Shetland sheepdog (Shelties) as farm/family dog... Any opinions?

[Flurry84]

Was given my first sheltie to help me get over the loss of my first collie champion. This sheltie was 8 mos. of age and had grown up with horses, goats, dogs, etc. There were three or four boys in the neighborhood incl. her son, and Boomer went everywhere with them, swimming in lakes, running across meadows, etc. Very well socialized, but they decided to place him and gave him to me. I was so impressed with his outgoing temperament, I went to his breeder to purchase a companion for him. Settled on a beautifully structured bi-blue male (I had no interest in showing them and both had gone over-sized hence the pet home). Well, Blue was very aloof as he matured and became the most serious watch dog I ever had. The exact opposite of Boomer.

My other shelties included a rescue little guy who was very aggressive to my really large male collie and a little female who had no personality (given to me following her show career; exquisite to look at and just happy to have a living room instead of a kennel to call home). As you can see, shelties can be anything from outgoing to aloof to aggressive. I would suggest you consider a mature sheltie so you know what you are getting because even with great upbringing there is a lot of variation within this breed.

[halo]

[QUOTE=eventer_mi;6012916]
Wow. Some very strong opinions on this thread.

I’ve had Shelties for most of my adult life, and so I think I’m qualified to comment on this :^).

If you are careful and get a well-bred Sheltie from a GOOD breeder, you will get one of the most beautiful, intelligent breeds around. If you don’t, the chances are pretty good you’ll end up with a hyper, yappy, neurotic mess, which is why Shelties tend to have a bad name. They were a VERY popular breed at one time, which is why everybody started breeding them, and the breed has a bad rep as a result.

Yappy? not really. Yes, they bark. They are bred to be heard over distances in the Scottish Isles, but they can be trained to stop. Mine rarely bark unless my husband is riling them up (sigh), but they know when to stop.

they do shed, but they tend to blow their coats (the undercoats) twice a year. Soft, fluffy stuff. they don’t seem to shed their guard hairs at all. I brush mine in front of the TV once a week and they’re fine. I can even flip them upside down and brush their tummies. They’re pretty tolerant. I can clip their nails and do anything with them. My female, Emma, is so tolerant that I could probably hack off one of her legs without anesthesia and she’d let me (not that I would!). When doing their nails, they tend to hide their heads under my arm, but they put up with it. My vet’s office LOVES them, because they’re one of the few dogs that come in that will let you draw blood, trim nails, do acupuncture, whatever, without a fight. Sweet, sweet dogs.

They are NOT weedy. Mine are sturdy, with blockier heads and those sweet, sweet Sheltie eyes. I’ve taped their ears growing up, so the male has perfect tulip-ears, whereas the female kept scratching one of hers free, so she has one perfect ear and the other sticks up. Sigh. They should, as a breed, be sturdy, with full, luxurious coats. If they are scrawny and weedy with poor coats, that is the sign of a poor breeder.

Mine are therapy dogs (DELTA), so anybody can handle them, even small children. When they get sick of the pulling and tugging, they walk away. They also don’t herd, although they love to play chase if invited. They don’t nip, either. I can literally reach in their mouths and pull things out, including snacks, and they won’t nip or fuss. My two go to the barn with me. They don’t chase horses, or cats, or do anything they’re not supposed to do. I can walk them off -leash on the reservation of Fort Bragg - they’ve got a terrific recall. Remember, they are bred to work closely with their handlers, so they constantly check in on me anyway.

If you are shy, don’t walk anywhere with a Sheltie. My hubby and I took our two to the Xmas festival downtown on a Friday night, and we were mobbed. Everybody wanted to pet them and tell me how they used to have a Sheltie, and we could hardly walk anywhere. The dogs were fine. A little sick of it after the umpteenth person wanted to pet them, but were fine. Shy they are NOT. Especially my male, who thinks he’s a Golden Retriever - he’ll lick perfect strangers to death. Speaking of goldens, my female likes to walk with her stuffed Sheltie (yes, she has a stuffed Sheltie toy) in her mouth. She’ll take her possum, or her bunny, but she prefers her Sheltie. She’ll walk around the entire block carrying it. it’s adorable.

They are SMART. Whoever said that they need to be mentally stimulated is right. Mine do fine with food cubes and those IQ games. They are also happy chasing a laser pointer around. I find that two are better than one - they entertain each other when we’re at work.

