I, Marie Sealock, reside on a farm some 90 minutes from Calgary, Alberta. The routine here is typical of that on a farm. We have plenty of animals - horses, cattle, goats, pigs, chickens as well as cats - with whom my Shelties have learned to interact - the Shelties rule the roost.
Of their own volition, young Shelties, pups as young as two months, instinctively begin herding chickens back to the coop. They have a sense of order and keeping the other animals "in their place" even then. At that age, the mother hovers around them when they approach the larger animals - which is unnecessary since the pups at that age are wisely afraid to approach anything bigger than a chicken. As they grow older they graduate up. The adult dogs are naturally convinced they and nobody else come second to people. I suspect they believe they are people.
I feel this is nearly the ideal lifestyle for a Shetland Sheepdog. They are first and foremost a working dog - and for that reason possessing the characterics of high intelligence and sociability that makes all kinds of working breeds arguably the best kind of dog for pets. In reality most of the pups do end up as pets in cities, however, if they establish close bonds with their owners and become a member of the family they would be happy anywhere.
My aim is to maintain the qualities of the Shetland Sheepdog. In doing so, I select the best of the Shelties I have to carry on the line. I keep several adults with which to keep these characteristics from dying out, and each is picked first and formost of good disposition and health, and then for breeding instinct and unique and outstanding traits. Cosmetic considerations play only a small part, nonetheless the line I breed is of show quality.
My hope is to keep as closely as possible to the original Shetland Sheepdog. A priority is small size - my Shelties are altogether unlike the lines that have gotten oversized to the point where they are as big as a smallish Collie. I also prize the herding instinct, which is a clear sign of high intelligence and social interaction skills.
I would prefer anybody interested in providing a puppy with a home to visit the farm and inspect the living conditions of the dogs. I never keep the Shelties caged and it`s important to know that these dogs are part of the family and must be raised so by anybody interested in giving one a home.
I admit to favoring those who do visit. This is a good sign that they are very interested in avoiding puppy mills. Unfortunately, are are too many puppy mills and they are located where you might least expect to find them. A large house in the suburbs might have a garage stacked floor to ceiling with crates, in which dogs spend their entire lives. As an unbreakable rule, anybody interested in aquiring any dog anywhere must demand to inspect the premises. Avoid breeders who refuse to grant inspection - usually for silly reasons such as people possibly bringing in diseases on their shoes and clothes (almost absurd since sick dogs converge at the veterinarians which would be the most likely place for a healthy dog to aquire a disease since the veterinarians don`t disinfect the entire premises after each visit from each dog, and picking up a disease at the vets when the pups are taken in for their shots is so rare as to be ridiculous).
If you are presently interested in providing a home for one of my pups please continue on with Placement Policy.