Is there a such thing as a ....?

[tparker]

Used to hate the term

When I first became involved with shelties, I hated when people refered to them as "miniature collies" but when I looked into the history of the breed (the early collies crosses as well as those done at Page's Hill) I realized the term isn't such a misnomer after all. So don't be offened when your shelties are mistaikenly reffered to as miniature collies. The original breed club called them "shetland collies" but the collie club objected becase they felt the animals were "mongrels."

 

[Chris]

I always correct people who call Layla a mini-Collie:

"No, she's a Poodle."

 

[OntarioSheltie]

I wouldn't say that it really bothers me when mine are called mini-collies, but I do wish that people in general were better informed. Oh well, not everyone knows about dog breeds. I usually politely say, "Actually, they're called Shetland Sheepdogs, or Shelties." Most people are interested to learn what they're really called and that there is no such thing as mini-collies.

What DOES bother me, is when I come across the odd person who says to me "I don't CARE what you say they're supposed to be called, breed names mean nothing to me. I call them mini-collies."

Gee, what do you even say to that kind of ignorance.

 

[Silaria]

What DOES bother me, is when I come across the odd person who says to me "I don't CARE what you say they're supposed to be called, breed names mean nothing to me. I call them mini-collies."

Gee, what do you even say to that kind of ignorance.

*evil grin*

Well... depending on the mood you're in you could come back with something like, "OK, then you won't mind if I call you 'Ignorant' since real names don't really mean anything. Nice talking to you, Ignorant.' (Or substitute 'Ignorant' with some other word/name.

(Sorry, bit of a mean streak there. Been one of those days.)

I cringe when I hear "Miniature Collie". I've gotten in the habit of just replying, "He's (She's) actually a Sheltland Sheepdog, or Sheltie for short." Sometimes I'll get asked if mini Collies actually exist and I'll tell them no.

I also get Collie puppies regularly; usually after someone asks how old they are and I say "3 years". That usually catches people off guard.

 

[mbfrench]

*evil grin*

Well... depending on the mood you're in you could come back with something like, "OK, then you won't mind if I call you 'Ignorant' since real names don't really mean anything. Nice talking to you, Ignorant.' (Or substitute 'Ignorant' with some other word/name.

(Sorry, bit of a mean streak there. Been one of those days.)

I cringe when I hear "Miniature Collie". I've gotten in the habit of just replying, "He's (She's) actually a Sheltland Sheepdog, or Sheltie for short." Sometimes I'll get asked if mini Collies actually exist and I'll tell them no.

I also get Collie puppies regularly; usually after someone asks how old they are and I say "3 years". That usually catches people off guard.

Ran into one of these types just the other night at a ball game.You could swear she was going to make a bet by the look on this ladies face.

I say the same as you,no he is a Shetland Sheepdog,or Sheltie for short.And I also add to the conversation..there is no such thing as a miniature collie. Then I politely ask if they would like to pet Trapp or Jasper. If not I just go on my merry way...

 

[Phebe*DD]

When I first became involved with shelties, I hated when people refered to them as "miniature collies" but when I looked into the history of the breed (the early collies crosses as well as those done at Page's Hill) I realized the term isn't such a misnomer after all. So don't be offened when your shelties are mistaikenly reffered to as miniature collies. The original breed club called them "shetland collies" but the collie club objected becase they felt the animals were "mongrels."

Perhaps sharing this bit of historical trivia with the Miniature Collie 'experts' would soften the blow when we correct them on the breed name. You could say something like, 'They were known as Shetland Collies, but the Collie breeders protested, so now they're called Shetland Sheepdogs or Shelties.'

Now, I just need to find a good answer for the people who insist that my blue merle girl must be a mix because of her color and blind in her blue eye.

 

[Mally's Mom]

I really have only known about the sheltie breed for about 25 years. Don would always talk about what great dogs they are. (and he is right!) When I was growing up years ago I remember dogs like these (shelties) in the neighborhood. People called them toy collies. I guess people really thought that is what they were. I did as well, back then. (we did not mean any harm, we did not know any better.) I know our Mally has taught me a lot about the sheltie breed and is still teaching me. I absolutely love shelties!

 

[Caro]

When I first became involved with shelties, I hated when people refered to them as "miniature collies" but when I looked into the history of the breed (the early collies crosses as well as those done at Page's Hill) I realized the term isn't such a misnomer after all. So don't be offened when your shelties are mistaikenly reffered to as miniature collies. The original breed club called them "shetland collies" but the collie club objected becase they felt the animals were "mongrels."

They are 'technically' a small collie, Collie being the Scottish term for sheepdog - hence BC, Rough Collie, Smooth Collie, Scotch Collie etc. What they aren't is a miniture Collie rough. In a way its a shame they changed the name from Shetland Collie, it would actually be less confusing for people than them thinking they are mini Roughs.

 

[BarbV]

I always correct people who call Layla a mini-Collie:

"No, she's a Poodle."

Oh! Chris!

Of course, the comment probably backfires, as they nod their head knowingly..."Must be a mini-collie, else she wouldn't have joked about it being a poodle!"

 

[Smudge]

Not a big deal to me. Smudge is so big I can understand why people think he might be a "mini collie". Before we got Gizmo we were actually looking for a collie and ended up with a sheltie. So...nah. They're usually just trying to make conversation, and they like my dog. I don't understand why that would make me mad?

However, when people ask if Fluffy is a border collie... I could understand MAYBE if she was a bi black, but Fluffy doesn't have much white on her at all. Her collar is only 3/4 of the way around her neck, and she has almost no white on her feet. More people get Fluffy's breed right than they get Smudge's right. 9 times out of 10 people will ask me if Smudge is a collie. I've only had one wrong guess on Fluffy.

I'm guilty as charged. I've stood at one end of the house, whistled, and yelled: LASSSSSSSSSIEEEEEEE!

I got a kick out of it when they both came running.