they are unable to tolerate ivermectin based heartworm prevention, so be careful with that…you probably already know this, though
[QUOTE=Laurierace;6007012]
Make you a deal! Pick one out from here and I will install all the horse related bells and whistles for you. Then you can make arrangements to pick him or her up from me when I am done in a couple weeks or so.
http://www.sscgb.org/Res_Base.html[/QUOTE]
$^$+!&^% Laurierace, they have puppies :eek: Puppies! Purebred puppies of a popular and successful performance breed + aspiring agility whiz (that’s me :D) = want!! scratch that MUST have
I cannot have a 3rd. I cannot have a 3rd. I cannot have a 3rd. Must recite 20 of these and 15 Hail Marys…
I’ve owned Shelties and trained lots of them, based on my experiences I find Shelties to have the following traits:
- Alarm barkers, excited barkers, excessive barkers
- Tendency to be snappy/nippy
- Can be timid/nervous/shy. If you purchase from a breeder be VERY careful where you get your dog. The timid temperament is inherited
- Hair is high maintenance
- They are smart and easy to train, but like all intelligent dogs, they learn bad things as quickly/easily as good
- Don’t know their size and will get themselves into trouble w/ larger dogs and livestock
The biggest complaint w/ Shelties is the barking. If you don’t like noisy dogs a Sheltie is NOT for you.
Proud and animated, the Shetland Sheepdog is a swift, light-footed runner and an agile, graceful jumper. Though on the small side, this breed has the heritage of an active herding dog and needs more exercise than many other smallish dogs.
More importantly, Shelties need “mental exercise.” These bright dogs cannot just sit in the backyard and do nothing. To be happy and well-behaved, they require mental stimulation such as advanced obedience, agility, herding, or challenging games you play with them, even if it’s just fetching balls and finding hidden toys.
Exceptionally attentive and responsive, Shetland Sheepdogs are easy to train if you have a calm voice and a light hand on the leash.
Sensitivity is one of the hallmarks of this breed. Often they need only verbal corrections, and they wilt or become defensive if you jerk them around. Praise, gentle guidance, and food rewards are the way to go with Shelties.
These dogs have quick reflexes, which can make them overly reactive to loud noises and sudden touches. Indeed, quite a few individuals are highstrung, startle easily, and do not do well in an environment with frequent tension, loud voices, or too much rough-housing.
They can be overwhelmed by the herky-jerky mannerisms of small children.
Most Shelties have a soft, sweet temperament. They’re peaceful with other animals and polite with everyone, though typically reserved and sometimes timid with strangers.
To build a confident temperament, the Shetland Sheepdog needs more extensive socialization than many other breeds.
Shelties become unhappy when left for long periods of time without companionship, and unhappiness can translate to neurotic behaviors, destructive chewing, or chronic barking.
The major behavioral issue with Shelties, in fact, is excessive barking, and some individuals have high-pitched, piercing voices.
If you want a dog who…
Is conveniently-sized, light on his feet, and graceful
Has a lovely feathered coat in a variety of striking colors
Is athletic and animated, a swift light-footed runner and jumper
Has a “soft” personality (sweet, gentle, sensitive)
Is peaceful with strangers and other animals
Is bright and attentive and learns very quickly
A Shetland Sheepdog may be right for you.
If you don’t want to deal with…
A careful search to avoid highstrung, neurotic individuals
Providing sufficient exercise and mental stimulation to prevent boredom
“Separation anxiety” (destructiveness and barking) when left alone too much
Shyness or fearfulness in some lines, or when not socialized enough
Excessive sensitivity to stress and loud voices
Chasing things that move (instinctive herding behaviors)
Barking
Frequently brushing and combing
Heavy shedding
Potential for serious health problems
A Shetland Sheepdog may not be right for you.
But you can avoid or minimize some negative traits by (1) carefully choosing the right puppy from the right breeder; (2) raising and training your puppy in all the right ways; (3) choosing an adult dog who has already proven that he doesn’t have negative traits.
Thank you everyone for your input. This has proven to be valuable info. :yes:
We are seriously considering adopting an adult or older pup for all the aforementioned reasons.
We work from home, so while the dog must be able to learn to be alone, it’s far from the majority of the time.
