shiba Inu, Shiba Ken, Shiba	Staffy, Staff, SBT, Stafford, Staffy Bull
Breed Type	Purebred	Purebred	Purebred
AKC Group	Recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1911 as a Herding breed.	Recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1992 as a Non-Sporting breed.	Recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1974 as a Terrier breed.
FCI Group	Recognized by FCI in the Sheepdogs and Cattledogs (except Swiss Cattledogs) group, in the Sheepdogs section.	Recognized by FCI in the Spitz and primitive types group, in the Asian Spitz and related breeds section.	Recognized by FCI in the Terriers group, in the Bull type Terriers section.
Breed Recognition	American Canine Registry American Kennel Club America's Pet Registry Canadian Kennel Club Dog Registry of America Inc. Federation Cynologique Internationale Kennel Club of Great Britain North American Purebred Registry, Inc. American Canine Association, Inc. Australian National Kennel Council Continental Kennel Club National Kennel Club New Zealand Kennel Club United Kennel Club Canadian Canine Registry	American Canine Registry American Kennel Club America's Pet Registry Dog Registry of America Inc. Federation Cynologique Internationale Kennel Club of Great Britain North American Purebred Registry, Inc. American Canine Association, Inc. Australian National Kennel Council Continental Kennel Club National Kennel Club New Zealand Kennel Club	American Canine Registry American Kennel Club America's Pet Registry Canadian Kennel Club Dog Registry of America Inc. Federation Cynologique Internationale Kennel Club of Great Britain North American Purebred Registry, Inc. American Canine Association, Inc. Australian National Kennel Council Continental Kennel Club National Kennel Club New Zealand Kennel Club United Kennel Club
Price	$800-$1000	$800-$1000	$1500-$2000

General Appearance - Shetland Sheepdog vs Shiba Inu vs Staffordshire Bull Terrier

Size	Medium	Medium	Medium
Weight	14-27 pounds (6-12 kg)	Male: 18-25 pounds (8-11 kg), Female: 15-20 pounds (6.8-9 kg)	Males 25-38 pounds (11-17 kg), Female: 23-35 pounds (10-16 kg)
Avg. Weight	20.5 pounds (9 kg)	Male: 21.5 pounds (9.5 kg), Female: 17.5 pounds (6.8.5 kg)	Males 31.5 pounds (14 kg), Female: 29 pounds (13 kg)
Height	13-16 inches (33-41 cm)	Male: 14-16 inches (36-41 cm), Female: 13-15 inches (33-38 cm)	Male: 14-16 inches (36-41 cm), Female: 13-15 inches (33-38 cm)
Avg. Height	14.5 inches (37 cm)	Male: 15 inches (38.5 cm), Female: 14 inches (35.5 cm)	Male: 15 inches (38.5 cm), Female: 14 inches (35.5 cm)

Hair & Care - Shetland Sheepdog vs Shiba Inu vs Staffordshire Bull Terrier

Coat	Dense	Dense	Smooth
Colors	White Blue Merle Sable Tan Black	Tan Red Cream Sesame Black	Brindle Red Blue Fawn White Black
Grooming	Professional: This breed needs a lot of work to keep in good condition.	Easy to groom: The Shiba Inu doesn't require a lot of grooming.	Effortless: The Staffordshire Bull Terrier requires minimal grooming.
Shedding Level	Shetland Sheepdogs shed moderately.	Shiba Inus shed above average.	Staffordshire Bull Terriers shed none to minimal.

