Behavior changes when 2nd Sheltie moves in?

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Lacey'sMamma

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When we got Lacey, we already had our 10 year old maltese. He is extremly slow and very grouchy. He usually hates puppys but he just ignored Lacey and pretty much still does. She is always wanting to play with him and he just snaps at her to leave him alone. So Lacey is pretty much all by herself. We wont consider getting another dog till Mickey, our maltese has passed. Im just curious as too, when you bring that playful sheltie puppy home to a playful adult sheltie, does the adult's mood change? Do they become noticably more happy? Do you find most of the time they bond almost instantly? Does your adult become more jealous? ect. ect.

Just in general what was your expirence and would you recommend always having 2 shelties to keep eachother company?

I feel Lacey would be happier having a companion but I would like to hear what you all have to say. Thanks in advance for sharing!
 
I think that I will always have at least two shelties. My experience may be a little different from yours because my first dog was not very playful/active. He is only 3, but he is like an old dog in a young dog's body. Bringing a second sheltie home has totally changed him... in a good way. The two of them play quite a bit, and they love chasing each other around. My little one has also taught him how to play with toys (which he never did before). He is much more active than before, and is even more cuddly than he was before (learned from his sister).
 
I have four -- it just keeps getting better. Bits and Layla are nearly the same age. When we added Annie Laurie, she blended right in. Adding Beckon was like adding a recurring explosion! But when one gets fed up woth him, there are three others to take up the slack. The patterns are:
Early morning: Beckon and Annie race around the bed barking and playing -- but don't bother Annie after 8 pm.
Walking outside: Beckon and Bits try to knock each other over and love to explore in the woods. Other times, Bits snarls at Beckon if he bothers her.
Randomly in the house: Beckon can always count on Layla for a tussle -- except in the early morning when the Diva is sleeping in.
 
Well, I wouldn't exactly say that Sadie welcomed Ginny with open arms, but she was VERY good about it. We brought Ginny home when she was 9 weeks old and she was a VERY tiny puppy. Sadie really didn't know what to do with her at first and didn't seem to understand why she was in our house. Sadie then went through a very brief insecure period before accepting Ginny. Sadie was 2 when we got Ginny.

Sadie wasn't as welcoming with Toby, but she'd also been through a lot in previous months. She wasn't miserable with Toby, but was very unsure of him and VERY insecure. But again, it didn't take her very long to accept him, especially since Toby is EXCELLENT with Sadie and never knocks her down. Ginny was welcoming right from the start.

My pack has its little spats, they grumble at each other from time to time and some times compete for my attention, but in general they are very happy.

I think in general dogs do better in at least twos, but it depends on the dogs. As you mentioned, your maltese is grumpy and doesn't like other dogs, so for a dog with a similar personality I wouldn't be looking for a companion animal, I'd keep him/her alone.
 
I have 4 sometimes 5 shelties here. Ages 8.5yr, 5 almost 6yr, 2.5yr and 5.5 months. Each sheltie has love the new comer almost instantly and played with they since the beginning. Well all except Ember when I got Diva but Ember is just like that. They are really good friends now.

Between my friend and I we have 10 shelties and visiting ones that come and go. There has never been any issues with them getting along in one pack except one visiting girl who thinks she owns the whole. I just think shelties get along with other dogs really well.
 
When Bacca was 10 months old, I decided it was time for a companion. I brought home Ginnie, who was a 3 year old female. Bacca thought she was wonderful, but Ginnie didn't think much of him.

So one week later we exchanged Ginnie (sounds terrible, doesn't it?) for Indy, who was also 10 months old.

I can't say they are always best buds....but they sure do like to play and chase. It makes me feel alot less guilty in the winter time when I can just the boys out into the yard and they can burn off energy.

When Bacca was off his food, there were food issues (Indy kep trying to steal it, and as a result became somewhat aggressive over food....but even that is resolved now). And there is nothing funnier than watching the zoomies or them wrestling each other around. When one goes to far, the other one is quick to say "enough".

I think I will always have at least two.
 
I think Shelties generally love the companionship of other Shelties.

I will probably never have "just one" again. They get too much out of the relationship of the other Shelties.

I would not hesitate on getting another (although my DH my have something else to say about that :lol:).
 
danisgoat said:
I think Shelties generally love the companionship of other Shelties.

I will probably never have "just one" again. They get too much out of the relationship of the other Shelties.

I would not hesitate on getting another (although my DH my have something else to say about that :lol:).
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With 6 shelties there is always someone to play with...Its like having a built in day care some days though there are toys strewn about my family room, and back yard, which is mud at this point!:lol: I can say from going to just having one sheltie all the way up to my current 6 i'd always have multiples. They really do enjoy each others company.
And I can honestly say as im sitting here typing im watching Six, Tucker and Noah playing chase out in the yard, its like Multitasking!! :lol:

Danielle funny my dad was walking around muttering today who can we sell, who can we sell...under his breath(because hes panicking that im leaving dogs in his care while I go to nationals)...my mom speaks up and says well I just dont have the money right now to pay someone to take you so thats just not gonna work! :)lol
 
I can truly say Romeo is happier with Juliet. Yes, in the beginning he thought his world had come to an end, and that she was the most annoying thing ever, but he's grown to love her and play with her and I would see his playful side come out (which I thought had somehow disappeared). He's also become more tolerant of annoying pups and his playfulness comes out quicker with other dogs (doesn't take him 2 weeks to warm up anymore!).

Juliet would probably love a more active and playful sibling though coz Romeo just doesn't play as much as she does! :lol: Which is where foster pups come in!
 
When our first Sheltie was 13 we got Maggie and Lady was not to thrilled but she got used to her and they played. Sadly they were only together 7 months when Lady passed away. Then we got Katie when Maggie was 4 and she was not thrilled at all but did decide it was okay to play with her after 2 weeks.
They had their moments of jealousy and fighting. Then we lost Katie when she was 8 to cancer.She missed Katie and looked for her for 2 weeks after she died it was heart breaking. Fast forward to Zak's arrival ,Maggie was 13 and it only took her a few days to adapt to this new boy, she never once went after him as she did with Katie. She has learned to play again and seeks out his companionship. She has changed so much with him. He has been the perfect match for Maggie. She does not mind us loving on him or having him in bed with us. He in turn just adores her. I can never just have one.
 
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