Subjects which are enveloped in mystery always have had an attraction for, and an interest to, the average mind. We confess that our susceptibility to such influence alone has impelled us to investigate, as far as our ability permits, the existence of a specie miscalled as the Shetland Collie.

There appears to be a tendency or desire on the part of some individuals in our Northern climes to evolve a breed which shall be able to take a place beside the miniature of our national breed - the Bulldog. Without admitting any sympathy with such ambition, and doubting even the existence of any real specimen of a miniature of Toy Collie, we have sought the assistance of interested fanciers in Northern Britain; whose research has confirmed us in our prognostication.

Visiting the recent Aberdeen Show, where several of the hybrids were located, our friends importuned the owners of these quadrupeds to point out the resemblance in any way to our standard Collie; but the result was that not a single point of resemblance could be established. In fact, the exhibitors admitted that the Toy Spaniel strain was more in evidence than that of any other breed. None of the specimens had a flat skull; in every case it was round, and the head typically resembling a Toy Spaniel. One dog shown amongst them had a head with a little less "stop" than the others, but he was too big for a Shetland Collie; he had a long body, badly curled tail, and fluffy coat. As a whole, they could only be classed as mongrels, without a single decent point about them.

That there are dogs containing Collie strain in Shetland, but not miniatures, may be the fact.

Our informant learns from a regular visitor to the Shetlands that the dealers in dogs there obtain cast-off Pomeranians from Aberdeen to sell as Shetland Collies, which in all probability will be used to breed from and perpetuate this absurdity.

We give a few criticisms; furnished by our correspondent, of the dogs exhibited at Aberdeen Show:—

OPEN

Thompson’s Inverness Fritz (Bruxie Donald - Bruxie Madgie) - A black and tan dog, showing a lot of Toy Spaniel Character, especially on head and ears, carries a very soft, silky coat, inclined to be curly, and a very bushy tail.

Mitchell’s Titch (Orczy - Daisy) - Black and tan; small ears, semi-erect, coat betwixt a Rough and a Smooth of soft texture, tail very gay, long in body; lacks Collie expression.

Sutherland’s Sutherland’s Only Hope (Braida - ) - Resembles No 1, and could pass for a Prince Charles.

Res. — Ruby Spaniel type; ruby nose, liver eyes, legs bent, which is a fault more or less common to many of them.

PUPPIES

Thompson’s Inverness Jack (Inverness Orczy - Bruxie Madgie) - Smooth-coated; bat ears, exceedingly round skull, 2 1/2 lb. weight; fit for a lady’s muff.

Logie’s Lerwick Floss (Fictor - Chloe) - Silky coat, ears carried like a Spaniel, coat pale cream colour; of the Prince Charles type.

Milne’s Lochnagar Sheila (Ralp - Rose) - Tricolour, of the Prince Charles type; about 1 1/2 lb. in weight; a ridiculous animal to represent a Toy Collie.

* * * * * *

We have given our reporter’s verbatim remarks, and it must be clear to all that such specimens can only be viewed with ridicule. Mongrels they are, and not the best of them.

The many true and genuine lovers of the true and genuine Collie residing in Birmingham will not thank their fellow-towns-man, Mr Thos. Baker, for his championing the cause of the Shetland as he does in the following letter to "Field and Fancy." Incalculable harm to the real Collie is done thereby, and we dare wager a trifle that when Mr. Baker sees a few of these so-called Shetland Collies his hair will stand on end. Here are his present views: -

"I have purposely abstained from mentioning the above breed of canines in my letter to you, preferring to wait and watch developments, and I can now plainly see that, notwithstanding the controversy and opposition to their claim to be classified and acknowledged a pure breed, the variety is likely to find many friends.

I won’t attempt to deny what its admirers have quite solid grounds for claiming for it that it is a miniature Sheepdog, but whether it originally emanated from the Collie or a cross of Collie and ‘something else’ is another matter. It is sufficient for me, when I find sensible Collie breeders declaring there is going to be money in the breed to realise that the Shetland Collie is going to increase and be taken up with a fair amount of enthusiasm, which will be sure to result in its inclusion at no distant date in our show schedule.

