Every aspect surrounding the Shetland Isles is challenging, enchanting and mysterious from the wild Atlantic storms that flatten or gobble up everything in their path, to the swirling damp mists that turn even the eyebrows into waterfalls, so it is not surprising that an air of rebellion and mystery should also surround its native dogs. The wild native sheep found there in ancient times supplied many of the needs of the Norse pirates who one time inhabited the Isles. These people learned the art of Shepherding from sheer necessity and no doubt they found the dogs they brought with them very useful, not so much for herding, but for guarding the lambs from gulls, eagles and other local birds of prey, these dogs were probably of a spitz type, small, hardy and fierce. It was only during the 19th century that Shepherds and their families came from the mainland of Scotland to inhabit the Islands, and no doubt they brought their own sheep and dogs with them. Due to their location the importance of these Islands during both World Wars has brought them into great prominence, which has very rapidly altered their agriculture and way of life, in recent years that liquid gold from the sea bed has been responsible for many more changes. There is no denying that a breed of dog did exist on these islands, whatever its origin, and was later taken up by people interested in show dogs, and to judge by photos of the original types, they have done a grand job and by careful breeding and selecting. To have produced, not only a beautiful little dog, but one that firs in perfectly with modern living conditions.

There is probably mere speculation regarding the origin of this breed that of any other British herding dog, and its story reads more like an investigation in a Sherlock Holmes novel than a research into part of canine history.

Some writers claim that the breed can be traced back to Tibet, or Norway and many other far flung lands. Others trace its ancestry right across Europe. As we know this could be the history of many of our herding dogs and there is strong evidence to support the theory that a similar type of small shepherd’s dog did exist across Europe for many centuries, but I question if it was this particular one and certainly not the Shetland Sheepdog we know today.

The Crufts catalogue describes him as "The Shetland Crofters one-time small hardy, herding and general utility dog", a description which might be questioned by the Crofters.

In the early days of my investigations into the history of herding dogs, I could only find reference to these dogs as having been descended from a type of shepherd’s dog brought over to the Islands by the Vikings, and then called Toonie dogs, being a derivation from the Norwegian word "Tun", meaning ‘farm’. As I have said before, much of early canine history was written by journalists working for Country magazines or Agricultural papers, few had specialist knowledge of any particular breed or had worked with them. These Shetland islanders are a race apart and all praise to them for trying to remain that way. One would have to live on the islands or stay there for sometime to fully understand the local crofters or farmers on the local conditions, and I could find no evidence of any writer on their early history having done so, if this were so surely we would have had more faithful evidence of the origin or validity.

There are many other theories regarding the origin of these dogs but let me now tell you the one I am inclined to believe and which is my reason for mentioning the Sheltie under the heading of an ‘Endangered Species’. You can then judge for yourselves whether this little dog was worth saving, but I prefer to think of the breed as having been remodeled from some original pattern or type to suit modern demands.

Sometime ago, when researching through old articles on sheepdog matters of the past, The Field kindly allowed me to search through the wonderful bound volumes of past issues, which are kept in their archives. Thumbing down the index quite frequently under the heading ‘Sheepdogs’ I came across the words ‘Shetland Collies’. Naturally anything concerning Collies aroused my interest and most of these letters or articles I read carefully making notes concerning the mysteries surrounding various claims on the origin of an allegedly ancient breed of Collie from the Shetlands that were being exhibited for their first time.

many of the articles were written in glowing and romantic terms about the origins, while others, including several letters which declared that this ancient breed existed only in the mind of a few unscrupulous crofters who sold pups to the holiday visitor, as obviously there was no market for them on the Island. The pups from these crossings were advertised for sale as local Shetland Collies, saved from extinction and very rare, these were purchased by several of the nobility including the Countess of Aberdeen and the Lady Sybil Grant. Great publicity was given to the sale locally.

Some years later I came upon a Collie Folio dated July 1908 and under the heading of reports of shows I spotted something from a report of the Reading Show which I quote below.

Report from Collie Folio July 1908, page 206

Reading.- A pleasant show in a pleasant town on the banks of "Father Thames." Collies were poor in numbers, and Bobtails were cancelled. the most noticeable feature was the benching of a pair of Shetland Toys, incorrectly labeled as "miniature Collies". These are the first we have seen exhibited in England, and it is satisfactory to know they were entered merely in the variety classes. More pronounced mongrels we have never seen, and certainly they possess not a single feature akin to the Collie. owned by no less a personage than The Lady Sybil Grant (daughter of the Earl of Rosebery), who appears to have been informed that they are a pure and distinct breed, though almost extinct. We were told they represent what Collies were 50 years ago, and are very, very rare. Thank goodness they are, as they possess not a single attractive feature. Spaniels strain is evidenced in both, with, may be, a Scottish Terrier and adjacent branch of their "interesting" genealogical tree.

I make absolutely no comment on the following report or on any of the others, but have often wondered if the person to whom the writer was referring was either of the two gentlemen that my old story teller was talking about. Since then I have found many references to this dispute regarding Shelties and you will find these reproduced at the end of this chapter exactly as they appeared in the Collie Folios I have in my possession.

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© Sonja Wakefield

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