The Shades Of Winter

There is one other basic outstanding presence here - that of the white gene or "white factoring".

The white factoring gene is present to some extent in all shelties. All shelties exhibit white markings. From these white genes we can produce (though not usually on purpose) mismarks, Color Headed Whites (CHW), and any number of unusual patterns.

The white-factored white is normally seen as a mismarked sheltie (with the white extended from the belly onto the back, hips, etc.)or as a CHW. This coloring is brought about by breeding two white factored dogs together. This type of breeding will not ALWAYS produce odd coloring, however according to statistics, there is a 25% chance of the breeding resulting in one of these whites. Puppies exhibiting this type of white are in all other ways healthy.

In the case stated above, the parents must both be white factored. Breeding a white factored dog to a non white factored dog will NOT result in any type of whites being produced.