Miniature Collie

"Is that a miniature collie?"

I can't say how many times I have been asked that question!

I used to answer no and explain a bit, but my wife has taken to just saying yes and advising me not to come across as a "Know-It-All".

Of course in the history of the Sheltie, the collie is an ancestor but the creation of the Shetland Sheepdog was not simply the reduction in size of the collie.

I certainly understand, as anyone could I'm sure, why someone would refer to a Shetland Sheepdog, or Sheltie, this way. After all, it is in many ways what they look like, if you don't really examine them too much.

But the Sheltie breed was derived through time and breeding of several breeds to create this wonderful little working dog.

Then we have one of the most famous dogs, Lassie, who was of course a collie. Although I suspect it won't be long before anyone under 30 will not know who Lassie is.

As a result of this collie similarity, Shelties are sometimes call little Lassies. A nice compliment, wouldn't you say?

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