My first Sheltie is this normal?

Thanks guys for all the great advice. I have no idea what her past was but I do know that she wasnt potty trained and didnt know how to go upstairs when I found her so she was definitely a total outside dog. The way she bonded with me and the way she acts around me and Buddy makes me think she wasnt abused but maybe just neglected and not socialized with people but I think she was defintely around dogs.

When we first got her she wasnt as timid and I think she didnt know who to love or where her home was and then when she started bonding with me and thinking of this as her home she decided that everyone else was a stranger LOL. My hubby doesnt wear a hat but he works long hours and is not home a lot right now and I think that is why she is leary with him but I do see some improvement. She sneaks behind him everywhere he goes and as long as he doesnt look at her or try to pet her she will stand right beside him so I think she will eventually bond with him as well but probably not as much as me since I spend so much more time with them.

The play date didnt go as good as I would have liked. My friend Sarah had actually watched Siera for a week only one week after we found her because we had a trip to Canada planned. She bonded with Sarah and her two girls pretty well then but she wouldnt have anything to do with Sarah or Sarah's little puppy. I think she would have played with the puppy but she was too busy keeping an eye on Sarah. I finally had Sarah get out Siera favorite toy and squeak it and she did kind of play even though it was guarded. I will just keep trying to socialize her and maybe some day she will feel more secure.

The good thing is that she is actually very happy and playful. Her and Buddy are best friends and play so well together. She is always giving me kisses, playing with me and loves to snuggle and sleep on me as well.

I have never had a shy or scared dog so I thought 3 months would be plenty of time for her to feel more secure with other people but I think with her breed and questionable past that it will just take more time.

Thank again everyone.
 
What a beautiful story. Good on you for taking her on. Given the way she turned up it sounds like she is doing incredibly well.

As for the breed - yes well they can be a little quirky. Mine have taken on the task of protecting the cat from birds and my male thinks its his job to protect the neighbourhood from airplanes. So maybe Sierra has decided her job is to keep an eye on those birds, wouldnt surprise me. I always say you need a sense of humour to have a sheltie - they are such little characters.
 
Just another question?? I have been looking at the beautiful pics of your Shelties and realize they have so much more fur than my little girl. Do some Shelties just have thinner fur than others? She was matted when I found her and I did have to do a lot of combing and a little cutting and they did cut some hair when they spay her but she definitely has a way more thin coat than all your dogs. It doesnt really matter I was just wondering. I dont think this has anything to do with it either but she is very small and only weights 12 Lbs.

PS: The vet said she was healthy so I dont think that has anything to do with it.
 
cmarsh4 said:
Just another question?? I have been looking at the beautiful pics of your Shelties and realize they have so much more fur than my little girl. Do some Shelties just have thinner fur than others? She was matted when I found her and I did have to do a lot of combing and a little cutting and they did cut some hair when they spay her but she definitely has a way more thin coat than all your dogs. It doesnt really matter I was just wondering. I dont think this has anything to do with it either but she is very small and only weights 12 Lbs.

PS: The vet said she was healthy so I dont think that has anything to do with it.
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It can really depend on the pedigree of the dog. You'll see some dogs on the forum that have a lush, thick coat, and others that have thinner, sleeker coats.
 
Domino also has a pretty thin coat compared to many shelties I have seen - it just makes it easier to brush!! I think there can be many variances in the coat in terms of thickness and coarsness.
 
she also might have blown her coat if she had puppies recently? or just blown her coat in August as they more less normally do?
Some do have lush coat and some do not, depends on the dog.
 
cmarsh4 said:
Just another question?? I have been looking at the beautiful pics of your Shelties and realize they have so much more fur than my little girl. Do some Shelties just have thinner fur than others? She was matted when I found her and I did have to do a lot of combing and a little cutting and they did cut some hair when they spay her but she definitely has a way more thin coat than all your dogs. It doesnt really matter I was just wondering. I dont think this has anything to do with it either but she is very small and only weights 12 Lbs.

PS: The vet said she was healthy so I dont think that has anything to do with it.
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You might find now that she is spayed she will get a fuller coat. Hormones really cause a lot of coat turn over. Ember had a pretty light coat and then she was spayed at 2.5 yrs and she didn't really lose coat for 2 yrs. Now she is a wooly beast. :lol: Just blew her coat and still has more coat than all the other 6 shelites my friend and I own.

Some lines(genetics) also have smaller or bigger coat. Some get coat younger than others some take until 3 or 4yrs to get the full coat. My dogs tend to mature late and carry lighter coat(more fitted) than some do.
 
I am certainly no expert, but I guess as long as Sierra has you and Buddy to love and trust, getting to trust your hubby will come with time. I did read once that male voices, being in a lower key, sometimes sound like growling and that puts off some of our lttle shelties. I've started talking in a high pitched voice with Pia and she has certainly bonded more with me since then - maybe coincidence though:winkgrin: Sierra and Buddy look fab'.
 
I know from having two shelties,both half brothers,thier coats are toally opposite from one another. The youngest is 10-1/2 months,and his coat is thick,lush,very course.He looks like a puff ball.

Trapp the oldest is 14-1/2 months,is just starting to bulk up in his coat.He had virtually no undercoat at 12 months of age.He was quite sleek,up until lately.

I think weather plays an important part,and defineatly the lineage of the dog.Some mature quicker than others.If they are spayed or neutared,again that plays another factor as well.
 
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