Kennel blindness is destructive to the future of any breed.  Kennel blindness can strike at
                any time.  It can  strike an owner of only one dog or the breeder with a large kennel.  No
                one is immune. The definition of  kennel blindness is the failure of a breeder to recognize
                the quality of his/her dogs and those of the  competition.  It is an obstacle to the
                advancement of the breeder and also of the breed.
                                
                The perfect dog does not exist.  Unfortunately they all have faults.  However,  a breeder
                without kennel blindness can look at a dog and not who they belong to and
                enter  their own  judgments as  to the dogs  virtues and faults.  The  successful
                breeders look at the whole dog and not just one part.   They learn to recognize
                 faults and virtues.  The goal is to strive for those hard to get qualities such as  type
                 elegance,  expression, attitude and outline.  Qualities that  set the breed apart from other
                breeds.   It is better to have some faults along with outstanding virtues
                 rather than few faults and a mediocre dog with no major faults but no great virtues.  Not
                much to offer one way or the other.  This dog may be able to win and even
                finish a championship but he/she has less to offer the breed than an outstanding dog with
                one fault.  A breeder without kennel blindness has ability to see the  good in a dog and
                weigh it against its faults.  They can appreciate the qualities an outstanding dog has to
                offer the breed in spite of its faults.   Successful breeders do not breed away from
                faults.  They use dogs wisely to breed  toward their image of the standard.         
 
                 To avoid this dreaded disease, you need to first of all have a positive open mind. You
                  need to be  willing to observe, watch and learn.   You also  need  to be able to
                objectively look at your own dogs against  the other competition.  The best way to learn
                is to watch the judging every minute you are  able.  Try to  figure out what the judge was
                looking for in the dogs  that won.  Also critique your own dog  against the  winner.
                Every  judging assignment is a matter of compromise.  Each judge has his/her  own
                preferences and perspectives.  Learning these likes and dislikes will help you in  the
                future know which type of dog to  show to a judge.    Also, attending the National
                Specialty is the best way to  learn the finer points of your  breed.  The National
                Speciaties   have dogs from all over the country  and the very best usually attend. It is
                your loss to never see what dogs are out of your area. It is  best to go just to  watch.
                It is best not to worry  about who wins but go to look at all the dogs and judge  the dogs
                yourself.  At least at the Sheltie National, there are  so many good dogs that alot of good
                ones don't even place or make the cut.  But look at all the dogs and compare your own
                dogs to them and see how they  measure up.  If your dogs could not   place at the
                National, then as a  breeder you should be looking at the dogs there to improve your
                dogs.   The breed standard should be read and reread.  You should form an image  of the
                ideal sheltie and your  goal should be to attempt to breed that ideal sheltie.  Each breeding
                should be better than the one before as you come closer to that breed ideal.