The Shetland Collie

Country Life (magazine) (GB), Volume 23, Issue 588, 11.04.1908, Page 540
The Orkney Herald (newspaper), 15.04.1908
The Shetland Times (newspaper), 25.04.1908

   

Country Life (GB), Volume 23, Issue 588, 11.04.1908, Page 540 and later (without photo) in the newspapers:
The Orkney Herald, 15.04.1908 & The Shetland Times, 25.04.1908: Brenda (Whibley's)

"CORRESPONDENCE
THE SHETLAND COLLIE.
[TO THE EDITOR OF " COUNTRY LIFE"]
SIR, - Novelties in the canine world are continually appearing, and the latest arrival is the Shetland collie. The breed is very little known outside Shetland, though during the last few years a number of small kennels have been formed in Scotland. Classes have been formed allotted to them at several Scottish shows, and at the Dundee show held on March 25th, an effort was to be made to form a club, and, if possible, to obtain recognition from the Kennel Club. Whether the breed has any real claim to be called the Shetland collie is open to question, to my mind. I lived for nearly three years near Lerwick, and during that time went about a great deal, but never heard them spoken of as collies. They were simply 'peerie' (small) dogs. Now I am told it is becoming usual in Shetland to call them collies. Whether the idea originated there or came from the mainland, I cannot say. That they will do the work of an ordinary sheep dog is certain, and that they resemble the collie in miniature cannot be denied. In coat, body, legs, feet, tail, and, in fact, everything but the head and ears, they are a replica of the modern collie. The eye is larger, and the head shorter and thicker than that of the collie of to-day, but very much like the head of the collie of thirty years ago. The ears are erect, but this may easily be altered if those who are interesting themselves in the breed think it advisable. The colours are white and sable markings, sable, sable and white, tricolour, black and tan, and the blue marl. In weight they vary from 6 lbs. to 10 lbs. Where the breed is known it is very popular and there is a brisk demand for good specimens. They are pretty, intelligent, and very hardy. I believe that hitherto they have been bred rather by accident than design. When the proposed club is formed and fanciers take up the breed in earnest, any objectionable points will doubtless to bred out. The photograph is of Brenda, owned by Mr. Charles Whibley. - H. BOYCOTT ODDY."


If you discover any errors in the text that may have been caused by the transcription, please let us know for a prompt correction.

We use cookies

We use cookies on our website. Some of them are essential for the operation of the site, while others help us to improve this site and the user experience (tracking cookies). You can decide for yourself whether you want to allow cookies or not. Please note that if you reject them, you may not be able to use all the functionalities of the site.