Marie Allen
#13 Sable, tricolor (black with tan markings), black and blue merle (with and without tan markings), all with distinctive white markings on the head, neck, chest, legs and tail tip.
#14 The Shetland Islands north of Scotland are famous for their small horses, cattle and sheep.
The task of the little Shetland dog was to guard the house and yard, to protect gardens and fields from voracious sheep, and to catch rats and mice. The little guys were tough, smart, agile, fast, and obedient. Sailors liked to buy them as souvenirs. Seeing a source of income, the Shetlanders crossed their dogs with Toy Spaniels, Papillons, and Pomeranians in order to be able to offer beautifully colored dogs.
#15 Even today, due to crossbreeding of Collies to improve the type, Shelties that are too large still occur.
The Shetland Sheepdog is far more popular than the Collie in England and America and often ranks in the top 10 most popular dog breeds. In this country, he is one of the rare breeds but is enjoying growing popularity. He is a robust, clever, eager-to-learn, easy-going companion and reliable guard.