I have a dog I purchased as a puppy. He is 4 years old now. We bought him as advertised Shetland Sheepdog?
or "sheltie" . but, as he got older we realized he seemed too big for a sheltie but too small for a collie. Is there such a thing as an over-sized sheltie and how common is it?
He could just be an "oversized" sheltie, but it doesn’t matter. Size, color, and all of the specific qualifications of this such are placed on dogs by the American Kennel Club which is really nothing more than a "club" used for showing dogs that are (in the AKC’s opinion only) perfect.
As far as whether your dog is a big sheltie, a little collie, or a mixture of a sheltie and a collie, it doesn’t matter at all. The important thing to remember is that no matter what he is, he has been your best friend and a wonderful pet for 4 years and if he is given the opportunity to do so, he will continue to be for the rest of his life! You love him, he is your dog, and no matter whether he is big or small he is definately YOUR perfect pet!!!!
Give him lots of hugs! Because no matter what breed he is, he is fortunate enough to have been born a dog and ALL DOGS ARE FANTASTIC!!!!!!!!!
J. Smith
Animal Control Officer
Comments
My brother in-law bought a sheltie from a breeder and she is the size you describe, not as big as a collie but not like the small shelties. I would imagine that’s why you look at the mom and dad when purchasing from a breeder. They didn’t get to see the mom only the dad. I am not sure if this is outside the guidelines for this breed.
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It depends on the breeding. Have you ever seen a lab in the shelter that looks a bit TOO big to be a lab? Well, when you have less than prime candidates for breeding, the puppies might not conform to the standard size. Just as long as she is happy and healthy, there really isnt anything to worry about.
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maybe the place you bought it from bred a collie and a Shetland sheepdog because it would look the same as a puppy as a sheltie,
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He could just be an "oversized" sheltie, but it doesn’t matter. Size, color, and all of the specific qualifications of this such are placed on dogs by the American Kennel Club which is really nothing more than a "club" used for showing dogs that are (in the AKC’s opinion only) perfect.
As far as whether your dog is a big sheltie, a little collie, or a mixture of a sheltie and a collie, it doesn’t matter at all. The important thing to remember is that no matter what he is, he has been your best friend and a wonderful pet for 4 years and if he is given the opportunity to do so, he will continue to be for the rest of his life! You love him, he is your dog, and no matter whether he is big or small he is definately YOUR perfect pet!!!!
Give him lots of hugs! Because no matter what breed he is, he is fortunate enough to have been born a dog and ALL DOGS ARE FANTASTIC!!!!!!!!!
J. Smith
Animal Control Officer
References :
Thats just bad breeding. Just like some people will breed over sized poms b/c of too big of parents and end up with an 18 lbs pomeranian!!!! Thats just crazy!
But its actually not that uncommen with all these BYB.
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The AKC is not a "club" for showing dogs that they think are perfect. The AKC is a registry. They do not set the breed standards for the various dogs. The national breed club sets and approves the standards and sends them to the AKC for their approval.
If you ever have the chance to go to the National Specialty of any breed of dog, you will see examples of good and bad breedings that may or may not conform to the standards.
You will see shelties that range from small to between a normal sheltie and a collie. It all depends on breeding.
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