I don’t mind barking, it’s the constant chihuahua-like barking that will make me nuts. I had a GSD/Doberman cross who would bark anytime she heard a sound outside, but stopped on command. That was perfectly fine with me.
But all this wouldn’t be until at least next year… or later. You know, when the household/barn renovation is over. 
I have gotten in touch with a breeder and I want to make sure I am very well informed before making a final decision, but they still do seem like a good match.
What about Aussies? Another one of interest for me… I love herding dogs.
[QUOTE=EquusMagnificus;6007950]
Thank you everyone for your input. This has proven to be valuable info. :yes:
We are seriously considering adopting an adult or older pup for all the aforementioned reasons.
We work from home, so while the dog must be able to learn to be alone, it’s far from the majority of the time.
I don’t mind barking, it’s the constant chihuahua-like barking that will make me nuts. I had a GSD/Doberman cross who would bark anytime she heard a sound outside, but stopped on command. That was perfectly fine with me.
But all this wouldn’t be until at least next year… or later. You know, when the household/barn renovation is over.
I have gotten in touch with a breeder and I want to make sure I am very well informed before making a final decision, but they still do seem like a good match.
What about Aussies? Another one of interest for me… I love herding dogs. ;)[/QUOTE]
I am allergic to most dogs, even poodles, where if they happen to lick my hand, I break out right away.
ONLY shelties I have never been allergic to, go figure.
One of my best dogs ever was our aussie, but I was constantly sniffing and my eyes swelled when I was interacting directly with her, so didn’t get another after her.
Aussies come today in many lines, some are very intense herding dogs and tougher.
They may be a bit too aggressive for normal families, defensive and territorial, which brings it’s own problems.
Others are sweethearts, as ours was, a golden retriever in aussie skin, but with terrific herding instincts, she was our main cowdog.
If you get the right temperament, they make great family dogs, that was originally also their job, along with herding, to watch over the farm kids.
Most aussies today have been bred for lots of coat and those I have seen shed almost as much as GSDs or corgis, that are supreme shedders.
Since you don’t seem to quite care for what breed you get, why not try to find an individual dog that appeals to you, whatever breed or mix it may be?
I’d take an Aussie over a Sheltie any day. Aussies are considerably larger than Shelties tho. Be careful of the dog you choose and if possible meet both parents. I’ve worked with 2 very shy dogs from the same breeder. I’ve also had 4 (?I think) in class that have been lovely dogs.
[QUOTE=Bluey;6007967]
Since you don’t seem to quite care for what breed you get, why not try to find an individual dog that appeals to you, whatever breed or mix it may be?:)[/QUOTE]
:lol:
Because I am trying to limit my risks as much as possible by going with a proven breed with proven lines from a proven breeder. 
Edited to add: I do care of the breed seriously though. But I am not deadset on a breed if it might not be suitable to our lifestyle.
I’m a collie person. Tri-State Collies have some wonderful, beautiful collies available for adoption…smooth and rough coat.
They can be barkers…I had one that would bark at everything that moved, but my new girl (from Tri-State) is not a barker, unless she wants to play. Or if she hears someone drive up the driveway = good thing, IMO.
I heart my Sheltie!!
He’s everything that everyone has mentioned…to a point. I named him Rudy before I saw the movie but he fits it to a tee! He’s a barker but controllable. He’s a good watch dog, especially if the perp is coming in a UPS truck, motorcycle or any other loud vehicle OR has another dog with them. He goes to the groomer 2x a year and the rest of the time is a semi-mess. He loves his farm time and is shy if he doesn’t know you. He leaves the horses alone and tries to not even come near them. We have always had two dogs so he has never been alone. He…has…issues. You can’t help but love him and I have never met one that I didn’t care for. Just truly lovable dogs.
Handsome is as handsome does.
The Shelties I’ve known are stupidly yappy, fussy, and neurotic, with assorted costly congenital issues. And that ridiculous TinaTurner coat, ugh. These have been immaculately well-bred, etc.
Give me a pound mutt any day!
Each to their own, though: good luck!
:lol: Surely, but if I’m going to feed it and groom it, I might as well find it pretty.
1 Like
Meet the breeder’s dogs.
