One Mystery Solved A hundred to go...

On our trip to St. George we stopped off at a rest stop. There we noticed a man with an unusual, yet beautiful dog. Brad and I were looking at this dog and saying, "It looks just like an Australian shepherd but small." So of course, we have to ask because it's still our kind of dog just a smaller version. The man tells us he is a Shetland sheepdog (makes sense right "miniature" sheepdog). But they are not to be confused with what is known as a Sheltie (although that is a variant of the breed).

In fact, these dogs came before what is now known as the Sheltie. The dogs were originally called Shetland Collies, but once the Rough Collies (now known as the Sheltie) became established it caused controversy among Rough Collie breeders, and the breed's formal name was changed to Shetland Sheepdog (wikipedia).


The man went on to explain there is another variant of the Shetland Sheepdog, but it looks like a border collie and usually all black. He said, "It looks like a small border collie". Our attention was caught. He explained they are small and double coated dog, now we were hooked. THEN he said they are amazing jumpers. Okay, maybe the mystery of Dixie was solved. We knew Dixie was a border collie but we had no idea what she was mixed with. Unlike Sydney, who has the pretty silky and thin border collie coat, Dixie had a double coat that was thick. And we swear the dog's back legs are made of springs. Brad explained her to the man, and he said "I would bet on it she is a Shetland border collie, they are rare." Oh, yeah we know Dixie is one of a kind. He asked how we got her, "we rescued her". He went on to tell us, he paid $900 for his.

Who would have thought this dog was worth $900? Not the owner's who abused that is for sure. Either way, I love this little spaz. She brightens my day with all her quirks.