Our ideal

Our Ideal Shetland Sheepdog

Size: 13-16", 15" preferred. Small enough to squeeze under and through tight spaces, large enough to grip heads and provide decent draft work.

Color: Sable or Merle, with good amount of white - light colored dogs will do better in the summer sun, and light colored dogs and white markings make them able to be seen at night.

Barking: Watchdog barking or alerting to trouble with livestock, no barking during play, no barking without reason, and complete control if asked to quiet. I believe that "barky" shelties are either suffering from poor training, or poor temperament, and I'll have neither here. The whole "if you have more than two shelties they bark" is BS and does the breed a disservice. I have 5 - and no barking problems. Debarking is not done here, debarking is a cover up.

Health: They should be free of Hip dysplasia, Sheltie Eye, MDRI gene mutation, skin conditions, thyroid problems and allergies. High pain tolerance so they keep working even if stung, butted, kicked, cut, poked, etc.

Temperament: Adaptable, easy to change gears, quiet indoors, enjoys novelty and new training challenges. Drive to work with their person all day, under adverse conditions. Get along with other dogs and animals, but aggressive to strays and strangers bothering their livestock. They should enjoy doing whatever their person desires of them - dressing them up on outfits, working stock in the rain, pulling a cart, going out for coffee, visiting as a therapy dog. They should be highly empathetic and caring, both about other animals and their bonded people.

Conformation: Proper angulation, moderate bone, good feet to ensure hours of work, agility and speed. Should look like a sheltie. Proper almond eyes, nice head, nice neck....

Herding: Early and clear indication of drive and desire to work (before 12 wks). Must work any and all stock before them, as the handler indicates (cattle, cats, goats, sheep, ducks, chickens, etc). Must grip when needed, and when asked by the handler. Independent worker, not pushbutton, will take initiative. Errs on the side of out of control than overcontrolled. Won't quit due to correction or due to stock roughness. No dog that won't work both ducks and sheep will be bred. Prefer that they be able to work poultry and cattle - the delicacy needed to work poultry and the confidence needed for cattle are important evaluators.

Guardian and prey drive: Good active prey drive and desire to dispatch rodents. Must be safe to be left out with their livestock by 3 yrs old, to do night guard duty. Prefer that they notice livestock health and welfare, and notify handler of injuries and accidents. Protect against dogs, cats, opossums, foxes, vultures, crows, hawks and owls.