I hear that the breeders on the islands have a big demand for them, presumably to cross with small typical Collies. The result will be (and I shall, for one, welcome them) a miniature or toy Collie, and I will ask the Collie men, and especially those who are so bitterly crying it down, what could be more beautiful and delightful than a ‘toy’ Ch. Quality of Dunkirk or a champion Rough Collie in the miniature? If once they are produced small enough and typical enough, and it should be a matter of only a few generations, I am confident they will be most popular, and when there is money in them their enemies of to-day will be their friends of to-morrow, and those who start to make the Shetland Collie what its name implies, a perfect miniature of the species, as the Shetland pony is to the hackney, will reap the credit and reward, and so it should be. I know more than one who are trying, and to them I would say: Get Collie type, character and coat above all, and get size reduced by selection".

// Thomas Baker

Stay-at home critics ought to be cautious in their remarks on any subject, more especially on those on which they form their opinions solely from the writing of others.

That our efforts to expose this attempt to foist a miniature Collie on the Collie fancy are being approved of by Scottish Collie fanciers is shown by the following correspondence, typical only of many similar letters.

Mr. R. Raeburn of Lochgelly, Fife, writes: —

"I have read all your letters in the ‘Collie Folio’ re Shelties, and must say you deserve credit for the way you have opened the eyes of the real Collie fanciers to the slur being cast on his favourite dog. I saw Mr. ___ judging them at Aberdeen, and from what I saw there it would be a hard task to tell what they had come off".

Mr. William Thane, of Kirkcaldy, N.B., writes: —

"I must say I have a very poor opinion of the ‘Shetland’ Collie. While at Aberdeen Show, I was asked if I would attend a meeting of the Shetlanders, but I promptly declined to recognise the breed as a Collie at all. I should describe them as ‘Shetland Rotters.’ "

The opinion of the Aberdeen judge is that they are without doubt the worst mongrels living, devoid of the slightest resemblance to a Collie, not even in coat.

The judging of these animals perplexed him very much, and occasioned the onlookers much merriment, who treated the matter as a huge joke.

Further confirmatory evidence of the mongrel character of these dogs is contained in another letter we have received which reads as follows: —

I should say, without hesitation, it is a cross between Pomeranian and a Toy Spaniel. I knew a man, employed by a relation of mine, who bred those little Toys, and Lady Marjorie Sinclair (who owns a kennel of them) often used to try and buy puppies from him, and the sire of the puppies was always a pure-bred Pom. The dam was exactly like the Toy Collies that are now being exhibited - Spaniel eyes, Pom’s tail, bow-legged, curly-coat — and every Toy fancier that saw this dog said it was a most typical Shetland Collie."

A description given to us recently by an "all-round" judge, who has inspected many, and who is neither a Scotchman or Collie fancier, exactly coincides with the foregoing testimony. He states: "To attach the name Collie to this cross-breed is a glaring misnomer, everybody must admit."

The agitation as to whether these mongrels are to be considered Collies or otherwise seems now to be settled, as the Kennel Club have decided that they are not. In re-arranging the new classification of breeds in the Kennel Club Register, Section III. provides for any breed or variety of British, Colonial, or Foreign dog not classified either as Sporting or Non-Sporting, and amongst the nondescripts, in future, "Shetlands" are to be registered. Excellent.

So far so good, and for the achievement of these mercies the entire fancy ought to be specially grateful to Mr. W. Stephens, the Collie enthusiast and member of the Committee of the Kennel Club, Mr W. T. Horry, and Mr. J. H. Jacques. We propose to purchase each a halo to be worn on state occasions.

The Kennel Club have further enacted that owners of these Toys who have erroneously registered them as Collies can re-register them under this new "Any other variety class" free of charge. Scribes who have taken the view opposite to our own may now prepare a suitable memorial service in commemoration of their dear little idols, and no doubt we shall be treated to some clever wriggling.

For the present, therefore, we leave the subject, but can promise a return to it if at any future time efforts are made to resuscitate the agitation which had for its objective such worthy ideals.

The illustrations we have from time to time used of the Shetlands are of specimens considered by connoisseurs (?) to be good, typical (?) dogs. Had not the decision of the Kennel Club precipitated matters we might have treated our readers to illustrations of the most weird-looking objects that ever disgraced a dog show. We hope the "industry" will now die a natural death.

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© Sonja Wakefield

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