Myrddin Wyllt

[qatarperegrine]

My sister has convinced me that it's time to admit that my dog is really part Sheltie, not part Border Collie. This is a big step down in the snobby world of herding dogs. But, for people who've met Merlin (pictures here if not), is he not related to this dog? And doesn't the back half of this dog look just like his legs and tail? And doesn't he have the irritating barkiness of a Sheltie?

Sorry, Mer, but I can't deny it any longer. You're not a whit Border Collie.

Comments

[y-pestis.livejournal.com]

Well he could be a whit Border Collie... at least to whatever extent a Sheltie has BC in it. And BC is, after all, not so much a breed as a way of life (cf the various colourings of BCs and Working Sheepdogs). And you could call his prey drive a herding drive, as long as he doesn't get close enough to distinguish it...

There's definitely something else in there, anyway. Maybe he's half Sheltie, half Australian Cuddle Dog. :-)

[qatar.livejournal.com]

Hah! That makes more sense to Australian cattle dog (although I admit there is something very Merlike in this face).

Then again, some of what it says about cattle dog temperament is true of Mer: the dominance and protectiveness. And what they say about "firm training" makes me think they're a bit hard, correction-wise.

Both Shelties and cattle dogs are supposed to be SMART, though!!!

[materjibrail.livejournal.com]

That face is Merlin even if the colour is different. It makes me feel better about Aussies.

[nikki-nana.livejournal.com]

I think that does look like Mer's face. However, my brother used to work with a bunch of blue healers who were excellent herders, but had lousy people skills. They would just as soon growl and threaten you as to look at you, and you could never get close enough to one to actually try to befriend it. This definitely does NOT describe Merlin the cuddly one!