"Is that a Minnie?"

My boy is also 14.5 inches and we always get questions about his size and most are very surprised that he is actually right in the middle of the Sheltie standard used by the AKC.

One other thing to keep in mind, he's only 8 months. Shelties at 8 months can have a gangly 'coyote' look about them. (I'll have to find pictures of my guy at that age for you to look at.) As he matures he'll fill in and start to look a lot more Sheltie like.

Hold your head high and don't let those who don't let anyone make you feel that he's a 'malformed monster'. He's a properly sized Sheltie who is still maturing into the handsome little guy he's going to become.

 

Sounds to be right in the middle where he should be...now keep in mind even at shows people who are showing who should know better will come up and say ohhh is that a baby Collie?! Wonderfully enough for the breed they are not terribly popular so people are not used to seeing them(like labs and goldens) and they think they are small collies or minis! so basically its the ignorance of people, not your poor puppy!

Stop by the hello section and introduce yourself...and remember we love pics!!!!!!

 

I have 2 girls who are 13 1/3 and 13 1/2" and I get that question all the time. Diva is AKC pointed and both are UKC Champions.

People are just not use to seeing smaller shelties alot of pet shelties are oversized. However even at 14.5" your boy is not small.

My puppy is 18 weeks old and as big as both of them already. Frankly I wish he was your boys size. "sigh"

 

I get the minnie collie thing too. Since I have three shelties, two of which are oversized, people always assume that my oversized shelties are Ginny's parents.

 

I hear all sorts of things -- mini-Collie, Little Lassie, puppy... I look on every one as a golden opportunity to smile, make a friend, and educate them on the glories of the Shetland Sheepdog!!

 

I get asked about my "Mini Collie" a lot, which makes me laugh because Nike's a huge Sheltie (18"). It doesn't help that I have Alaskan Klee Kai and a Siberian who's on the small end of the standard, so I think everyone thinks I own "mini" everything.

I love to be able to explain how small Shelties are supposed to be! People always seem shocked when I tell them how big Nike is.

 

I always hear from people at the park that Riley is so small for a Sheltie..... I look at them funny and inform them that Riley is actually an inch oversized. Also, there is a female rough collie who Riley likes, and everyone asks if they are mother and son.....

Don't worry...your boy is perfectly in size. You can look at it as a teaching moment to let them know more about breed standards even!