I’ll post pics of mine when I find them, but they’re a superb breed. Don’t listen to the people who tell you they’re neurotic and yappy and fearful. They must have seen the poorly bred and poorly socialized ones. All of mine have been loving, sweet dogs. Like all breeds, they have their drawbacks, but if properly socialized and trained, they sound like just what you’re looking for.

Aussies, btw, are wonderful, but I find that they need more exercise and room to roam then Shelties. My trainer has an Aussie and it’s very high-energy, but he’s allowed to roam the farm. She says he’d be a nightmare if he couldn’t. They also seem to shed more, continuosly. I love them, and when I get my farm, I’m going to have one of each - a Sheltie and an Aussie.[/QUOTE]

x2

Ive gotten all three of mine from the same breeder, who breeds show ring quality dogs, yet hers are some of the top agility and obedience dogs in the country. In a way I feel like I sort of wasted these guys extraordinary ability to be agility and obedience dogs, but they are just as happy being farm dogs, so they are.

So much of what you say is so true. When I let them out to go run and play, I watch them for a bit and then call them. They run back to me TOP SPEED, each trying to outrun the other. They race up my top steps and fly thru the door, sliding on the rugs. Hysterical.

The youngest one is always clocking me. I have 10 acres, so theres lots of room here. Sometimes when they are out playing around, Ill hide in the barn and peak out. In a few minutes, Ill notice him stop and look around. He’ll run to the front of the house, then back around back. He’ll look in the fields and around the chicken house. Ill call him very quietly, and he dashes over to me like “stop scaring me like that”.

They do shed a lot, but when I built my house, I put tile down, and my furniture is leather, so its so easy to sweep, and no hair sticks on the leather.

My newest puppy all grown up, at age 2:

http://pic80.picturetrail.com/VOL2087/9176722/22853221/380529881.jpg

Here’s some videos on Youtube of training a sheltie puppy…doesnt get much better than this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FadoXcOBCzI

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GXfmtW5uSFg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TpHiw_vWACo

[Bluey]

One little detail I have not seen mentioned is that shelties face expression changes tremendously with the set of their ears.

While there are a few oversized shelties that have thick ears that will naturally fold, most have light ears that will stand up at attention.
Practically anyone that shows can show you how to, in puppies, add a bit of tape for weight on some ears, others you have to glue the ears down on the inside corner, hair to hair, for a bit, so the ears don’t “fly”, but grow with that cute fold that is the correct look for the sheltie as a breed.
That doesn’t bother the puppies any at all, they don’t even notice.
I is not necessary if you show in performance events, only if you want your sheltie to look like the pictures or show in conformation.

If your sheltie is a pet, that doesn’t matter, but if you get a puppy, that is a decision you will have to make, if to train for the ear fold or let the ears stand up.

The ear set will change the shelties expression considerably, if they fold or fly.

[JanM]

I’ve only met a few Shelties, and they were very shy and barky. However, that was in one small area, and I really bet they were related very closely. The few that I saw at shows in another state seemed like very happy, well-mannered little guys, who seemed much more outgoing. I think a lot depends on the breeder, and if they are breeding to improve the breed, or in it to produce the most dogs and make the most money.

[Lazy_Palomino_Hunter]

I hadn’t seen this thread!

I got a 10 week old sheltie pup at the beginning of October, but he isn’t my first sheltie. They can be great little dogs. A well-bred, well-socialized, well-exercised Sheltie is gorgeous and an absolute joy to live with. A bad Sheltie is a neurotic, anxious, and shy dog.

My first Sheltie, Jack, was a rescue. He was a great dog (I did obedience, agility, and junior handlers with him… and super pretty to boot), but he was epileptic and a bit of a problem barker.

If you decide to get a Sheltie pup, make sure you go to a really top quality breeder who aims to produce outgoing dogs. When looking at breeders, make sure you’re searching out folks who screen their stock for common breed problems (retinal atrophy, thyroid problems, hip dysplasia, Von Willebrand’s disease), as well as exhibit their stock in some fashion. Unless youre looking for a world beater agility prospect, I don’t consider the differentiation between quality working and conformation bred Shelties to be as drastic as in, say, German shepherds.

Different lines show greater consistency in adult size. I wanted a more substantial dog, so I got my guy from someone who breeds shelties that consistently stay are on the larger side (most of her dogs are 15-16 inches). Oliver is looking as though he’s going to end up in the 15.5-16 inch range.

