Is a Sheltie Right for Me?

[Nackers06]

Thanks a bundle guys, your really starting to convince me about a Sheltie of my own Id probably be more focused on the obedience side of things but I definitely want a dog that's going to keep me busy, and I'm more after a companion and friend than just a pet dog.

I have one final question a lot of websites don't seem to answer though. As far as affection goes, at the end of the day will a Shelty veg out on the couch or curl up in bed with you after a days play/work together? I'm after an active dog, but one that will die like me at night!

 

[Justicemom]

obedience snob
hahahahaahah

I find that figuring things out for agility is hard work thinking, but would concur that short, intense training sessions are always key!

I admit that. LOL

But it is the figuring things out that is the key no matter what job you give them.

 

[Toffee's Mom]

Thanks a bundle guys, your really starting to convince me about a Sheltie of my own Id probably be more focused on the obedience side of things but I definitely want a dog that's going to keep me busy, and I'm more after a companion and friend than just a pet dog.

I have one final question a lot of websites don't seem to answer though. As far as affection goes, at the end of the day will a Shelty veg out on the couch or curl up in bed with you after a days play/work together? I'm after an active dog, but one that will die like me at night!

That's EXACTLY what I meant with Shelties having an off switch! lol
I am tending to agree with the ones that think most males are a bit more snuggly and affectionate, but that's probably bias, lol

Mr Toffee and I veg and snuggle together after a romp of playing ball or agility. He's also the kind of dog that loves to sleep in! When I let schizo kitty inside in the early morning, cuz she meowed at the window, he waits for me to come back to bed, asap! lol
If I don't come back to bed the odd occasion he slowly gets up, bed-hair and rumpled then he looks around, yawns and asks: "Like, what's going on today, Mom?" lol

 

[OntarioSheltie]

Thanks a bundle guys, your really starting to convince me about a Sheltie of my own Id probably be more focused on the obedience side of things but I definitely want a dog that's going to keep me busy, and I'm more after a companion and friend than just a pet dog.

I have one final question a lot of websites don't seem to answer though. As far as affection goes, at the end of the day will a Shelty veg out on the couch or curl up in bed with you after a days play/work together? I'm after an active dog, but one that will die like me at night!

All three of my shelties like to veg out at the end of the day and Sadie in particular wants to be cuddled by me, but Toby by far is the biggest suck. Sadie will eventually have enough of being touched where as Toby wants to be touched and fussed over 24/7.

I'm starting to think that its true, that males are more snuggly. Milo, my parents sheltie is a complete sucky/snuggle bug too.

 

[Justicemom]

Thanks a bundle guys, your really starting to convince me about a Sheltie of my own Id probably be more focused on the obedience side of things but I definitely want a dog that's going to keep me busy, and I'm more after a companion and friend than just a pet dog.

I have one final question a lot of websites don't seem to answer though. As far as affection goes, at the end of the day will a Shelty veg out on the couch or curl up in bed with you after a days play/work together? I'm after an active dog, but one that will die like me at night!

My guys sack out at night. Justice and Ember usually start on the bed and then move off to their kennels or the floor . Diva is a rock,she hits the bed and doesn't move until I move. She has to touch me during the night. I could lay there forever in the morning and they will snooze away but as soon as I lift my head or with Justice open my eyes they are up ready to go. The pups are still in their kennels but they go to sleep as soon as they are in there and don't wake up until everyone else does.

 

[Nackers06]

Thanks to everyone for their help, Ill visit some more dog shows and make sure Im making the right choise. Ill post some pics if I get a pup!

 

[BarbV]

Just need to chime in here....and maybe this was addressed already, but I missed it.....9 hours alone for a young puppy is too long, regardless of the breed. You will need to have some kind of arrangement to let pup out of the crate to do his business at least once or twice per day.

In my experience, Shelties are a great combination of high energy and couch potatoe. Active if you are, vegging when you are. If they have some pent up energy, they will expend it themselves by doing zoomies...guaranteed to be great entertainment for you as well.

To my vegging, though, and our Shelties will get fat, so some daily exercise is a must!

 

[ChargerOnDavins]

My dogs, (even my 2 and a half year old and 13 week old puppy) have an off-switch and turn off as well. My dogs spend much of their days lounging around, sleeping.

They do require a bit of exercise, too.

I also highly agree with the males being more cuddly and needy than the females. In my experience with dogs in general I find this to be true. Some people don't want a needy dog and find it annoying. I like my boys temperament better most of the time.

 

[Nackers06]

Just need to chime in here....and maybe this was addressed already, but I missed it.....9 hours alone for a young puppy is too long, regardless of the breed. You will need to have some kind of arrangement to let pup out of the crate to do his business at least once or twice per day.

I fully understand that 9 hours is a little too long, I'm actually trying to tee up a friends wife to help out with this.
My brother however has owned a whippet from a pup, and works 10+ hours a day without any problems. If you saw them together you couldn't pick which one the whippet was! My biggest concern now is that a Sheltie won't be able to go this long being such an intelligent breed, so its looking a bit out at the moment unfortunately

 

[BarbV]

While not ideal, 9 or 10 hours is doable. It really depends on what you do BEFORE and AFTER.

In my experience, Shelties swing between being couch potatoes and whirling dervishes....all in one day. As long as they have one good long outlet to let out steam, they are pretty happy to snooze the rest of the day away. Even when I'm home on weekends, they are pretty happy to just sleep while I go about my business.....(unless I'm changing beds, in which case they feel its their duty to help me smooth out the sheets by spreading their bodies out all over them).