Hard to tell from this thread but there are working Sheltie lines out there that are not the (toy) miniaturized versions.
Run from the breeders that debark.
As far as the barking - I’ve taught both mine to stop barking when asked. The older one figured it out in about 5 minutes, the other one took a little longer. The Sheltie at the barn also stops when asked.
Do they still bark a lot ? Absolutely ! But they also stop when I calmly say “No barking” and come over for a pet instead.
[QUOTE=EquusMagnificus;6007950]
What about Aussies? Another one of interest for me… I love herding dogs. ;)[/QUOTE]
What about a border collie? I happen to have a mostly smooth coated tricolor male, weighs about 45lbs and is relatively low energy (as BC’s go, not compared to a lab or anything!).
Lots of young adult BC’s for adoption… and mine was an angel as puppies go. It’s all in the management!
[QUOTE=Heinz 57;6009313]
What about a border collie? I happen to have a mostly smooth coated tricolor male, weighs about 45lbs and is relatively low energy (as BC’s go, not compared to a lab or anything!).
Lots of young adult BC’s for adoption… and mine was an angel as puppies go. It’s all in the management![/QUOTE]
Because THAT’S a high strung dog! Not for me… Plus, I want to go smaller in size…
[QUOTE=EquusMagnificus;6008049]
:lol:
Because I am trying to limit my risks as much as possible by going with a proven breed with proven lines from a proven breeder.
Edited to add: I do care of the breed seriously though. But I am not deadset on a breed if it might not be suitable to our lifestyle. ;)[/QUOTE]
With an adult rescue dog, what you see is what you get, you see the health, activity level, personality, etc. With a pup, even from a great breeder, you don’t know what you are going to end up with.
A good breeder will NOT sell a puppy to a family with ‘very young kids’ which you say you have. I would be very wary of any breeder who is willing to place a pup under 6 months of age in a home with kids under 6 years of age.
Here are some great rescue dogs to choose from:
http://www.petfinder.com/petdetail/21122450
http://www.petfinder.com/petdetail/21631106
http://www.petfinder.com/petdetail/21591453
http://www.petfinder.com/petdetail/21626027
http://www.petfinder.com/petdetail/21352904
http://www.petfinder.com/petdetail/21648481
[QUOTE=Romany;6008699]
Handsome is as handsome does.
The Shelties I’ve known are stupidly yappy, fussy, and neurotic, with assorted costly congenital issues. And that ridiculous TinaTurner coat, ugh. These have been immaculately well-bred, etc.
Give me a pound mutt any day!
Each to their own, though: good luck![/QUOTE]
I have to say I agree w/ you 100%!! I was trying to be more PC, or delicate in my post but what you say is what I’ve found to be true and I’ve owned Shelties (and won’t ever again) and trained a LOT of them.
One thing you didn’t list is that Shelties are HYPER and NIPPY, they WILL bite when/if you do something to them they don’t like (such as trim nails, try to remove a burr/mat, trim hair between their toes, etc.).
Nope, you want an English Shepherd. My mum has one and she is just a lovely dog.
http://www.englishshepherd.org/
I’ve got one! He looks a lot like this most of the time:
SNOWSHELTIE
He’s super enthusiastic about life. And food. 100% food-motivated… which makes him a pretty easy dog to train. Minimal yipping, though he’s got a range of other noises that indicate when the toaster pops, the microwave’s done, there’s someone at the door, and that he’d like to go outside.
The hair doesn’t tend to be as much of a maintenance issue as you might think. Just a quick brush, and he’s good to go.
I take him to the barn with me every day. He “helps” by carrying my brushes around and generally being happy. He stays out of the way of the horses but can keep up on trail/field rides. Downside of that: his tail and legs tend to turn into mud paintbrushes, and he’s usually very good at spreading it on the canvas that is the interior of my vehicle.
I love Shelties!!! We’ve always had one growing up. They are very lovable and great guard dogs. My parents’ dog has VERY strong herding tendencies. He will run in circles and bark very excitedly. Of course my dad lets him get away with everything. He was brought by the barn once and tried to herd the donkey - she didn’t like that too much. He learned real quick which horses liked dogs and which ones didn’t