Also, dogs aren’t born problem barkers… yes, shelties are talkative by nature, but they’re very trainable little dogs. As long as you intervene before barking becomes an ingrained bad habit, you can easily teach them to hush when told.

If you get a rescue pup, it’s extra important that you socialize, socialize, socialize.

My pup is now 20 weeks old. He’s never met anyone or anything he doesn’t like (especially kids- he LOVES kids), and he’s really bright. He was 100% housebroken at 11 1/2 weeks, is extremely reliable on his sit/down/stand/stay/recall commands, and walks delightful on a leash (walks right next to me and sits when I stop).

I did a lot of research before getting Oliver, so if you want information on about breeders, feel free to pm me!

ETA: Here’s a picture of my guy at 18 weeks

One more

[grayarabpony]

[QUOTE=halo;6011201]
I have 3 of them and can’t imagine my life without them. They are just the best dogs…the best. Wonderful in the house, smart, wonderful with the chickens, the horses, and love me to pieces. I would seriously die without them. I have no bark problems with them. When I say “no bark”, they stop. Just like that.

http://pic80.picturetrail.com/VOL2087/9176722/19304540/362110007.jpg

http://pic80.picturetrail.com/VOL2087/9176722/19304540/331449127.jpg

http://pic80.picturetrail.com/VOL2087/9176722/19304540/331449385.jpg

http://pic80.picturetrail.com/VOL2087/9176722/19304540/354818767.jpg

http://pic80.picturetrail.com/VOL2087/9176722/19304540/362110020.jpg[/QUOTE]

Hooooly crap those dogs are cute. LOL

[eventer_mi]

@ lazy Palomino Hunter - ADORABLE!!! I love a well-bred blue Merle. Such a beautiful dog.

[JanM]

Apparently on Cesar Millan’s show for the new season premiere episode there is a Sheltie that must have a problem with the owner’s Army uniform, because Cesar is wearing his uniform. I might have to watch this one. I suspect many of the more nervous and aggressive Shelties I have met were either from the pet store (which is of course a puppy mill animal) or from a mass breeding operation.

[threedogpack]

My neighbor has a Sheltie. She is a pretty dog to look at but when the puppies were small, we went to look at them (4 weeks). Mom disappeared under the couch…abandonded her babies to us. When we left, I told my neighbor I wouldn’t take one, but of course she did. This dog is shy (no surprise there), barky (probably a training issue) and will bite if provoked.

Temperament is highly heritable and this dog is always my first case example.

eta: this is not a slam on Shelties. I believe there are well bred, good Shelties produced by breeders who understand how to raise dogs that are stable and well tempered. This is simply an example.

[Lazy_Palomino_Hunter]

[QUOTE=threedogpack;6017992]
My neighbor has a Sheltie. She is a pretty dog to look at but when the puppies were small, we went to look at them (4 weeks). Mom disappeared under the couch…abandonded her babies to us. When we left, I told my neighbor I wouldn’t take one, but of course she did. This dog is shy (no surprise there), barky (probably a training issue) and will bite if provoked.

Temperament is highly heritable and this dog is always my first case example.

eta: this is not a slam on Shelties. I believe there are well bred, good Shelties produced by breeders who understand how to raise dogs that are stable and well tempered. This is simply an example.[/QUOTE]

And it’s an excellent example. A poorly bred Lab is likely to be excessively hyper, a poorly bred GSD is likely to be inappropriately aggressive… and a poorly bred Sheltie is, more than likely, neurotic and shy.

A well bred Sheltie is a fun, outgoing little dog. My sheltie, who is from some of the top breeders in the country, is downright gregarious. I honestly can’t imagine what would have to happen to make him hide under a couch!!!

I feel very strongly that, if a person is looking for a dog, their best bet is to get a puppy from a good breeder OR get an adult (with an established temperament) from a rescue (best case scenario, one that does extensive temperament testing). If someone decides to buy a purebred puppy, they should remember that the extra up-front cost up of buying a dog from a good breeder will be more than made up over the lifetime of the animal, in terms of vet bills, behavioral problems, and potentially enjoyability of the pet

I know others may disagree, but IMO, a puppy from a rescue is a poor choice for someone who isn’t a very experienced dog owner who is interested in potentially investing a LOT of time in the dog. Temperament is highly heritable, and I think playing with known elements (i.e., an established adult temperament, or knowledge that the parents were stable animals) makes the most sense for the average dog owner.

