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Links

This list of links makes no attempt to be comprehensive.  In no particular order, it is just a list of websites that I have found useful or interesting, and that I hope will be useful for Sheltie fanciers.
 


Health Registries
These registries record the results of health screenings for genetic diseases that are known to occur in Shelties.

  • Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA)
    The original registry for hips and elbows, now also certifies elbows, thyroids, eyes and a large collection of other disorders.  Three veterinary radiologists evaluate each set of hip and elbow films.
    LIMITATION: The OFA hip positioning is based on older human positions and there is evidence that it can hide subluxation.
  • PennHip
    A newer registry for hips based on the work of Dr. Gail Smith at the University of Pennsylvania.  This system grades hips on the degree of subluxation present on xrays taken in special positions.  It does not grade on a pass/fail basis, but assigns each hip a number called a distraction index which give the relative amount of looseness of the joint.  The distraction index is compared with those of other dogs of the same breed to estimate the likelihood that the dog will develop hip dysplasia. 
    LIMITATION: Although these radiographs are very sensitive in identifying subluxation, there are almost certainly other factors involved in dysplasia.
  • OFA Eye Certification Registry
    This has replaced the Canine Eye Registry Foundation (CERF) as the official registry for inherited canine eye diseases.  It certifies eyes based on examination by Board certified veterinary ophthalmalogists.
    LIMITATION:  Different ophthalmalogists may vary occasionally in their evaluation of the same dog.  The examination gives no information about the genetic status of a normal-eyed dog.
  • Optimal Selection
    Animal Genetics
    Paw Print Genetics
    These three companies offer numerous DNA trait tests as well as DNA color testing. At this time, the most comprehensive panel is offered by Optimal Selection. Color test panels include tests for sable, tricolor and bi-black coat colors, the piebald white pattern and often the merle pattern. DNA trait tests include Collie Eye Anomaly, MDR1 Medication Sensitivity, Type 3 vonWillebrand's Disease, two varieties of Progressive Retinal Atrophy (but not the variety more common in the USA), Dermatomyositis and Degenerative Myelopathy. Some also offer a separate DNA test for Cyclic Neutropenia (gray collie syndrome), which is found in the collie. LIMITATION: Although the same gene may cause Cyclic Neutropenia in Shelties, the test has not been validated for the Sheltie at this time. The vast majority of the tests available (270 tests in the Optimal Selection canine panel) are for conditions that either are not known in the Shetland Sheepdog or have not been tested in the Shetland Sheepdog.
 
 

Dog Coat Color

  • Dog Coat Color
    This comprehensive site from a researcher who has been actively involved in research on coat color genetics.  It is the most accurate and up-to-date site I am aware of that discusses the inheritance of dog coat color.
  • 2006 Article on the Identification of the Merle Gene
    OK, so this is pretty heavy reading, but it's also fascinating if you have any interest in genetics.  Download the pdf file and read it at your convenience. It seems that merle coloring results from the insertion of a decent sized sequence of DNA into a gene.  Most non-merle Shelties do not have this insertion at all.  Occasionally the insertion gets shortened during the cell duplication process, and the resulting damaged insertion can no longer produce merle. These are also non-merle Shelties.  This appears to explain the occasional tricolor produced by a double merle.   Of interest to our Great Dane friends is that some of the normal appearing harlequins have turned out to be unsuspected double merles!
  • Merle - SINE Insertion from Mc - Mh
    This site has extensive information about newly identified alleles of the merle gene. While the author's main interest is in the Catahoula Leopard Dogs, there is considerable general information and a page on Shelties.
  • Genetic Testing For Coat Color
    • Optimal Selection
      Animal Genetics
      Paw Print Genetics
      These three companies each offer a test for the presence of the merle gene.
    • Idexx
      Veterinarians can order this DNA test for the merle gene through Idexx Laboratories..  This can be useful for occasional inapparent cryptic merle, or for the merle Sheltie which has more white than usual so that it is not readily apparent whether or not the dog is a double merle.  The test is called "Merle Coat Color Gene-Canine", the test code is 3341.  The test requires either an EDTA (lavender-top) blood tube or two sterile cheek swabs, refrigerated and sent on ice.  Be prepared:  neither your American veterinarian nor possibly the customer service representative at Idexx will know anything about the test!  The test must be ordered through a veterinarian with an Idexx account.  The samples used to be sent to Idexx's Markham, Ontario lab to be run.  I don't know if this is still the case.
 
