Miniature Sheltie Inquiry...

A

AnuShelties

Forums Regular
OK, this is a question for all you reputable breeders (and sheltie owners that know how this topic can go). I checked my e-mail over lunch today, and this is what I found:

"Hello my name is Courtney and I have been looking for a miniature shetland sheepdog for a little while and was curious if you also breed miniatures. If you could write me back as soon as you can I would very much appreciate it! I also live in the area. Thank you!"

I don't know how to respond without seeming to be snooty, up-tight, and unhelpful. I want to inform her there IS no true miniature sheltie, and the ones who are small are incorrect to the standard and shouldn't be bred for. How would YOU respond if you received an e-mail like this?
 
I would probably just say that I breed to the AKC standard and then cite the height requirement from the standard. I would also say that any puppies I produce that are outside the standard are sold as pets on strict spay/neuter contracts, so that they will not be bred.
 
I might inquire how she defines miniture. Some people think 15in shelties are miniture. Atleast enough people have asked me if my 15 in boy is a miniture. They definitely think my girls 131/4 and 13 3/4 in are minis. Find out their interest as a pet , performance dog or do they want to bred. Just open a dialog and get some info on her. She just might not know. Although the phase if you also breed miniatures is suspious.

Then I would go with Margaret's response. :smile2:
 
"Sheltie breed specific height at the shoulder is 13-16 which I target (or if you aim for the low end say so, same if you aim high) There is no official miniature Shetland Sheepdog though sometimes Shelties come in below the standard (or above). If you can provide more detail on your needs it maybe I can provide you better information"

Neutral but accurate I think. Polite if as someone said the person thinks 14 inches is a mini. With information if someone is trying to protray the existance of a breed that does not exist.
 
Just wanted to clairify for those of you who are new.

Ember is 13 1/4 in and both of her parents were 16 ins. She has a 17.5 in brother
Diva is 13 3/4 in and her mom was 13 in and her dad 15 1/2in and she has a 18 in brother.

Not intentially small.

Justice is 15in and his parents where both 14in. His Sister is 16 in tall.

That is how sheltie heights go. Aim for in size and hope you get it.
 
http://picasaweb.google.com/1159081...id=xfym8GAuY3IbNPPh_7FIOg#5535098152907267506This is always amusing to me. Over the years, I have had sheltie families that will request...and wait....for an itty bitty. It always makes me laugh, because of course we certainly aren't trying for them.
The most wonderful thing is, as soon as they "slip" out, and take their first breath, there is a loving home waiting just for them. Once, Megan and I were whelping a litter, and there seemed to be an "extra" puppy. One we hadn't seen on the xray. The wee little one came out on a hiccup and as I brought her into the world, I exclaimed "Megan! Cindy has her little girl!". And she does, and her name in Tallulah!
 
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Justicemom said:
I might inquire how she defines miniture. Some people think 15in shelties are miniture. Atleast enough people have asked me if my 15 in boy is a miniture. They definitely think my girls 131/4 and 13 3/4 in are minis. Find out their interest as a pet , performance dog or do they want to bred. Just open a dialog and get some info on her. She just might not know. Although the phase if you also breed miniatures is suspious.

Then I would go with Margaret's response. :smile2:
Click to expand...

Totally, agreed here.

It could be that she's ignorant as to the difference between collies and and is mixing her terms...e.g. miniature collie

That being said, if I had any one purposefully asking for a mini-Sheltie (is tea-cup Sheltie next?) I'd probably come out with guns blazing. Ok, maybe not, but I would certainly do my best to educate...before this soul went off and got a tea-cup "whatever" somewhere else.
 
I think this is a great opportunity to educate about responsible breeding, and to do it in a way that isn't snooty or uptight at all.

Explain to her what it is that you do as a breeder - that you breed to the Standard (and the height requirement), that you breed to show, that you take great pride in producing Shelties who will be wonderful companions as well as good examples of the breed. Tell her that you breed for yourself first, and that your puppy buyers are the lucky beneficiaries of your commitment - they get a healthy, sound puppy with a good temperament who just happens to not be quite enough for the show-ring. Explain that, as a breeder, you are committed to being there for the new owner and their new dog - for that dog's entire life. Let her know that purchasing a puppy from a responsible show breeder has tremendous benefits.

And then tell her that size is an issue in Shelties, and that over- and under-size puppies do come along. Let her know that, if she is willing to wait for a puppy who's "small enough", she'll have the opportunity to have a healthy, happy dog (and your commitment for the dog's lifetime) from you.

If she doesn't want to wait too long (or if you know your dogs run to oversize), direct her to other responsible breeders in your area. Call them once you get off the phone with the potential buyer to give them a heads-up.

The bottom line is to explain the benefits of getting a responsibly-bred dog - not a "miniature Sheltie" from a BYB who's trying to make a fast buck. It's not snootiness if you are, in fact, offering a superior alternative to someone who's looking for a lifelong Sheltie companion.

If, in the end, she just can't wait for anyone and wants to PayPal her toy-Sheltie puppy from a website, don't beat yourself up... you will have done your best to educate her, and she wouldn't seem to be the sort of person you'd want one of your puppies going home with in the first place.
 
You can feel free to tell her my horror story (and tell her the name of the lady I bought him from). :lol: Seriously though. I could really see her taking advantage of somebody not knowing. She actually even made it a point to tell me that she was trying to get all of her dogs down to the size of her smallest sheltie, who was a little larger than Fluffy. Those dogs have demodex, MDR1, and who knows what else. So hopefully you can make her understand the difference before she does something she will later regret! :sadsmile:
 
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