Collins Gem DOGS Wendy Boorer, HarperCollins Publishers, Glasgow, 1985 5th (GB)

This very, very tiny pocket-sized paperback is "An illustrated guide to over 160 dog breeds from around the world - Describes the history and development of each species - Includes an introduction to the social and natural history of the dog." The lovely drawings are by Doriene McQueen and the sheltie illustration shows Ch. Maramin's Manhatten (proof is the original photo that I saw).

Page 204 - 205: "The Shetland Sheepdog of today is a miniature of the show Rough Collie and, as such, is a particularly attractive and intelligent companion of a size suitable for both urban and country life. The breed in its present form is of fairly recent origin, being known as a show dog for little more than 70 years. The original sheepdog of the Shetland Isles had played an important role in the economy of the islands for centuries, but we have little by way of description of these early dogs except that they were often speckled, foxy-faced and small in size. The fact that all the domestic animals of the Shetlands tend to be dwarfed compared with their mainland counterparts is probably due to the subsistence level of life there, which tended to favour the smaller individual, and to the population isolation which led to inbreeding, also tending to dimish size. Early dogs were very plain little animals, looking far more like tiny working sheepdogs than the miniature Rough Collie that the Sheltie resembles today. Today's breed is exceptional gentle, sweet-natured and sensitive with the corollary that some individuals lack confidence. Much of their visual charm lies in the profuse coat with its abundant mane and frill. Size about 36 cm (14 1/2 in)"

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