Only likes to play with other Shelties

S

Sass'smom

Forums Regular
She has been to puppy, basics, obedience, advanced obedience training - we also have 2 other dogs that are not Shelties. Despite all the scoializing to other stimuli, she will raise a lip,snarl, and snap at other dogs, unless it is another sheltie her size. Oh, one other thing - she is the boss in this household.

Thoughts/opinions/ideas welcomed.
 
Hi and welcome to the forum! Shelties are notorious snoots :cool: -- they seem to like Shelties best. After that, they like other herding dogs, especially Corgis and Collies.
 
Hi & welcome aboard! Our Duncan is a bit stand-offish with other dogs, especially those bigger than him. He enjoys the company of dogs his size. Some dogs, regardless of breed, just never open up with other dogs. Sass' snapping could be a concern, though, especially in public. Has she ever been attacked or hurt by another dog?.. or is there some other reason for her to so vigorously reject the attention of other dogs?
 
My last sheltie was like that. He did not care for anyother dog other than shelties. My two now love other dogs. I think it just depends I guess. Shelties are known to be 'stand-offish' with other breeds.
Now about her being the boss, I think it would be in your best interest to establish yourself as the boss. It will be easier for you to control her then, especially her snapping in public.
 
Tully only likes dogs that are much smaller than her - and given she is 13" there arent that many. I figure it is the sign of a timid dog. Tully feels most confident around dogs that dont tower over her and which are docile (Tully has been attacked several times). The only big dogs she is ok with are rough collies, dogs she knows really well and my other sheltie. When we are away from other dogs, esp bushwalking, or at home or chasing balls she is super confident.

Try using some of the techniques for shy/timid dogs - esp distracting her when you are near other dogs. Tully's 'red zone' is huge (the distance I can walk her near another dog) - I have a squeaky ball to distract her from barking and lunging at other dogs.
 
Thanks for the comments and ideas. Definitely will try the distraction - oops - probably should have noted that she is the boss of the other dogs in the house.

I had been her "boss" from the beginning - to the point where she would not listen to any other humans in the house. She is getting a little better with that though.

Another question - she will not eat unless I am with her. She really seems to be a one owner gal.
 
Aztec really likes most any other dog. (Unless they are a lot bigger than him)

But he does prefer shelties over any other breed. (He likes collies too...I think he just keeps hoping he will grow to be that big)
 
Mine like all other dogs too, unless they are really really big, then they are a bit more shy at first. But it is funny how they 'know' and like other shelties above all other dogs! They seem to sense their own. They also prefer other herding breeds, especially border collies!
 
I'm sure dogs recognise their breed, I don't know how they do it, but you can see it in their manner. Cadbury reacts completely differently to another lab, or even another gundog, than he does to a smaller dog or something like a collie.

Someone once suggested it could be because breeds have diverged so much that their actual body language is different. So for instance, a collie's body language is very different to a lab's body language, and this can mean they don't always understand each other as they don't speak the other's language, which might explain why sometimes they react badly to each other.

Well, its an interesting theory if nothing else.

Sass'smom I would suggest finding a trainer who will work on desensitising Sass to other dogs - it doesn't mean she'll want to play with them, but if you can work so she will not feel the need to snap and snarl I suspect she shall be a happier dog. Good luck :smile2:
 
Thanks for the information - trying to find a trainer that will help with desensitization is difficult in this area. Most trainers in this area focus on basic, obedience, etc in which we have done already. I have been thinking about just doing the advanced obediences over and over. But she is very independent, like when you work on recalls, she will come but will prance towards you instead of running at you.

Labgirl - I can understand about the different breeds, our other 2 are gun dogs. When we take all running, she like to herd the boys in to the grass to hunt. She then waits for them to come out and herds them back in again. This is comical to watch.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top