We have a fun trip to San Jia Gang of Pudong

I photographed lots of pic on that day. To visit the photo album at http://s283.photobucket.com/albums/kk308/shyekai/20091017dogtravel/ 

I just love these pic for my BOY stand at the beach.

(My Study Note and some my personal thought)

By learning more about structure of Shelties, I find out some faultes that usually be touted as perfect by some beginner.

1, Wide Rear OR Wide Front
It is even admired by some breeders and judges as well as by beginners who do not bother to learn proper structure for a Sheltie.
A sheltie with wide rear or wide front often stands perfectly. In fact, he is often touted as not being able to stand wrong.

Wide parallel movement is more obvious at a slow gait because the fast trot will force the legs closer for balance.
This fault is quite common.  A dog moving wide in rear or in front lacks agility to turn by not being able to pivot  readily from the center line. It also means he will use more strength to turn his leg to the center line. (deviation from the correct Tireless GAIT)
Occasionally a wide mover, particularly one who is wide both front and rear, develops a characteristic “roll” from throwing the weight from side to side. He varies from the individual who hocks out in that the hocks remain in line and appear strong. Wide rears rarely affect side gait.

2, Barrel-rib

The standard say: "The ribs should be well sprung, but flattened at their lower half to allow free play of the foreleg and shoulder. Abdomen moderately tucked up."
"the brisket reaching to the point of elbow".
Barrel-ribs often lack depth and cause the elbows to swing out to go around the interference. So the efficiency in gait will be destroyed.
Some breed like British bull-dog request the rouded rib. How does the bull-dog move? The answer is "roll". :)

3, Short legs
There were some unaccepted sub type such as COLLIE TYPE, POM TYPE at the past time. Now some of shelties who has too short legs regards as Shorgi type (corgi + sheltie?).
A few folks may be forget the standard: "Elbow joint should be equidistant from the ground and from the withers"!
I personaly cann't suffer from the too short and thick legs on a sheltie. When I first look at them I will bethink of corgi. IMHO, they were out of balance with ill-looking.
A shetlie with short legs aslo cann't move great by lacking drive and reach.

4, Over angulared stifle
Maybe The Over angulared stifle is a fashion in most of breed today.  Do you think the dog stands wonderful with the over angulared rear? Yes, he may stands firmly. But he cann't move great too.
A over angulared stifle dog usually has too long stifle than thighbone with his foot lay too backward under the body.
At his maximum reach in an extended trot, the Sheltie's front leg may reach with undue upward swing because of the different angles of the lay back shoulder from the stifle.
He also may be lack of alignment of the body in motion. It calls "CRABING" that the dog moves somewhat sideways with the rear tracking to left or right of the front. This last consideration of gait is more easily seen coming or going.

Above all, Having the same angle at shoulder and stifle is most important. I regards the ideal angle of stifle is 45 degree the same as the lay back shoulder.

5, Too thick and heavy head
I'm so confused that a few person in my country think that the better skull is so heavy and thick in AKC blood line. They aslo regard it as the different from the Europe blood line and USA,CAN blood line.
It must be mistake.
A beautiful sheltie should have soft, sweetie expression. The too thick heavy head mostly without the true SHELTIE expression.
A over heavy head dog with heavy bone in body will lost the sheltie's "agility" too.

The diagram is border collie's front, it similar as sheltie's

The girl is 22 1/2 months now.