Where are the Sheltie lovers?

[MaryBear]

Shelties are sweet, smart, loyal, devoted, funny, silkie...

[Jack Rabbit]

1. Right here!

Image from Dogs India.

[MaryBear]

2. Great pic.

Thanks. :hi:

[Maddy McCall]

12. Cute Cute Cute...looks like a mini lassie...

cute pups! I have never had one, but a friend of mine did. Great dogs.

[Dudley_DUright]

3. and great at Frisbee!

Only dogs I have ever owned.

[MaryBear]

4. I forgot to add that they are beautiful.

How could anyone want a different dog after living with a Sheltie? Well, maybe an additional breed for protection. Shelties are very good watch dogs. They stay alert so they know when to hide. They are wonderful companions, though.

[twilight]

5. I have one!

Actually I inherited this Sheltie. I think he is too fat - is 40 lbs. a lot for one? It was my mother's dog (she passed away last year).

Any suggestions on what to do? He is rather neurotic and can't be left alone for very long. Is this common?

He is 7 years old now and I take him to be groomed every couple of months.

Any insight appreciated!!! :)

twilight :)

[MaryBear]

6. It is common.

Actually I inherited this Sheltie. I think he is too fat - is 40 lbs. a lot for one? It was my mother's dog (she passed away last year).

40 pounds seems like a lot, depending on his height. Mine weighs less than 30, more like 23-25. There are Shelti sites on the web. Type "Sheltie" or "Shetland Sheepdog" in Google.

I'm sorry about your loss of your mother. Mine's been gone 5 years, and the edge is off, but I miss her very much, still.


Any suggestions on what to do? He is rather neurotic and can't be left alone for very long. Is this common?

They are very people oriented and need at least 15 minutes a day of direct interactive attention. Try brushing and talking to him. Does he "talk" to you?


He is 7 years old now and I take him to be groomed every couple of months.

Shelties are pretty much self-grooming unless his nails need trimming from not enough walking. Brushing helps with the shedding,, and the dirt comes off too.


Any insight appreciated!!!

I hope this helps a little. Feel free to PM me, or continue this thread.

[twilight]

15. Wow! Thanks for all the replies!

Re: The sheltie I inherited.

He is BIG no doubt ... I found out he weighs about 35 lbs. - not 40. He seems large compared to other pictures I have seen of them. He doesn't eat a whole lot and he has a touchy stomach.

He was in the kennel for 1 week when Mother first fell ill and I went and got him. He already knew me and the house luckily because he'd been here before.

He was very nervous at first but now he has settled in. He gets along very well with my 2 cats which suprises me.

I have taken him to the vet and the vet said he is overweight. I've got a large backyard that he runs around in everyday and sometimes I take him for a walk.

He has a HUGE mane - I mean HUGE.

Having him groomed every couple of months costs me $15.00 which is not a problem for me. I don't have a bathtub, just a shower. Luckily where I live it never gets hot.

My Mother spent the last 4 years of her life with him in the car all the time with her and she was driving around. :(

Originally, this sheltie belonged to my father who passed away in 1997. So, the dog and been around quite a bit.

I was rather amazed towards the end when my mother was close to death. He did not particularly want to go near her and was always in a rush to get back to my house with the 2 cats waiting for him.

I think I need to start walking him more to get the extra weight off of him (and me!).

Thanks again for your replies!! :)

twilight

[UTUSN]

7. All Dogs *Do* Go to Heaven

My faves are Cocker Spaniels, really ALL dogs. Currently, have got Lhasa Apsos, father and son (widower and widowee). When these die, I'm going to beget smaller, toy poodle or toy whatevers, like Snow Birds, so I can travel to DU World.

[MaryBear]

8. Shelties love to travel.

Mine went on a road trip with us to Oregon recently, and loved it.

[Rhiannon12866]

13. Ask your vet about his weight

this sounds a little heavy to me, but the shelties I have known have varied greatly in size. They also love to chase balls and go for walks! Great exercise!

A dog that has lost his person may become afraid he will be left again. If you read the other dog thread in this forum you will know that both of my dogs (a cocker and a Brussels griffon) were left homeless because their owner died. Both of mine need a lot of attention. I think that's natural until they can learn that you aren't going to leave them.

It's great you're taking him to be groomed regularly. It teaches him that you will return, plus it's really important to keep up their coats and get rid of the undercoat.

It sounds like you're doing a really great job! They love to play, though, and you might want to initiate more games, if that's something he would like! Good luck and good for you for taking this lovely dog. My guys weren't lucky enough to find a family member who cared enough.:-( But they did finally find me.:-)

[nuxvomica]

14. Take him for long walks

Shelties are very good at taking walks. They love it and can be easily trained to say with you. Mine didn't need a leash, even when there were other dogs around. The walking will satisfy your Sheltie's tremendous need for activity, companionship and approval. Plus, it'll bring his weight down in no time and make him less neurotic.

[nuxvomica]

9. My dog Andy was the best dog

A handsome tri-color, smart as a whip, extremely loyal. I posted a story recently about how he used to fake an injured paw whenever he got in trouble, which usually resulted from knocking over the kitchen trash can when he was left alone too long.
I love Shelties.

[MaryBear]

10. People who love Shelties

are good people. So, DU'ers who love Shelties are exceptionally good people.

My Sheltie is very good at hiding. When he does something he shouldn't do, he goes and hides in a far corner of the house.

[twilight]

16. thats what this one does too!

He hides in the smallest corners like he is afraid. He also hated the 4th of July fireworks. My husband had to stay up till after midnight 'holding his paw' because he was so freaked out.

He sounds just as so many here have described. I know he is a throughbred because my late father bought him from a breeder. But, he certainly isn't a small dog by a longshot!!

Cheers once again!!

twilight

[MaryBear]

17. Shelties are working dogs,

but they are herders not protectors.

$15 is a good deal for grooming, compared to prices here. Do brush him, though. You'll both enjoy it, and you'll be amazed at how much of his undercoat comes off.

Enjoy him! It sounds like he is already attached to you. You're his herd/pack, now.

[Rhiannon12866]

11. I love shelties! I have never owned one, but the three dogs I have

``dogsat'' in my life were, coincidentally, all shelties.

Andy was a tri-color, intelligent and sensitive, best friends with my little Cairn terrier. I could let him out, just leaving the door ajar and he would do his business and come right back in on his own. I could trust him that well. He would grab my pantleg and try to ``herd'' me! He had the most expressive face and we lost him all too soon.

Sunny was perfect. When I walked him, it didn't feel like a dog was at the end of the leash. He was a sweet boy and so beautiful. I think he was more physically perfect than any of the dogs I've seen in the Westminister show. He would do anything to please you and I still miss this gentle soul.

And there is also Bailey. She's leggy and has such a little pointy face. But she's a sweetheart. She wants to be on your lap or chasing her tennis ball. She will not give it a rest with that tennis ball! If you don't throw it, yet again, she'll move it a little closer, in case you happened to miss it! Such a smart girl!

What intelligent, great dogs these are. Yes, I love shelties!
:loveya: