If you didn't own shelties...

Lovely said:
Barb, I think we have very similar tastes! King Charlies are so sweet and just love, love, love. Same with Papillons (at least every one I've met). I love that Pierre is our tiny little snuggle man. If we are feeling snuggle-neglected from the Shelties (doesn't happen often), Pierre is happy to nose his way onto a lap.

My hubby wanted a Mini Eskie over a Sheltie, but I convinced him (or rather, the squirming puppies did)! I think they are beautiful and sweet, but I didn't really like that they were circus dogs. For some reason, they didn't seem serious enough.

A few others I like:

Border Collies. I like a working dog very much. That intensity is awesome, I just don't have the time or space right now.

Standard Poodles. Not to give crazy haircuts too, but I've known some awesome Standard Poodles who are smart, receptive, and just amazing.

Great Dane. They are so beautiful and sweet, but they just don't live long enough. Not to mention the space issue!

That being said, I love my Shelties and am totally devoted to this breed.
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I've always liked Standard Poodles as well (if left naturel). I think they are amazingly smart dogs, just too big for my lifestyle.
 
BarbV said:
I've always liked Standard Poodles as well (if left naturel). I think they are amazingly smart dogs, just too big for my lifestyle.
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I have 3 Std. Poodles in my utility class and 2 in my Open classes. Truely smart great working dogs. Like you Barb too big for my at this point in my life.
 
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Rough Collie
Golden Retriever
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
Papillon
American Eskimo

Right now I have German Shepherds, Shelties, and a Pomeranian.

We used to have a Boston Terrier, Peke/pood mix, and more German Shepherds.

Shelties are by far my favorite!
 
just want to clarify my Corgi option- Cardigans not Pembrokes. gotta have a tail :wink2: and Cardigans come in merle so pretty colors to make a corgi rainbow :yes:
 
Can't remember if I posted on this thread or not, there's be so much going on this past week. If I did, forgive me.

If not a Sheltie, it would be a golden retriever or an Aussie or a border collie, not necessarily in that order.
 
Phebe*DD said:
I've always loved Belgian Tervuren and Belgian Sheepdogs. I also might consider a Pyrenean Shepherd, but only after I have at least 3 Shelties in the house, 5 acres and I'm independently wealthy, so I can spend all my time playing with the dogs.
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My HR Director has two Belgians....gorgeous dogs, and one just got his Championship!
 
Justicemom said:
I like cavs and tollers too. What cross them off my list:

Like Danigoat said I didn't think the Cavs are rugged enough for the outdoors. The ones I knew were loving but like their comfort.

Tollers is was the scream. :lol: Oh my. I'll take shelties barking any day over that. A friend who has a small training school next to his home has a bunch of them 10 or so. We went to use his building for training and as we pulled into the yard, my friend says what is the aweful noise. It sounds like dogs are dying. Those are the Tollers.:lol:
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I never knew that about them! Too funny!
 
So there seems to be some consistencies here:

- Cavaliers
- Papillion
- Golden's
- GSD
- Rough Collie
- American Eskimos
- any other herding dog: Borders, Australians

So the next question is: What is it about this short list that is relates back to why we have Shelties instead of the others? What are the similarities between Shelties and these other breeds that appeals? Or is it the dissimilarties that appeal?
 
BarbV said:
So there seems to be some consistencies here:

- Cavaliers
- Papillion
- Golden's
- GSD
- Rough Collie
- American Eskimos
- any other herding dog: Borders, Australians

So the next question is: What is it about this short list that is relates back to why we have Shelties instead of the others? What are the similarities between Shelties and these other breeds that appeals? Or is it the dissimilarties that appeal?
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Here are my thoughts on this, as I was wondering the same thing.

First of all, goldens and GSDs are in the top 5 most popularly registered dog breeds. I think that accounts for part of it.

I looked at the rest of the list and find that there are a couple categories that they fit into. First of all, collies, GSDs, herding dogs, and even eskies, are all some type of working dog. Also consider that goldens, shelties, GSDs, border collies, and papillons are in the top 10 smartest breeds. Collies are not far behind (14, I think). (Eskies were not rated, Aussies and Cavs are in the 40s).

I also think size plays a role. Shelties, cavs, papillions and eskies are in the same height range.
 
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