Are there any theories about how to control size in Shelties? I know that it isn't uncommon for a single litter to include pups that are both under and over-size, but are there certain lines or combinations of lines that seem to produce a higher incidence of out-size pups?
Controling size?
- Thread starter Phebe*DD
- Start date
Wow Phebe that's an interesting question, I'll be curious what the others here have to say!
Caro
Moderator
Just from experience over here, the American lines do have a tendency toward more oversized dogs if we count oversize as 16", but the British standard is actually smaller so by British standards they probably have as many oversized shelties in their lines.
I guess you could select for litters from parents on the basis of them having fewer oversie pups, but given all the other things you would want to select for it probably isnt practical.
You could always limit their food intake to stunt their growth, but that would be cruel
I guess you could select for litters from parents on the basis of them having fewer oversie pups, but given all the other things you would want to select for it probably isnt practical.
You could always limit their food intake to stunt their growth, but that would be cruel
corbinam
Moderator
The book Sheltie Talk (I think) has an interesting section on this. From what I remember...correct me if I'm wrong, there are some dogs that tend to produce in-size pups. So it could be genetic.
Chris
Premium Member
Beckon is huge, but otherwise is a gem conformation-wise. Would he be able to be bred to a female who's smaller? He was a singleton, so that may have something to do with it...or am I full of prunes? 
It is a genetic thing. There are some males that are size controllers..now heres what I dont know how much of it than is on the dam if the males are size controllers?
I just used a male who is a size controller. should be intersting to see how they turn out...although all 3 are very close in size, even though there is a small med and large amoung them.
I just used a male who is a size controller. should be intersting to see how they turn out...although all 3 are very close in size, even though there is a small med and large amoung them.
With our size controllers, we rarely had anything over 14 1/2".
Funny same thing with the male I used..nothing over 15" She has a picture of a good majority of his kids (I think there was 20 in the photo) and they were all very close to each other in size!!
Did those males have common ancestors in their pedigree? Or, were there are traits in common that might be genetically linked to their size cutting properties? For example, if they were all bi-factored or not bi-factored.
Also, did the dams of the in-size litters share any common ancestry with each other and/or the sires?