 

Dog Genetics & Breeding
 
 

Dog Health

 

Behavior & Training
Good websites for positive reinforcement training.

  • Show Dog Prep School
    Positive reinforcement training for the conformation ring.
  • Fenzi Dog Sports Academy
    Classes, webinars & blogs about many kinds of dog training and behavior.
  • Hannah Branigan/Wonder Pups Training
    Positive reinforcement training for the obedience ring. Links to online training and to her podcast, "Drinking From the Toilet".
  • Dogs That
    Susan Garrett's website on behavior and training. Positive reinforcement training mainly for the agility ring.
    Links to online pet and agility dog training, and to Susan's Podcast, "Shaped By Dog".
  • Pure Dog Talk "Your passion is our purpose."
    Host Laura Reeves focuses on conformation, breeding, management of purebred dogs. Podcast, workshops and blog.
  • Canine Conditioning Coach
    Video library of conditioning exercises for dogs.

 

Herding
There's lots of info on the web about herding, but these sites address the needs of the loose-eyed breeds like Shelties.

 

Tracking
Ok, so Shelties aren't the best-known tracking dogs, but they can be darned good at it.  I'm providing these links because most Sheltie owners wouldn't know where to go for information about tracking.

  • The Shelties Who Track
    This is my set of lists of Shelties who have achieved various tracking titles.  I started them when I was writing an article about tracking with Shelties for the 2001 Handbook of the American Shetland Sheepdog Association.  I recently put these lists on the Internet at the request of another handler of tracking Shelties.  There are almost certainly errors and omissions–which I would like to hear about.  Many of the links to individual dogs are not published, because of copyright considerations.
  • Craig Green's Tracking Articles
    A great set of articles on tracking originally on a Basset Hound website, now on a Canadian tracking website.
  • Allison Platt's Tracking Articles
    Allison Platt has written some very good articles on starting a beginning tracking dog.  The two below are available on the Internet.
            Serpentine Tracks: A New Method of Introducing Dogs to Tracking
            Four Essential Skills and Common Problems with Beginning Trackers
  • Scent In A Bottle
    An article about a different approach to beginning tracking on a Malinois website
  • Palo Alto Foothills Tracking Association
    The local tracking club in the San Francisco Bay area

 

The International Sheltie Scene

  • Felthorn Shelties
    A British website, with a page on the history of the breed containing a number of old photos
  • Leeland Shelties
    A Norwegian Sheltie web site, in English, with a large number of historical photos of Shelties on its "Lines and Families" pages
  • Portma Zathe Sheltand Sheepdogs
    A Dutch Sheltie web site, in English, with a huge number of historical photos of Shelties on its Pedigrees pages
  • Whalswick Shelties
    Another Dutch site.  The pedigree database, with about a gazzilion photos and pedigrees of foundation Shelties, no longer appears to be online.
  • Shetland Museum Archives 
    From the Shetland Museum Archives, a large set of old dog photographs, some of them Shelties, including a number that I've never seen before.  You'll have to page through to find the Shelties in old farm and fishing scenes. Or search on "sheepdog" and "shetland collie"

 

Sheltie Websites

  • National Sheltie Rescue
    This site includes a nationwide listing of Sheltie Rescue groups
  • New Shetland Sheepdog Titleholders
    Bob Miller's monthly list and three generation pedigrees of Shelties with new AKC titles.  You can click on a link for the same information about CKC Shelties.   Anyone interested in pedigree research needs to order his Sheltie pedigree books–all of them!
  • Sheltie Pedigree Lines
    This site has information and pedigrees with photos of many Shelties.  Breeders and owners of conformation or performance Shelties can become registered users who can add their own dogs, information and photos, and print pedigrees.
  • Shetland Sheepdog Pedigrees
    Pedigrees and many photos of early Shelties, British Champions and Dutch Champions, part of the Portma Zathe Shelties Dutch website
  • Sue Bowling's Sheltie Pages
    Lots of info on Sheltie history, genetics, bloodlines and ROM Shelties, through the late 1990s. Sue died in 2014, so the web site is no longer being updated.
  • Wickets By Mel
    A good source of ear tape and glue (including Speed-Sew), wickets of several kinds, and a few grooming products.

 

Sheltie Publications
Sadly, with the advent of the internet and online publication and advertising, many lovely dog magazines devoted to individual breeds have gone the way of the dodo bird. 

  • Sheltie International
     A quarterly magazine for Sheltie fanciers, unfortunately no longer being published.

 

Sheltie Clubs

 

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