I got my first Windsprite, Wally, in 2015. I was so insanely and immediately smitten with this breed, that by 2019 I would have three Windsprites, and in 2021 I bred my first litter and kept one – bringing me up to four. I love this breed immensely. Their goofy personalities packaged up in this elegant fairytale looking dog. Their ability to snuggle up with you on gloomy days, and run around with you to your heart’s content on the best days. I have been working with dogs professionally for nearly 20 years and I mean it when I say that this breed is an absolute gem - there is nothing quite like them. The International Windsprite Club, and the founders who worked to create this breed before the club even existed, have done a fantastic job in creating the perfect versatile companion.

My breeding decisions are not made impulsively. I put a lot of thought into my breeding decisions. Over the last eight years, I have made several observations in my attendance at breed club specialty shows and through following the breed on social media. First, the amount and severity of auto-immune diseases has increased as the early signs of genetic bottlenecking and inbreeding depression arise. Second, the amount of separation distress, confinement anxiety has increased. Third, their size has gotten very large in some lines and their coats are not as full. Finally, they are losing their environmental stability, sense of humor, handler focus, and overall bold-for-a-sighthound personalities. (They were never as bold as a retriever, but they weren’t as reserved and introverted as many of the sighthounds can be.) These personality traits are what make the Windsprite so very special to so many of us.

As a breeder, the health is concerning enough. Though, as a behavior professional, I am also concerned about the changes I’ve witnessed in their temperaments. From my observations, the International Windsprite Club has worked tirelessly to separate the Windsprite from Whippets. And they have done an excellent job. My concern is that as Whippets are the only accepted back-cross, we are losing that something special that the Shetland Sheepdog brought to the breed. The more we continue to use Whippets and ignore or turn a shoulder to the Shetland Sheepdog genetics, the more our wonderful little dogs (ironically) move towards being long-haired Whippets. To preserve the Windsprite, this breed that I love so intensely, I firmly believe that we will need to bring in at least some Shetland Sheepdog to compensate for the more frequent use of Whippets.

I understand the concerns that are had by bringing Shetland Sheepdog (aka: Sheltie), or any herding genes back into the gene pool. It was not easy to locate, but I have found a stud who is clear for both CEA and MDR1 – two mutations that the Windsprites inherited from their Sheltie ancestors. And not only that, he is also not merle, is not a barker, and has a solid and stable temperament. When selected carefully, the addition of the occasional Sheltie acts to preserve that special something that the Sheltie brought to the Windsprite.

I love these dogs so deeply. I can only hope that others will understand that this preservation project comes from a place of compassion and concern. I hope that one day Sheltie back-crosses will be recognized as the Whippet back-crosses are. Until then, I’ll do everything that I can to preserve that special bit of something that the Shetland Sheepdog brought. To preserve the Windsprite as the versatile, handler focused, highly biddable, emotionally stable, physically healthy and overall phenomenal companion.

Passion & Preservation