Thank God the Sheltie has never turned into a fashion dog. Therefore the breeders could always concentrate on the quality and the health of the animals. Shelties should never be breed in mass productions. Mass breeding means genetic defects and health problems.
A healthy breed basis and strict control are the reasons that the Sheltie’s population stands on "healthy feet". This lovely and robust breed is there to be enjoyed.
We try to balance the 3 columns when looking for suitable stud dogs for our bitches:
- Look
- Character
- Health
A perfect dog, just like a perfect human, doesn't exists, but the breeder has the responsibility to get the maximum out of these 3 columns.
What use are beautiful and healthy Shelties, if they are aggressive or overanxious or if they only have a short life expectancy? We were lucky to be able to build up our kennel on very healthy, lovely and strong mother dogs. That is why, we are quite free to choose the stud dog we fancy. The balance between the 3 columns is, by the way, quite different in different countries. Here in Germany, we Sheltie breeders are, in my opinion. a little bit overly concerned about illnesses and diseases. There isn’t a new DNA test around, we haven’t already used: there are only few breeds which are examined as thoroughly as the Sheltie. It is my personal impression that with all the tests we use, we sometimes forget about the appearance and the character of the dogs.
In the following paragraph I will explain the illnesses to you to which we pay special attention when breeding Shelties:
Beauty catches the ball tight
The hip dysplasia (HD) is measured in different degrees of A (free), B (unclear), C (easy HD), to F (heaviest HD). You are only allowed to breed with A and B males - so, this illness has nowadays almost disappeared.
The blood brain barrier is permeable at the MDR1 gene defect for certain narcotics which can lead to death of the animal. The MDR1 gene defect is no illness but a hypersensitivity against certain narcotic drugs. In human medicine, a drug, that may harm someone, would be removed from the market, the pharmaceutical industry seems to have such a good lobby in veterinary medicine though that we are forced to adapt the animals to the medicine and not vice versa. At present, a screening of all breeding animals runs on MDR1 - there are no restrictions till now. In principle we only recommend using medicine that is known to be safe - because we do not want to risk the life of our animals.
Eye - Sky
All breeding animals must be examined for the Collie Eye anomaly (CEA), the progressive Retinal atrophy (PRA) and the cataract.
These illnesses can be found within different degrees, from best vision down to the loss of sight. Some of the puppies are affected by CEA, but they are loosing all symptoms later on. They are called: GoNormals. By the compulsory medical examination and restrictions with the breeding animals there only are extremely few cases of loss of sight.
The persistent Ductus anomaly (PDA) is a heart disease. The bypass does not close completely between the pulmonary artery and the lung vein. This bypass bridges the lungs as long as the pup is still in the mother and closes just after the birth. This illness leads to death after a few years if it is not treated. The treatment itself is relatively simple: With a catheter a small umbrella is inserted, which locks this bypass. After the intervention the dogs are fully resilient again and have a normal life expectancy. Only extremely few cases are known to have this illness, however, the illness is nevertheless pursued very attentively.
Juvenile nephropathies (JRD of - Engl: dysplasia is juvenile nephric) are a subgroup of the kidney diseases in dogs. There is a new DNA test, however, unfortunately, this one is of no use because you do not investigate how the gene defect has an effect. There are free animals, which have died of kidney diseases and animals affected which got very old. Frankly I see a great danger, that this DNA test will have an effect on the breeding without producing any reliable data. I do not know of a Sheltie dying of kidney failure that was traced back to JRD.
Kryptochorism can be found in some males. One or very rarely both testicles remain in the inguinal canal and do not slip into the scrotum. This defect was imported from England, because there affected males can be used as stud dogs unlike here in Germany. In old age the testicale has a higher risk of becoming cancerous because of the higher environmental temperature in the inguinal canal. We recommend a small OP at the age of 4-6 years to remove the testicle.
Are half-breeds healthier?
A word about the common prejudice that half-breed dogs were healthier than pure-breed dogs. This statement is wrong. Genetic defects and with that connected illnesses can always occur. With half-breed dogs, however, genetic defects can spread without being noticed. There is no official authority –like the Kennel Club or well informed breeders who aim to breed healthy dogs. A breed without any physical defects - like the Sheltie - will always be superior to half-breeds. But, of course, breeds that have unnatural qualities (e.g. extremely short legs, missing fur, oversized skull) are different all together.
The VDH-Sheltie breeders pay attention more than many other breeders to the health of their dogs.
Blue merle and health
There are quite a few misunderstandings. We distinguish:
Mother and daughter
The Blue Merle has a natural tricolour coat, provided by the so-called Merle gene. This means that the black pigmentation is there only in a few places and a silverly blue is left. The more evenly the better it is. For a long time the Blue Merles were considered to be more prone towards illnesses than the other colours. However, long-standing scientific tests have shown that this is not the case.
It behaves at Double Merle's differently. These can arise if two Blue Merle animals become mated with each other. Homozygote animals can arise if two Blue Merle genes come together. The fur colour of the animals becomes a very bright, almost white grey. This colour lets itself be seen also at the head. There is a high probability that these animals will go blind and deaf. Therefore the breeding of the animals is forbidden strictly at the VDH. Blue Merle my only mated with Tricolours. Tricolours are always homozygous so that Double Merle may never arise.
It could happen, that at Blue Merle x Sable or Dark Sable the puppies are becomming a carriere of the Merle gene without this being externally visible. Can the Merle factor spread unrecognizedly with that, this mate is also forbidden although expect very interesting fur colours wären. For that: You should buy Blue Merle only with a respectable breeder who knows all risks and takes care of the severe breeding specifications.
Beauty
Die "Weiß-Gene" (NICHT verwechseln mit dem Merle-Gen!) sind verantwortlich, dass ein Sheltie mehr oder weniger weiße Abzeichen trägt. Wenn ein Hund besonders ausgeprägte weiße Abzeichen wie Beauty trägt, spricht man von einem weiß-faktorierten Hund. Erkennbar sind diese Hunde an der weißen Innenseite des hinteren Beinpaares. Der Weiß-Faktor hat nach heutigen Erkenntnissen keinerlei Auswirkungen auf die Gesundheit der Hunde.
The "white genes" (do not mistake them for the Merle-gene) are responsible, that a Sheltie bears more or less white badges. If a dog bears distinctive white badges like Beauty particularly, one speaks about a white gened dog. These dogs are recognizable at the white inside of the back legs. The white factor has no effects on the health of the dogs after today's findings.
Werden nun zwei Hunde mit besonders viel Weiß-Faktor miteinander verpaart, können Schecken entstehen. Schecken tragen auch am Rücken und in der Lendengegend weiße Abzeichen. Dieses gilt als Farbfehler. Schecken sind aber kerngesunde Tiere, die immer mehr Anhänger finden, da die Hund sehr ansprechend aussehenen.
When there are two dogs mated much white factor, the result may be a mottled dog. Mottled dogs also bear white badges at the back and in the lumbar region. This is regarded as a colour mistake. However, mottled dogs are animals as fit as a fiddle which find more and more lovers, becaus these dogs are very pretty.
I-litter: Dusty in Penig
Dusty stands up on hind legs
The Colour Headed White Sheltie (CHWS) still more contaisn white, the primary colour can be whitely with few coloured spots. However, the head remains coloured. Therefore the name Colour Headed White Sheltie. Dogs also this are as fit as a fiddle and enjoy a small but enthusiastic fan community. These dogs have with Double-Merles nothing common. CHWS are mistaken for these again and again although it is to easy distinguished: Double-Merles have a pale grey, almost white head, the CHWS have a coloured head (black/brow/white).