an aussie cattle dog is the same as a blue heeler isn't it?. i had one years ago, named her Bindi, she had a bad couch eating problem. but she was hyper intelligent and when she wasn't being difficult, super cool. was lassie a sheltie? they look like they shed like mad.
i'm a big fan of boxers, labs and boston terriers, and i had a roomate once that had a rhodesian ridgeback, wicked sweet dog.