[dogchushu]

I grew up with a sheltie and have had two of my own. One was put down just over a year ago. Miss her every day. They are wonderful dogs.

DO go to a good breeder (as mentioned) and check the temperaments of the adults. Also, be sure to socialize a pup early and often, making sure it’s a good experience. My experience has been that they’re wonderful with everything and everyone if exposed at a young age.

Shelties who are socialized early can be very outgoing, brave, and friendly. Those who aren’t can tend to be shy, although they are very loving with their family.

They are smart little things who learn quickly and are great problem solvers. Great for learning behavior. Not so great for learning how to get into cupboards, trash cans, unrolling toilet paper… :lol: Seriously, they are a very smart breed and you’ll be amazed at how they figure out how to get that nose into anything good.

They are high energy, so be prepared to spend active time with them. The good thing is that they’re small, so you can throw a ball for them in a smaller yard and give them more exercise than a larger dog in that same space. Don’t forget mental stimulation (did I mention that they’re smart?). They love to learn new things.

Mine are barkers. All have learned “quiet” and learned it well. Most shelties are great with any command once they know what you want. They want to please. Sadly, I haven’t learned a command for “don’t even start barking.” So be warned that you shouldn’t leave them unattended in a yard for long periods of time unless you don’t have neighbors nearby.

Mine are just talky. If they’re happy and running with other dogs, they bark with joy. If they’re scared, they bark with fear. If they’re confused, they bark. If they’re bored, they bark. :rolleyes: Like I said, they know “quiet” and will shut up. But if starting to bark bothers you, that can be a problem.

They are double coated dogs and have the required grooming of such. There is a debate on whether or not it’s better to clip them in the summer or not. The debates can get pretty heated. Just be prepared for the fact that you’ll have to get rid of that undercoat in the summer or you’ll have a very hot dog.

Mine have been very food oriented (not all are) and are champion beggers. Friends who come over often find themselves sneaking that cute face some food. They are very cute and it seems so natural to sneak them some food. Don’t let them! It encourages begging (which they’re very good at) and shelties who carry a lot of extra weight can be at risk for arthritis and hip problems.

I’ll always have a soft spot for shelties because they’re so darned cute and they’re so incredibly trainable. They want to please, are smart enough to do so, and they look so cute while doing it!

[EquusMagnificus]

[QUOTE=Pcostx;6014221]
A good rule of thumb is this: Is the child is old enough to NOT hurt the puppy and to keep the sharp nails and baby teeth from hurting them in play?

Generally children under 5 or 6 regard puppies as a stuffed toy that does cool things (of course there are exceptions to this). Young kids have trouble relating to the fact that the pup is alive and can be hurt. Children like to carry puppies around and may drop them or squeeze them too hard hurting the puppy or causing the puppy to bite out of pain, fear or self defense.

Puppies have very sharp nails that can easily scratch a young child in play. They have sharp little baby teeth that they use like little Alligators when they play. Young children don’t know how, and aren’t capable of disciplining a puppy. Instead they scream and run which incites the puppy to give chase and grab at the fleeing child.

Children also hold their hands above puppies and wiggle their fingers in anticipation of pulling quickly back. Puppies interpret this as a sign to play a game called catch the fingers. It hurts when the puppy DOES catch a finger.

Children are also intrusive, they don’t know when to back off and leave a puppy alone.[/QUOTE]

Ok, but without starting a fight this all presumes that neither child or puppy is being supervised by a competent adult.

I was wondering if there was something particular; but what you state is just common sense for me.

[eventer_mi]

Yes, yes, YES to all those who say to carefully screen your breeder! The problem with any breed that has made the top 10 list for any time is that you have people who breed for profit or looks, and not for temperment. There are so many weedy, tiny, neurotic Shelties out there that they have given the breed in general a bad name. A well-bred Sheltie should NOT look like a whippet with a long coat, should be fairly friendly (a touch reserved with strangers, but NOT shy), and be somewhere in the 14" - 16" range. Any smaller, and you have health and behavior problems - any larger, and you are venturing in the collie range and have health problems with that (hip dysplasia, etc).

That double-stick tape works wonders. I love the “tulip ear” that is a breed standard on Collies and Shelties alike. My two have the sweetest faces and it’s hard to deny them anything. Keep those brains engaged, and they are wonderful dogs. If you don’t, expect them to find ways to entertain themselves.

