Breed compatibility

L

larouquine

Forums Novice
I have a question regarding breed compatibility for the Sheltie. My boyfriend and I are going to be looking for a sheltie puppy probably closer to the end of the year. Further down the road, we've been talking about possibly also acquiring a labrador retriever (my boyfriend is in love with the breed but also had a Sheltie and is looking forward to getting another when the time is right).

From what I have read on the forums, several members have a lab and Sheltie and I just wondering how the two breeds seemed to get along together? Would it make a difference as to which breed we were to acquire first?

Thank you!
 
Personally I dont think Labs and Shelties are good matches because labs tend to be very bouncy and over the top and can easily injure a sheltie. My small female was injured by my neighbour's lab (by accident) and the vet said this is very common. She does, however, play fetch with several labs and goldies so they can be great together once the labrador grows up and settles down.

If you are planning on having the two breeds I would consider getting the lab first and waiting until they are over 2yrs when they grow a bit more common sense. Also some lines of labs seem to be bouncier than others so I would look for a calmer line. Even though my neighbour's younger lab is now 4yrs old we still can't leave them together unsupervised because the lab is still too bouncy.
 
I'm not sure -- I think it's individually dependent. Look at Cadbury and Merlin. Or Earnhardt and Mia and Jasper!
 
I agree...I think it CAN work, but it won't always work. I know there are several people on this forum who have labs who get along famously with their sheltie counterparts.

I also think that a great deal of it depends on the dogs' personalities, the involvement of the owners (who know when to step in and say "hey, you're being too rough), and the age of the dogs. I think it also helps for the dogs to "grow up together".

Our neighbor has a golden retriever, and my sister has a labradoodle, and in both cases, our dogs aren't huge fans. The dogs are big, boisterous, and of course very friendly...but they just don't play the same way our dogs do.
 
labs tend to have wrestling games and shelties are into chasing games... shelties often resent body slamming... if lets say you have older lab and young sheltie... but young lab... hmmm I would have my doubts... not that it can not be done but you have to know what you doing...
another thing I would caution against- herding breeds are often sensitive to staring and some breeds like pits or even any flat faced dog due to eye position may appear staring... might create some tension "Are you giving me an eye? I show you what for!"
 
Riley is not generally a fan of bigger dogs since they can bounce on him, lean on him, trample him, or possibly hurt him. He especially HATES the bouncing on, chewing on, and constant tries for wrestling that some labs and bully breeds do. We often have to protect him from dogs who are trying to play, but are being too intense and rough. BUT there are certain medium/smaller labs that he will play chase with, but they have to be the right temperament. One of his best buddies is a goldendoodle, it she is really mellow ands happy to play chase games. He also loved playing with a borzoi (it was a super high speed chase!!)

Other than the few large dogs he will play with, Riley lets the other large dogs know his feelings with a little teeth showing, and will tell off a large dog who tries to climb on top of him. But he LOVES smaller dogs (especially puggles and white fluffy dogs) and will let them climb all over him, wrestle, chase, and chew on him. He had a 6 month old mini dachshund constantly try to hump him and use his ruff as a tug toy the other day and Riley would just patiently walk away, then go back to try to play chase again.

Oh, I forgot to add that while he is super good with puppies, he does not like certain bouncy large breed pups, as he got chewed on pretty good by a young 4 month old pitbull pup who was trying to play with him. They were the same size/weight but the pup played too rough and kept trying to grab and chew Riley's ears (left a couple of scratches in them)
 
Last edited:
My parents and my brother have Labs. They are 10 and 11 yrs old. My shelties get along fine with them. They don't play a whole lot though and Justice and Ember really do not like being body slammed. If they are willing to run around fine.

Diva loved the rowdy labs in her puppy class. There were 3 of them and she would tackle them and roll around with them as she got older and they got bigger, she was not as thrilled. But she just started to play the catch me if you can games and she was so fast not a one could touch her if she didn't want them to.
 
I'm with Caro....if you want a lab and a Sheltie, get the lab first and let it mature and settle. As pups they can be a handful and too much for a Sheltie.

When I was doing puppy school, I tried to keep Bacca away from the labs....they were just too much. However, my parents had an older lab and he would just lay down and let the Shelties crawl all over him.

Michele's Earnhardt is also older, and I'm thinking that's why they all get along! (Good training also helps, of course!)
 
I just thought of something. Koji's first "girlfriend" was a boisterous young lab. However, the difference is this.....the lab would run run run. And Koji LOVED LOVED LOVED to chase her. I think if she played like the typical lab aka rough housing, he'd hate it. But because all she did was run, and he chased, it was a match made in heaven (well, at least on Koji's side).

The important thing to remember is that Sheltie's don't typically play like labs typically do (as many said). Shelties like to play chase. My two will rough house a bit, but rarely do they do it with other dogs. Actually, I've never seen my older dog do it with anyone but my younger one.

Good luck with whatever you choose. Sounds like a lab should come first. :)
 
I dont know if this will help but I agree with everyone else - lab first and sheltie later if you wanted both. I too have kept my sheltie away from the lab during our days at training classes. Not because the lab was aggressive or anyhting liek that, but it LOVED to bounce. Others may have seen my posts and updates on our training but yes, there was a golden lab that was HUGE and lean and loved to jump straight up like 4 feet high it seemed and slammed down. It was cute but even the female owner had trouble controlling the lab because it was sO bouncy and jumped on her every few seconds. Even our trainer had trouble handling her lab for her because the lab was just so strong and would pull and jump up and jump ON you continiously. I've also known a friend who had a lab and everytime I Was over the main thing I noticed was how STRONG it was. From simply wagging its tail and but, it was enough to knock me over. I find their personality a lot different from a shelties and also agree that they don't make the perfect match - sure, workable but mmm it'd probably be tough. Best of luck if you get both!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top