Characteristics - Shetland Sheepdog vs Shiba Inu vs Staffordshire Bull Terrier

Temperament	Affectionate Gentle Lively Responsive Friendly Intelligent Playful	Alert Confident Fearless Going Charming Faithful Keen	Affectionate Courageous Intelligent Bold Fearless Reliable
Intelligent Rank	Outstanding: Shetland Sheepdog is one of the brightest dog breeds.	Average: Shiba Inu's has average obedience intelligence.	Average: Staffordshire Bull Terrier's has average obedience intelligence.
Trainability	Shetland Sheepdogs are quite easy to train.	Shiba Inus aren't famous for their trainability.	Staffordshire Bull Terriers are quite easy to train.
Playfulness	Shetland Sheepdogs, like any other dog breed, like playing.	Shiba Inus, like any other dog breed, like playing.	Staffordshire Bull Terriers, like any other dog breed, like playing.
Sensitivity Level	Shetland Sheepdogs don't like an irregular daily routine, noisy household and frequent guest visits.	Shiba Inus have an average emotional level and are not the most sensitive dog breed.	They are a little bit more sensitive than other dog breeds.
Affection Level	Shetland Sheepdogs are genuinely loyal, soft and gentle, loving and affectionate dogs toward their handlers.	Shiba Inus are highly affectionate dogs.	Staffordshire Bull Terriers are genuinely loyal, soft and gentle, loving and affectionate dogs toward their handlers.
Social Needs	Shetland Sheepdogs are a social breed.	Shiba Inus need for social interaction is average.	Staffordshire Bull Terriers are a social breed.
Barking	High: The Shetland Sheepdog is a very vocal breed.	Low to Average: The Shiba Inu rarely barks.	Low: The Staffordshire Bull Terrier barks none to minimal.
Watchdog Ability	Shetland Sheepdogs are good watchdogs.	Shiba Inus are good watchdogs.	Staffordshire Bull Terriers are average watchdogs.
Territorial	Shetland Sheepdogs are extremely protective guard dogs.	Shiba Inus are extremely protective guard dogs.	Staffordshire Bull Terriers are average defenders.
Biting Potential	Low The Shetland Sheepdog has a low chance of biting somebody.	Low The Shiba Inu has a low chance of biting somebody.	Moderate The Staffordshire Bull Terrier has an average chance of biting somebody.
Mouthiness	Shetland Sheepdogs have a low tendency to nip, chew, play-bite, or herd people.	Shiba Inus have a higher than average tendency to nip, chew, play-bite, or herd people.	Staffordshire Bull Terriers have lower than average tendency to nip, chew, play-bite, or herd people.
Impulse to Wander or Roam	Shetland Sheepdogs tend to escape less than other breeds.	Wanderlust potential of the Shiba Inu is strong enough to escape from home.	Wanderlust potential of the Staffordshire Bull Terrier is strong enough to escape from home.
Prey Drive	Shetland Sheepdogs have an average prey drive, which means that they don't have a high impulse to chase and catch something like a cat or any other small aminals, but it might happen.	Shiba Inus have an average prey drive, which means that they don't have a high impulse to chase and catch something like a cat or any other small aminals, but it might happen.	Staffordshire Bull Terriers have low to an average impulse to chase and catch something like a cat or any other small aminals.
Apartment Friendly	Shetland Sheepdogs are not recommended for an apartment lifestyle.	Shiba Inus are very apartment-friendly dogs.	Staffordshire Bull Terriers are not the best choice for an apartment lifestyle, but they don't mind being inside if you walk them several times every day.
Adaptability	Shetland Sheepdogs adapt very well to lifestyle changes and basically all living environments.	Shiba Inus adapt well to lifestyle changes and different living environments.	Staffordshire Bull Terriers adapt to lifestyle changes and different living environments quite okay usually.
Tolerates Being Left Alone	Shetland Sheepdogs do best when a family member is at home during the day or if their workplace is dog-friendly so they can take the dog at work.	Just like every puppy, they are prone to panic, cry, bark, whine when they left alone by their owner.	Staffordshire Bull Terriers do best when a family member is at home during the day or if their workplace is dog-friendly so they can take the dog at work.
Fighting Dog	Not really In history, this breed was not really used for combat dog.	Not really In history, this breed was not really used for combat dog.	Yes In history, this breed was unfortunately used for combat dog.

Good With - Shetland Sheepdog vs Shiba Inu vs Staffordshire Bull Terrier

Stranger Friendly	Shetland Sheepdogs are not the most stranger friendly dogs.	Shiba Inus are not the most stranger friendly dogs.	Staffordshire Bull Terriers are stranger friendly dogs.
Child Friendly	Shetland Sheepdogs are kid-friendly dogs.	Shiba Inus are average friendly dogs towards children.	Staffordshire Bull Terriers are kid-friendly dogs.
Cat Friendly	Shetland Sheepdogs are very cat-friendly dogs.	Shiba Inus are not the most cat-friendly dogs.	Staffordshire Bull Terriers are not the most cat-friendly dogs.
Dog Friendly	Shetland Sheepdogs are dog-friendly dogs.	Shiba Inus are average friendly towards other dogs.	Staffordshire Bull Terriers are not dog-friendly.
Office Friendly	No Shetland Sheepdog is not the best dog breed for office environment.	No Shiba Inu is not the best dog breed for office environment.	No Staffordshire Bull Terrier is not the best dog breed for office environment.
Senior Citizens Friendly	Shetland Sheepdogs are usually recommended for elderly people.	Shiba Inus are commonly okay with elderly people.	Staffordshire Bull Terriers are usually recommended for elderly people.
Pet Friendly	Shetland Sheepdogs are one of the friendliest dog breeds.	Shiba Inus usually don’t get on well with other pets.	Staffordshire Bull Terriers usually don’t get on well with other pets.
Good For First Time Owners	No Shetland Sheepdogs are not good for novice owners, due to their stubborn personality.	No Shiba Inus are not good for novice owners, due to their stubborn personality.	No Staffordshire Bull Terriers are not good for novice owners, due to their stubborn personality.
Service Dog	Not really This breed generally not used as a service dog.	Not really This breed generally not used as a service dog.	Not really This breed generally not used as a service dog.
Therapy Dog	Yes This breed makes a perfect therapy dog.	Not really This breed generally not used as a therapy dog.	Not really This breed generally not used as a therapy dog.
Detection Dog or Sniffer Dog	Not really A detection dog or sniffer dog is a dog that is trained to use its senses (mostly its smell) to detect substances such as explosives, illegal drugs, wildlife scat, currency, blood, and contraband electronics such as illicit mobile phones.	Not really A detection dog or sniffer dog is a dog that is trained to use its senses (mostly its smell) to detect substances such as explosives, illegal drugs, wildlife scat, currency, blood, and contraband electronics such as illicit mobile phones.	Not really A detection dog or sniffer dog is a dog that is trained to use its senses (mostly its smell) to detect substances such as explosives, illegal drugs, wildlife scat, currency, blood, and contraband electronics such as illicit mobile phones.
Search and Rescue Dog (SAR)	Not really The use of dogs in search and rescue (SAR) is a valuable component in wilderness tracking, natural disasters, mass casualty events, and in locating missing people.	Not really The use of dogs in search and rescue (SAR) is a valuable component in wilderness tracking, natural disasters, mass casualty events, and in locating missing people.	Not really The use of dogs in search and rescue (SAR) is a valuable component in wilderness tracking, natural disasters, mass casualty events, and in locating missing people.
Boat Dog	Not really Shetland Sheepdog breed usually doesn't like being on a boat.	Not really Shiba Inu breed usually doesn't like being on a boat.	Not really Staffordshire Bull Terrier breed usually doesn't like being on a boat.
Cart Pulling or Drafting Dog	Not really A drafting dog or draft dog is a dog bred and used for cart pulling.	Not really A drafting dog or draft dog is a dog bred and used for cart pulling.	Not really A drafting dog or draft dog is a dog bred and used for cart pulling.