[EquusMagnificus]

Aaaahh! It’ll be a long wait until we’re ready for another dog. :yes:

I’ll have to come back to ask questions about HOW exactly to tell a REALLY GOOD breeder, from an average one.

I know about horse breeding, not so much about dog breeding! :winkgrin:

[threedogpack]

[QUOTE=EquusMagnificus;6021318]

I’ll have to come back to ask questions about HOW exactly to tell a REALLY GOOD breeder, from an average one. [/QUOTE]

go look at the dogs. View as many parents/sibs/relatives as you can. Ask for references from people who have purchased dogs from the breeder. Actually watch the dogs interact with people and other dogs. A shy dog will be obvious. A dog who stops, studies the environment then makes the correct choice to come and greet you…is a more appropriate temperament. Dogs who are raised in a group, will have good dog/dog skills, they will avoid trouble but be willing to play with others.

Things that would turn me away

1. dogs that run away in fear or hide behind/under furniture/plants/outdoor construction (porch/decks etc)

2. dogs who threaten you as you approach

3. dogs who are either fearful of other dogs or overly aggressive.

4. breeders that don’t know what OFA/PennHip/CERF are.

Things that would make me evaluate carefully but not always turn away

1. dogs kept in kennels. I’d look to make sure they are clean and well fed. Being a kennel dog does not have to = a puppy mill but the dogs should be friendly and handled. Fancy kennels do not = great breeders and old kennels do not = bad breeders…clean and happy dogs are signs that they are well cared for, dogs eager to greet you would be a sign that they are socialized.

2. barky dogs…some dogs just have a lot to say. If the dog seems to be fearful AND barky…I’d look closely at the handling or lack of handling in the other dogs.

[eventer_mi]

Equus - good question.

Meet the mom. The mom should be friendly, if not golden retriever friendly - may be a little reserved at first, but should warm up to you. Do temperment tests on the pups - make a loud noise and see their reactions (drop something on the ground, like a book or a can of pennies, or clap suddenly and loudly), lift them a couple of inches off the ground and see how long they struggle (they SHOULD struggle, but then should just give in - those that don’t struggle at all are very submissive), roll a ball and see if they follow it, etc. You can look up puppy temperment tests online.

In general, a good breeder will NOT have both the mom and the dad on the premises - good breeders usually breed to stud dogs that they don’t have, as stud dogs take a lot of time to campaign and most breeders would rather campaign a female than a male. Not all, just most. Also, good breeders will normally not breed anything other than their chosen breed - be wary of those breeders who have multiple breeds of pups for sale. That usually (and I mean USUALLY) screams puppy mill. Most good breeders will have only one or two litters a year, and a lot of those pups are usually spoken for. They will also require you to sign a spay-neuter contract for those pups that are designated “pet quality”, and usually quiz you about your lifestyle, your experience, your family, etc. They CARE about where their pups go.

Luckily, for you, Shelties are a fairly easy breed to train and keep, and don’t require “experienced” handlers/trainers, like some other breeds. The dogs they have on hand should look like the breed standard - become well-acquainted with what a GOOD Sheltie should look like. here is an example of a quality Sheltie (just happens to be the breeder that I got my two from) http://www.barwoodshelties.com/Our_Girls.htm

here is a good website for choosing a quality pup: http://www.illinoissheltierescue.com/howtobuyapuppy.html

If the dogs look like this: http://www.wisheltierescue.com/ (the one on the far left and far right), then you have a poorly bred Sheltie who’s likely to exhibit all the negative traits of the breed.

Good luck!

[iechris]

I have a friend who breds and shows and does aglity and herding with her shelties. I stayed with her at the show this weekend and had one of her girls as my bed warmer. She lives on a large property and I know she takes almost her whole pack out for 5+ mile off lead walk/runs regularly. While her dogs are all show dogs, many of them herd and they all live around goats and do fine with them.

Shelties are one of those breeds I had a poor impression of, but my friend’s dogs really changed my attitude about the breed.

[Pcostx]

[QUOTE=EquusMagnificus;6019094]
Ok, but without starting a fight this all presumes that neither child or puppy is being supervised by a competent adult.

I was wondering if there was something particular; but what you state is just common sense for me. :)[/QUOTE]

So you’re trying to tell me that parents are able to watch their children AND their pets 100% of the time?

