We had two, very nice breed.
Shelties are the poster dog for over the top barkers, although some in our dog club have a very few that donāt really bark much.
Shelties are very nice, soft dogs and many are shy to the point that, if something scares them, they will lose their head and run off scared and hide.
Shelties donāt all come in the same size, some are almost as large as rough collies and some small as pomeranians, not that many are right on the standard for size.
Ours were competitive obedience dogs and they are a snap to train, live on your word, practically train themselves.
One of our shelties was the only dog from several I have had and shown that I didnāt trust off lead, because if someone may have knocked a chair down, she would have run off and got lost.
She came from a puppy mill, I would say it is very important, maybe more than with other breeds, to get a sheltie from a good breeder, if you want one close to what you are seeing in the pictures.
Shelties are beautiful dogs and ours were not that hard to keep clean and brushed and shed mostly twice a year, blowing coat, little the rest of the time.
Ours were farm dogs and the only dogs we had that were flea magnets.
We got were we would not let them get close to any rabbit areas, or we had to dip them right away, they came back covered in fleas.
With todayās flea products, that may not be a problem so much.
I am not sure they are very good with kids, as they are so soft and jumpy if someone is loud and kids just tend to be loud at times.
Then, some of those in our dog club love kids and are very good with them in our school demonstrations and āreading with Roverā library work with kids.
Donāt know how much is training or just excellent temperament.
I found best way to curb the barking some is to acknowledge the dog when it barks and then distract it.
They learn when it is appropriate to bark and then quit barking.
Just to get after them to stop barking, dogs donāt think like that, many times see the human as participating and getting excited, see the talk as barking along and so bark more enthusiastically.
I would look for a very good breeder, or a rescue you can tell it is the temperament you want.
Ask your vet, he may know some breeders around your area and who is good.
When I asked years ago, after we lost our last one, the vet said he was seeing many poorly bred shelties, didnāt know anyone breeding good ones right then.
As for pretty, they are that, in spades.