Health Factors - Shetland Sheepdog vs Shiba Inu vs Staffordshire Bull Terrier

Health Issues	The Shetland Sheepdog is a healthy breed, but there are certain health issues that you should check with your vet regularly.	The Shiba Inu is a healthy breed, but there are certain health issues that you should check with your vet regularly.	The Staffordshire Bull Terrier is a healthy breed, but there are certain health issues that you should check with your vet regularly.
Health Problems	Cancer Cataracts Collie Eye Anomaly Drug Sensitivity Elbow Dysplasia Epilepsy Haemophilia Heart Problems Hip Dysplasia Hypothyroidism Patellar Luxation Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) Trichiasis Von Willebrand's Disease	Allergies Cancer Chylothorax Epilepsy Glaucoma Hip Dysplasia Hypothyroidism Patellar Luxation Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) Spinning	Cataracts Distichiasis Mastocytoma Persistent Hyperplastic Primary Vitreous
Life Expectancy	12-14 years	12-15 years	12-14 years
Calculate dog years to human years by breed here
Hypoallergenic	No	No	No
Energy Level	Shetland Sheepdogs have a higher energy level than other dog breeds.	Shiba Inus have a higher energy level than other dog breeds.	Staffordshire Bull Terriers have an average energy level, so if you live a semi-active life, this breed can be a good choice for you.
Exercise Need	Shetland Sheepdogs have an average exercise need.	Shiba Inus have an average exercise need.	Staffordshire Bull Terriers need quite a lot of exercise.
Sleeping Need	Shetland Sheepdogs are quite energetic dogs and they don't spend to much time with sleeping.	Shiba Inus are quite energetic dogs and they don't spend to much time with sleeping.	Staffordshire Bull Terriers sleep 12-14 hours a day as an average dog and they're not considered as a lazy breed.
Avg. daily food consumption	2 to 3 cups of high-quality dry food a day, divided into two meals.	Recommended daily amount: 1/2 to 1.5 cups of high-quality dry food a day, divided into two meals.	1 to 1.5 cups of high-quality dry food a day, divided into two meals.
Weight Gain Potential	Average.	Low to Average.	Average to High.
Weather & Climate	Prefers average to cold weather conditions The Shetland Sheepdog can adapt to well to cold weather conditions, some dogs even can be a good mountain dog.	Prefers average to cold weather conditions The Shiba Inu can adapt to well to cold weather conditions, some dogs even can be a good mountain dog.	Tolerates warm and cold weather.
Stinkiness	Medium The Shetland Sheepdog has an average chance of bad smell.	Medium The Shiba Inu has an average chance of bad smell.	Medium The Staffordshire Bull Terrier has an average chance of bad smell.
Drooling tendency	The Shetland Sheepdog is a perfect example for very low drooling tendency.	The Shiba Inu is a perfect example for very low drooling tendency.	The Staffordshire Bull Terrier is an average drooler.

Reproducibility - Shetland Sheepdog vs Shiba Inu vs Staffordshire Bull Terrier

Gestation Length	60-64 days	60-64 days	60-64 days
How often can the have a litter?	Once a year. More frequent breeding is not healthy.	Once a year. More frequent breeding is not healthy.	Once a year. More frequent breeding is not healthy.
Litter Size	4-6 puppies	2-4 puppies	5-7 puppies
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