I have loved Shelties for 25 years and am a member of the American Shetland Sheepdog Association (ASSA).  I have watched Shelties grow from a virtually unknown breed to one which has sadly found it's way into the puppy mills and backyard breeding operations that are mass producing puppies for profit.  These people do not care about health, temperament and quality nor do they care whether their puppy gets a good home.  Pet Shop puppies almost always come from puppy mills...no reputable breeder would ever sell their puppies in a place like that.  When you buy from one of these people you are not only keeping them in business but condemning the parents to a life where their only value is in breeding... to be thrown away when they can no longer produce puppies.  The main reason for this website was to hopefully provide some basic information on buying your next companion.

Many of these operations have websites now...some of them smart enough to cover up what they are by using selected pictures and dishonest descriptions of their operation. An example would be a particular operation in my own state that bills itself as a small loving breeder with home raised puppies when, in fact, they have a large number of dogs and multiple litters bred for sale raised in a kennel building.  If your instinct tells you something doesn't look right, it probably isn't.  Beware of anyone that is producing multiple litters or claiming to have show dogs when they have never earned an AKC title themselves on a dog and definitely find another breeder to buy from if they are advertising their puppies as "Show Quality" or "Breeding Quality" prior to birth or at a very young age.  Do your homework....both parents should have heredity testing done for a minimum of hips, eyes, thyroid and VonWillebrand's disease.  You can check OFA's website for information and ask to see the certificates...never take "it's not in my line" or "pending age" or pending anything as an acceptable answer.  OFA offers preliminary ratings on young animals and the other tests can also be done at a young age.  OFA is the registry for hips and elbows that reads the x-rays and anything graded by a local vet is only a personal opinion and not an official grading.  If you don't see the sire and dam listed in OFA's database you should ask to see the certificates from OFA and if you don't see someone's kennel name in the OFA database in proportion to the amount of breeding they are doing...please look for a breeder that is being responsible by testing their dogs BEFORE they breed them.  A good breeder wants to improve the breed and produce quality puppies with good temperaments and find the best home possible for their puppies. They do not breed multiple litters strictly for sale.  They will ask you lots of questions about your home and lifestyle to make sure their puppy is getting a good home and that you and your puppy will be a good match.  They will also require a purchase contract, spay/neuter agreement for pets, give a health guarantee for hereditary defects for a minimum of two years and be willing to take the dog back if for any reason you can no longer keep the dog.

Most states also have a Sheltie club that can provide you with breed information and help in finding a puppy.  Being a member of a club states an active interest in their breed and hopefully a higher standard set for themselves as breeders, but is in no way a guarantee.  You must always ask questions and do your homework .

I highly recommend reading the following site for additional information.

http://www.mindspring.com/~heartogold/tips.htm