This page has some good information and may answer questions you have before you contact us. Although we still have information about Shelties on this page, we have discontinued breeding them for awhile. We had our last Sheltie litter in 2019. We are planning to reduce our collie litters in 2023. We do have collie puppies available currently in 2022, just use the contact links to inquire.
Info Page
Genetic Testing
All of our pups are handled and cared for by our family. They are used to being around noises and other pets. Basic house training has been introduced, but any young pup will need additional training. They will have shots, be dewormed at appropriate times, and veterinarian checked at the appropriate ages.
We have temporarily stopped flying our puppies/dogs. We do use ground transport when it works out for the destination area. Please contact us for pricing options. If you are driving our way, we may be able to drive part of the distance to shorten the trip for you. We may ask for a gas fee if the trip is far enough.
At Our Blessed Acres, we have been utilizing lab testing to improve the breeds we love. Our sires and dams have had genetic testing done for many of the diseases known for their breed. This ensures that pups will not be born with those diseases, although some of them may be carriers. Being a carrier for a recessive genetic disorder means that there is no risk of illness for your pet, but if the dog is used for breeding the carrier status then becomes important. The diseases we test for are: *CEA, MDR1, PRA-rcd2 (Collie type), HUU, DMS, CN, DM, PRA (Sheltie type), CNGA1 (Sheltie), and vWD3 (Sheltie). We may add additional tests in the future and will update this page with that information.
*CEA note - The old method of diagnosis, before genetic testing was able to identify the genes responsible for CEA, was to take collies to a canine ophthalmologist to see how their eyes were in a physical exam. We no longer take puppies for eye exams because the genetic testing tells us they do not have the CEA or PRA eye diseases.
Shipping or Pick-up Options
rcd2-PRA
The only PRA that affects collies is rod-cone dysplasia type 2 (rcd2-PRA). Just using the initials "PRA" can be a bit confusing because there are many types of PRA, but only one of those is associated with collies. Many laboratories offer PRA tests, but it is not always the one for collies, and if you are checking with a breeder on the status of PRA for their collies, make sure they have tested for rcd2, or it may not have been the correct type of PRA test.. Although PRA among collies is now less common, we do still test for it to ensure our collies are not carriers.
Generally we allow puppies to leave any time after 8 weeks of age. We work with you on planning which method you have chosen for the travel of your puppy. Puppies must be completely paid for before they go with you. If any balance remains at pick-up it must be paid in cash. Our payment page has more information concerning this.
When Your Puppy Can Leave
Our puppies are indoor/outdoor. All our puppies are born inside our home. When they are old enough, they are allowed outside as much as possible for good space and healthy potty training habits to form. We continue with their care and training and family socialization until they go to their new homes. We are farm loving folks who feel that dogs should have as much space as possible and learn to potty on the good earth, as nature intended for them. This is very good for early house-training.
Our Puppies Are Indoor / Outdoor
Grooming for Collies & Shelties
In spite of the fact that collies and shelties have thick, long coats, they do not shed much during most of the year, with the exception being the seasonal coat change, as noted below. However, they do best with a weekly, or bi-weekly brushing in order to keep them from getting tangles in the hair. Just as with people, the long hair will become tangled from rubbing or scratching and in order to avoid matted areas they will need some care. When they are changing up their coat, the woolly undercoat will come out and get tangled up in the longer overcoat, which may require a daily brushing during this time in order to keep the coat nice and keep the hair from your furniture. During grooming you will want to pay attention to the hair behind the ears, as this is a common tangle area when scratching. One very helpful tool for grooming is the double sided brush, with the longer tines on one side and the close bristles on the other. The long tines will reach deep into the dense coat to keep it nice all the way to the skin, while the smoother side will give the hair a soft finished look when you're done. Also, the wonderful de-matting tool with the curved sharp blades is quite useful in cases where you do find a knot and don't want to cut a chunk of hair off your dog. I recommend
the de-matting tool to keep the coat beautiful
and uniform without ever cutting a large area
away. The design of the blades keep it safe
and effective to work your way through the knot
with a gentle sawing motion. Not all brands are
the same, so try to purchase one that has
sharpened blades and not just dull curved ones.
Sheltie Size
We would like to address the issue of size among Shetland Sheepdogs (Shelties), as many people who search for one seem unaware of the size variances in the breed. The sheltie is diverse in heritage with large and small dogs in it's past and although the AKC standard for the breed states that a dog should be 13" to 16" at the withers for AKC conformation showing, that does not limit the gene pool to only produce that size sheltie. Depending on the sire and dam paired together a sheltie can actually be produced anywhere from 9" to over 20" on the far ends of the spectrum. Although many try to eliminate these large or small variations among breeding stock, the variance remains in the gene pool. Show breeders for shelties know that they are always at risk of having the pups they choose either turn out undersized or grow oversized for the show ring. Factors that keep this large variation going in the non-show breeding of shelties is the opinions of those that want the undersized sheltie, and those that are wanting the sturdy (often working farm or herding) larger size. When searching for a puppy, ask questions of the breeder in order to better determine an approximate size your puppy will be when grown, but keep in mind that even an experienced breeder can't guarantee the exact size. An estimate might be reached with the information they have, which includes the size of parents, the size the puppy is at a certain age when compared to sheltie growth charts, and if the parents have had pups together in the past that have fully matured. That information may help, but it has been our experience that even pups produced in the same litter turn out to be different sizes when grown. Dog height is measured from the floor to the top of the front shoulder blades, at the base of the neck (withers), not the top of the head.
Parasites and Info You Might Not Know
Our puppies are given de-wormers as soon as they are old enough, beginning at 3 days for prevention of certain parasites, then at 2 wks, and every two weeks from there on.
ALL dogs come in contact with parasitic worms and mites! Whether you have had many dogs, or are looking to purchase your first, this information is for you. A variety of worm eggs and larvae are present in most areas of soil, with the type varying from area to area. If the puppy you purchased from me or someone else tested negative with their stool sample you took to the vet, you still need to de-worm them within 2 weeks of arrival and start a 4 week regimen from that point on. Here we have given de-wormer at 2 week intervals, and continue that if they are still with us. Worm larvae are always making their way back into your dog when they walk, lick or drink in grassy or dirt areas, it's part of nature. We recommend that you de-worm your puppy two weeks after the last date they were de-wormed before you brought them home.
Demodex and other MITES are living on your dog all the time. Demodex mites don't cause a problem most of the time. It is not uncommon for dogs going through puberty to have a small bout with demodex mange, especially if they catch a cold at the same time. If it happens, don't panic. It can be cleared up easily if the dog doesn't have any other immune deficiency issues. Dogs that have a little trouble when young usually won't do it again once growth is done. Don't assume your pup is sickly or going to be sickly if it happens. If you see signs of balding or bumpy skin a great product to get is a shampoo by the name of "Veterinary Formula Clinical Care Antiparasitic & Antiseborrheic Medicated Shampoo". It is sold on Amazon and Chewy without prescription. If that doesn't clear things up after a few weekly baths in it consult your vet. Remember, the hair won't grow back overnight, so be patient and give it a few weeks to do the job. Two baths the first week to get things started, then once a week thereafter. You don't want to over-bathe your dog, which can irritate their skin and cause other issues. Just check for signs of cleared skin and small hair regrowth to begin.
We are located in Southwest Michigan. All our puppies are registered with the AKC.