considering a sheltie

M

Minniesmom15

Forums Regular
Hi there! Just joined today because I'm thinking about a sheltie. I've always loved australian shepherds, and someday will probably have one of my own, but there are a few things that have made me consider a sheltie instead for my first dog (on my own.. have lots of experience with family dogs, and also work at a grooming salon and dog daycare!) I have heard that they don't require QUITE as much exercise as an aussie and that they are okay in apartments, and I also love that they are a perfect size - small and portable but still definitely a DOG!
So I have a few questions, because I would love to hear directly from sheltie owners! How are they in apartments? How much exercise do they (on avarage, I know every dog is different!) require daily? How are they with other animals (I have two cats)? How smart/trainable are they? If they are very well trained, do people tend to trust their shelties off leash?
 
Welcome to the forum.


To anwser your questions

How are they in apartments? My first sheltie I had in an apartment he did very well. He was not much of a barker as a baby but he was a wild thing. My other dog was a very quiet dog so she didn't encourage him to bark. That in me opinion is the biggest issue with a sheltie in an apartment, the barking. Some are quite vocal some are not but all must be trained to not bark for tiny babies and not encouraged to be vocal if you are in an apartment.

How much exercise do they (on avarage, I know every dog is different!) require daily? Like you said depends on the dog- some shelties need ton of exercise but usually not as much as a bigger herding dog. I know alot of Aussies and none of my shelties touch them in exercise requirements. 1 good hour of walking, playing ball, running a day. But I found teaching them something/mental stimulate tires them out faster than anything physical. If I got 30 of training in a day, my guys are pooped.



How are they with other animals (I have two cats)? In my experience shelties are great with other animals ie cats. never had an issue with any shetlei with a cat. but they must be trained not to chase from tiny babies either by you or the cat.

How smart/trainable are they? If they are very well trained, do people tend to trust their shelties off leash? This is the sheltie strong point. They are super smart and super easy to train but they are so smart they can train their owners too so beware. 2 of my dogs are so smart it is scary and yes shelties can be trained to be off leash but you need to look for someone breeding for stable temperment because alot of shelties can be spooky and flighty as well as shy. That being said I hike with all off leash in the country, I do not take chances in town.

My best advise is look for a good breeder who raises their dogs in their home, socializes them , breeds for sound temperment as well as looks, and can help you find a sheltie that fits your needs.
 
wanted to chime in because we live in an apt and have been since we got our little guy, Gizmo, over a year ago. and he does just fine. when he is excited he barks a good bit. but we have never had any complaints about it. as far as exercise, until recently, we have never been able to wear him out :dead:. he will go and go and go and go all day long. i mean, we have to put him in his kennel for him to sleep. he simply will not sleep outside of it. though now that he is starting to mature (he will be 2 in feb) he is slowing down more, and will actually cuddle on my lap. as far as other animals, this summer we brought home a female great pyrenees puppy. they are GREAT together! they play a TON. she will actually wear Gizmo out. she is about 5.5 months old and about 50lbs now and they go at it pretty hard together when playing. but they are best friends. now cats, we need to work with him more on. he wouldnt hurt one, but he likes to chase them if they run away. we havent been able to have him around a cat that is familiar with dogs. but if you are able to work with them on a regular basis, i would say one should do just fine with cats. he also is amazing with my daughter who will be 3 in march. we got him when she was 18 months old, and he has loved her ever since. and he had never been around a child before her. he also loves my 3yr old nephew that is severely autistic. gizmo will play with him and let him hug him. he normally freaks other kids out that have never been around dogs because he likes to circle and bark when he is excited, but Damien loves it and just giggles like crazy. now as for the walking off leash, i dont know if we will ever really be able to do what with gizmo. he has a VEEERRRRYYYY strong chase instinct so we are still, after a year and a half, still working on not chasing cars and bikes and skateboards and joggers, etc etc etc.... he is def getting better, but we still have a LOOOONG way to go:rolleyes2:
 
Of course all dogs are different, but I think it helps if you get them young... Easier time adjusting, though that's not to say an adult wouldn't adapt well. My thoughts exactly about the size though, they're perfect! Not too big, not too small :yes: My little guy is doing very well in an apartment. I got him at 13 weeks (he's now 5months) and he came from a sheep farm, so the city was a huge change and he was terrified of everything for a while. I don't think he ever had to climb stairs before!

Anyways, as long as you can control the barking, they're great in apartments. They are very smart, and as mentioned, require lots of mental stimulation. As for off the leash, I've heard people say that it can be dangerous because they may chase cars. Our guy is great off the leash, doesn't chase anything that he shouldn't. We don't walk him around off the leash, but we allow him off at the park and he just stays fairly close. And with other animals - I have two rats that I let play with him sometimes. He LOVES them, folllows them around, paws at them, gently nips (they just ignore him mostly and keep scurrying around). :rolleyes2:
 
Shelby is not a "velcro dog" by any means. She is very independent and is very content just being by herself. Today she was in heaven just laying outside by herself watching the world go by. She does like to be petted and held but you have to initiate the attention. She rarely will sit with you on her own.

Our angel Hollie was a velco dog. She always had to be near us and by our side. She hated when my hubby and I were not in the same area. She would pace back and forth between the two of us until her pack was back together. Shelby could care less where anyone is.
 
Minniesmom15 said:
Are shelties considered "velco" dogs?
Click to expand...

I will say yes and no. They like to be with you, in the same room, maybe on the same funiture as you but they as a general rule are not smothering like say a Golden. They do not need to be touching you constantly(which I hate by the way). But a warning you will never go to the bathroom alone again.:smile2:

I call them watchers, they need to know where you are and what you are doing at all times when you are home.
 
Thanks everyone. Are they usually pretty affectionate? Also are they typically pretty independent or are you their world? One thing I love about Aussies is that, according to owners I've talked to, you are the most important thing in their world and they always like to be near you.
 
I think the way for you to go may be to contact a few breeders in your area about an older puppy who they were growing out for show who hasn't turned out that they are looking to place. Shelties are a hard breed to grow out and get something to keep and show so often breeders have puppies who have a minor fault available... like too big or too smalll or maybe their head hasn't turned out in one way or another.
 
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