Sorry but I don’t think that’s humanly possible.

[alterness]

My mom has been breeding collies for thirty years, and has worked her entire breeding career to introduce non-carriers for CEA into the collie show population. We are just now starting to see a difference. I love collies, LOVE them. My mom has pictures of us riding them around like ponies when we were little, laying all over them, etc. They are probably the most tolerant dogs I’ve ever met, we never had ONE that would bite. When I went to college I took my female with me, two years later my condo association decided they weren’t going to allow dogs over 20lbs. anymore. My dog never barked, never. Like others have said, she blew her coat twice a year, and then just light brushing throughout the rest of the year. Anyway, I started looking at shelties. I lived alone at the time and really enjoyed having a dog with me. I never really thought of getting one until this point. I found a breeder a state away who bred for the show ring AND the agility ring. I ended up buying a female sable merle puppy who had champions in her immediate pedigree (sire, grandsire, damsire). I loved seeing the videos of her ancestors also doing agility. We got a deal on her because she had a partial blue eye, which isn’t accepted in the show ring.

Getting this dog was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. She is honestly my best friend. Don’t get me wrong, I still have two collies and I love them to pieces, but this puppy became MY dog. The only vices I’ve ever had with her was that she liked to chew on ME when she was teething. She didn’t want anything else I had to give her, just me. Finally, I was falling asleep to her chewing on my fingers and I impulsively, lightly bopped her on the nose. She has never bit, chewed, or done anything but give me kisses since. She actually “kisses” on command. It’s just an example of how trainable she is, I don’t think there isn’t a trick she doesn’t know. She is extremely respectful of the horses, follows me about my chores, is there in a second if I call her, gets annoyed when she can’t find me, and she never strays out of sight… All of that was intuitive, we didn’t have to spend much time teaching her about horses. She is by far the most devoted dog I’ve ever met. I don’t have enough good things to say about her, even my mom (the diehard collie fan) calls her the most perfect dog she’s ever met.

Yes, she does bark. However, she didn’t bark until she was six months of age and was dog sat by someone who had a very yappy shih tzu. It’s like a light went off in her brain! She mainly only barks when someone arrives, hears a loud thump, or when I go to the front door (back door means we’re going out to the barn, no need to bark then). She does stop when told. My girl can be a little shy of strangers, actually I think of it as more coy than shy… She will run up to them, turn around and walk away while looking over her shoulder, like “Don’t you care enough to try and pet me?” Once they’ve pet her once she’s all about figuring out how to get them to play with her. She also has played with my young cousins (ages 4-10), and she’s very very good with them. Basically just brings them her ball and then bounces around at a safe distance. If they get too rough she walks away and finds me.

In October, her breeder contacted me inquiring if we were interested in breeding my girl because she wanted a puppy and she knew my mom was a breeder. She had a male that earned his Canadian Championship and had points towards his American Championship. She said that before he went to the handler, he had sired a couple litters of puppies, was cautious around strangers, but great with people who cared for him, overall a friendly dog. After he came back to her from the handler, he was emaciated, infertile, and cowered from all people. She offered him to me to see if maybe getting him some groceries and some supplements could get him healthy again.

I ended up taking him and he has been very hard to socialize, but he has improved. He will come to me when called, is very attached to me, will give me kisses, etc. He will NOT come near men. He actually will stand in the next barn aisle over if my farrier, vet, or male family members enter the barn. He’s getting there though, when he first got here he wouldn’t even play with my girl, would just sit there looking around with the whites of his eyes showing. Even though I could tell he was terrified, he has never done anything aggressive. If he’s in his safe spot on the couch anyone can come up and pet him. At this point, I’d rather just get him healthy than worry about the fertility issues, but he is a very nice and athletic dog.

I second the playing with the ears when they’re teething. We only put a little bit of gum on the end of Elsie’s (my female) ears and hers are absolutely perfect. The male’s ears weren’t messed with at a young age and his were obviously braced for the show ring, I don’t really care that he has prick ears, but I know it annoys my mom.

Pictures! (Because who can help but to brag on their shelties?)
Randy (my male)
Elsie at 6 weeks
Elsie at a horse show
Elsie on vacation
Elsie with her “big sister”
Queen of the Hay!
Alright, last one…

[threedogpack]

Alterness she’s beautiful