By Enoch Autry

 “They are not judged for doing tricks”, Good said.  “They are judged on how closely they meet the standard for that breed.”

Founded in 1898 by Chauncey Z. Bennett, the UKC has supported the idea of the “total dog,” meaning a dog that looks and performs equally well. The performance programs of UKC include Conformation Shows, Obedi­ence Trials, Agility Trials, Coonhound Field Trials, Wa­ter Races, Nite Hunts and Bench Shows, hunting tests

for the retrieving breeds, beagle events including Hunts and Bench Shows, and, for Cur and Feist Squir­rel and Coon Events, and Bench Shows.

The ranking Goodie has received is rather difficult to retain since within the Syl­vania area there are not many competitions. The Per­ry show is the closest.

The No. 2 dog, Good said, is eight points behind in the standings as of the May 16^th  posting on the website.

Approximately 100 dogs attend multi-breed shows at most competi­tions in our area. The premiere shows can have several thousand dogs and many more breeds, Good said.

“They can pull entries from all over the nation and internationally,” she said.

Under United Kennel Club rules, professional handlers are not permitted to show dogs, only owners can.

“It is a family-oriented registry,” Good said. “It promotes family participation and competition and they promote junior handling. They take the politics, so to speak, out that you may find in some other shows.”

      Goodie is the first of  three Shelties to finish, or complete championships, this year under the guidance of  Good, who has shown dogs “strictly as a hobby” since 1965. The other two canines are females.

“Each one is very special,”. Good said. “Maybe this year we will raise a rare litter for another winner.

“Goodie is now working on his grand championship,” she said of the canine who has two of the five necessary points to reach the goal.  

Photo by Enoch Autry

Goodie, a sheltie, stands at attention for his owner Joy Good.

Within a show, a winning dog competes against other dogs of the same sex, against of opposite sex and against other champions to award a best of breed.

   “The best one goes back in to compete for group. The first place group winners compete for Best in Show,” Good said. A canine also can receive a re­serve best in show “The day is long.”

   Good started showing col­lies and raised them for 20 years, but wanted to make a change.

   “I decided I wanted something smaller,” she said. Good has shown shelties since 1990.

   Since 1948, the United Kennel Club has recognized this breed of shelties, which has a rich history

   Sometime around 900 A.D., the islands off the coast of Scotland were colonized by Norse people who brought with them the ancestors of the Shetland Sheepdog. These ancestors were Spitz-type dogs, probably similar in type to today’s Iceland Dog and the Swedish Vallhund. Over time, the Shetland islanders devel­oped a small, highly intelligent dog, capable of herding with little or no supervision. The island’s harsh climate re­quired a hardy, small dog with a thick, weather-resistant coat.

  The general appearance of the Shetland Sheepdog is that of a rough collie in miniature.

In the 15th century, Shet­land became part of Scotland and began importing sheep from the mainland. The Scot­tish Collie, then slightly smaller than today’s breed, was crossed with the Shetland dogs to give the island breed a more distinct Collie-like ap­pearance.

Today, the Shetland Sheep-dog is a popular companion and working dog, excelling at all events requiring intelligence and agility.

Photo by Bob Good

Goodie conducts some agility training by working on his jumps. Good said agility is the next line of competition for Goodie after conformation showing, which the sheltie currently ranks first.  

The height for a mature Shetland Sheepdog ranges between 13 and 16 inches and the weight is proportional  to it's height. A show dog will be disqualified for heights above 16 inches or under 13 inches.

"Goodie is just under 16 inches, but is a nice big male," Good said.

 The Shetland Sheepdog is affectionate, loyal, highly intelligent and an extremely willing worker. Shelties may be wary with strangers but are intensely devoted to their family members, including children and other dogs. Shelties excel in performance events, and many still serve as working farm dogs. Shelties make excellent guard dogs, alerting to any intrusion with enthusiastic barking.

The sheepdog has a thick, weather-resistant, double coat. The outer coat is long, harsh textured and straight. The undercoat is soft, short and dense. A sheltie is a herding dog that requires an easy, almost floating movement, agility and endurance.