Sheltie dugs

[trout]

Whit is da craic we turdlin dugs? Lassie bein da most famous example...

 

... I canna tink dat ahm iver seen een in turdlin, no?

[Malachy]

I'm going out on a limb here - not entirely sure of my facts, but this is what I seem to remember about it...

 

In the past sheep were often rounded up individually, ie using a dog that would tackle an individual sheep, knock it over and keep it still. Shetland sheepdogs were good at that and were bred with this use in mind.

 

These days though, sheep are generally caad in groups, so people have dogs that do this job better - usually border collies I think.

 

As I say, I could be entirely wrong, but that's my memory of it.

[humptygrumpty]

Whit is da craic we turdlin dugs? Lassie bein da most famous example...

 

... I canna tink dat ahm iver seen een in turdlin, no?

 

Yeah right enough I havent seen one for quite a while now either. They used to be quite a few around and also the miniture versions but havent seen any of them for ages either.

[crofter]

I thought "Lassie" was not a shetland collie, it's the smaller ones which are? Anyway, this is the first result from google

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shetland_Sheepdog

 

Which states "Ironically, the Shetland Sheepdog is only rarely found in Shetland, having been replaced by the Border Collie". Also says an alternative name for it is a "Toonie dog"

[Ghostrider]

I've always been told that Shetland Collies, and Shetland Sheepdogs were two completely different breeds. The Shetland Sheepdog, like the Shetland Grice and so on has been extinct for a very long time, they looked nothing like a Shetland Collie, and were big enough to be used, and were used for rounding up livestock in the same manner as sheepdogs are today. However the Border Collies the Scotties inevitably brought in with them post 1468 were by far the superior animal for the job, and quickly replaced the Shetland Sheepdog.

 

The Shetland Collie as we know it today, was of little practical use unless for maybe rounding up hens, ducks, geese or the likes, possibly the occasional stray or annoying peerie bairn on occasion.... In their day they were said to be somewhat bigger than those we know, they were purposely bred smaller and smaller simply because there was a market mainly outwith Shetland, for them with folks with more money than sense who thought they made "cute" pets.

[Pooks]

I believe there might be one or two kicking around Boddam. Apart from that I can't say I remember seeing any anywhere else.

[Lowrie]

I think Lassie is actually a Rough Collie....but I might be wrong.

[Fjool]

^ According to Wikipedia, you are correct.

[Njugle]

I'd agree we that from my distant past knowledge of the subject. There are a few (peerie)Sheltie Collies around but not as many as you used to see. I ken someem that has two.

[Twerto]

My old folks used to have one.. they got it from the people in walls that at least used to breed them if not still.

[tarotangel]

When I was younger I mind seeing a lot o da peerie eens about but I dunna think I've seen een in aboot 15 year.