Herdabout Shelties Reg'd Philosophy

Pedigree
indicates what the dog should be

Conformation
indicates what the dog appears to be

Performance
indicates what the dog actually IS^©

© Herdabout Shelties' philosophy was written by and is the copyrighted property of Jeff & Kellie Whiteside,
and is not to be used without express written permission

Herdabout GOALS

Our goal at Herdabout Shelties is to breed Shetland Sheepdogs who are structurally sound, well balanced, and can perform in all venues, (Agility, Obedience, Herding, Tracking, Conformation) but who also can be just a sweet and loving family companion, or therapy dog. 

At Herdabout Shelties we do complete health testing on all our breeding dogs (each dog has a list of all the completed health testing and their scores on their individual page), it includes:

• Eyes tested for OFA (Orthodepic Foundation for Animals) by a Board Certified Canine Opthomologist
• Hips and Elbows Certified with OFA (sometimes PennHip scores as well)
• Patellas Certified with OFA
• Legges Calves Perthes Certified with OFA
• Thyroid Certified with OFA including TgAA results
• MRD1 DNA testing with WSU (washington state university)
• VwD DNA testing with VetGen in Michigan and,
• OFA Full Dentition (when applicable)

Herdabout Shelties does not link our breeding program with any other breeders.  We no longer co-own, co-breed, recommend, or sell dogs/puppies for any other breeders.  We are Responsible Breeders who are dedicated to improving the health and temperament of the breed and we insist on testing for all genetic disorders common in the breed in order to only breed from the best dogs available.  Herdabout Shelties will not be linked to breeders who do not share the same passion for complete health tested dogs, or who do not complete all health testing in their breeding dogs.

We firmly believe that the breeders of today are responsible for what the breed will be like 50 years from now, what they will look like, and what their health will be like.  

At Herdabout Shelties we actively compete with our own dogs in all venues. While we may not be spending money on hiring professional handlers, or be actively campaigning one of our dogs to be the top conformation or the top performance dog of the current year, the public can rest assured that we are putting our money and efforts into producing the healthiest Shelties we can. We stand 100% behind our written health guarantees.

At Herdabout Shelties we believe that health, structure and temperament are the most valued components in a breeding program. Therefore we will not eliminate a perfectly excellent quality Sheltie from our breeding program simply because the dog may be considered by some to be "mismarked" in colour. We are founders of a promotional group called SIT = "Shelties In True Colours" firmly believing that these colours should be allowed in the conformation show ring because they are in the genes. This YouTube video shows some of the award winning Herdabout Shelties that are Shelties in True Colours

Herdabout Shelties are regularly competing in Conformation, Agility, Rally-O and Obedience Trials. Please look around our website and see what our dogs have accomplished with us, and with others who own a Shetland Sheepdog from Herdabout Shelties Reg'd.

Our History - About Us

Herdabout Shelties and Herdabout K-9 Academy are owned and operated by Jeff and Kellie Whiteside, married since 1988, they have both grown up with dogs.

Kellie got her first sheltie at the age of 8 years old and fell in love with the breed then. That first sheltie was Toffee Tawny of Sheldon Kennels, and although there was no one around in her area who did formal dog training at the time, Kellie trained Toffee in agility, obedience, and carting by reading books and inventing a few methods of her own.

Jeff grew up with a variety of dog breeds and after the two got married in 1988 they decided to stick with the breed they love – Shetland Sheepdogs.

Jeff Whiteside handles Whoopi to a Group 2nd at the 2008 Sudbury and District Kennel Club Show.

Kellie Whiteside handles Smitty to BPIG at the 2008 Sudbury and District Kennel Club Show.

Photo Credit: Paul Oslach Photography

In 1999, Jeff and Kellie decided to get into breeding Shetland Sheepdogs under the kennel name Herdabout Shelties.

After much research into pedigrees and bloodlines, the Whitesides finally decided on what to aim for and how to get there. The goal was to produce healthy and structurally sound shelties that could work in all venues. Looking back into the old line pedigrees and searching for dogs that had produced some of the all time top working shelties that could also win in the conformation ring.

Then working hard to bring more of those selected old lines back up to the front of the pedigree the best they could. Jeff and Kellie searched for the dogs to breed into their lines that would produce the results they wanted.

Carefully planned, selective breedings has allowed them to start achieving their goals. Between 2003 and 2008 Jeff and Kellie have managed to put 68 plus CKC titles on their own dogs, not including their dogs that have been placed with other folks who are out competing with a Herdabout Sheltie.

Members of the Canadian Kennel Club, the Canadian Shetland Sheepdog Association, and are both CGN Evaluators.

Our Location

Herdabout Shelties is located in the Southern Georgian Bay region of Ontario Canada. We are a 20 minute drive northwest of Barrie.

Click on the right image for Google Maps

This points you to our training facility in Elmvale. Our home based kennel is close by.

Please email or call if you wish to meet and talk with Jeff or Kellie Whiteside. Pre-arrangements must be made to visit our kennel.