Sheltie or Golden!?!?

M

M20S

Forums Novice
Posted same thing on another forum just would like to hear from Sheltie owners.

A few months ago I was 100% certain that a Golden was for me, now I'm reconsidering. I have researched a ton about both breeds, they seem quite different but still for me. If anyone has had a Golden Retriever please help. I won't be getting a dog for a long time but, best to start early I want to make the right choice. I have met a Sheltie and she was the sweetest thing! And have met Goldens too which just melt my heart! I understand that each dog is different though. I'd get both if I could but... can't. I want the best for the pup and I want to make sure I can provide a good life for them. We have a house and a yard, and another place with acres of land. There is not much of a problem for exercise, lots of parks around, hiking trails. Grooming both breeds takes time, I can do that, again not much of a problem. To me the only differences I see are that Shelties bark a lot more and are smaller. Both are very beautiful!! I would like to hear what ya'll think. Thanks
 
Sheltie or Golden

I say sheltie but the choice is yours.My girlfriend raises Goldens and hers are so sweet.I house sit for her at times and have a blast with her girls and my two boys.She has lost goldens to cancer at young ages.That is the only thing that steers me away from them.
 
Goldens are really sweet dogs. We have some friends with them, and they are really nice. They want attention, and are friendly with everyone. Not very loyal, but that's not always a bad thing.

I tend to think they are usually a bit sillier than shelties.

My dogs are stand offish with strangers, want to be near you but are happy to just lay down and relax (eventually!), and are pretty serious about their work (protecting the house, doing agility, etc...)

I would not want a golden as they are a little too friendly for me (sounds weird, I know) but they are really nice, happy dogs.
 
Welcome to the forum. I live with a sheltie and work with a golden-vets office. Goldens are more outgoing than shelties for the most part, but both breeds are very tuned into their owners. To me goldens seem a bit needy with their masters although my girl Sally follows me, she is not underfoot but keeping track of me-watching, guarding me and I like that. I like the alert bark she gives me when someone is coming up to our house and how she lets me know the deer are outside etc. However, she does like to talk (bark) but will quiet down when I tell her to . The barking can be an issue with shelties, but I had a mixed breed that was worse...I have noticed with goldens recently that there are some agression issues showing up-not sure what that is about, but I do have to mention it. Just snappish and sassy not acually attacking, maybe aggressive isn't the right word- overly mouthy would be the term.In a breed that is to have a gentle mouth this tendency is not good. Maybe the golden blogs would have insight on why. My sheltie doesn't have that issue...she loves tug and fetch and interaction with my DH and me and a daily walk is a must for both of us-gets rid of all that static buildup. Both are great companion dogs-shelties usually live longer...both need regular grooming and to me sheties don't smell as much as goldens but sheltie grooming takes longer...shelties eat less food=less poop/pee and meds and ops are cheaper cause they are smaller. Most goldens are in need of anti inflamatories as seniors because of hip/arthritis problems.Both breeds are eager to please and beautiful dogs, I just happen to be partial to my sweet sheltie girl .
 
I love, love, love goldens but I don't love the smell that most of them have. They have a tendancy to strong doggie odour due to the oils of their coat - remember they are water dogs. Some don't have the odour as bad but my luck I would get a really good coat and the smell that goes with it. The idea of having to bathe it often throws me off. They do shed a lot and many are turned into rescue because of people that don't want to deal with the hair - foolish I know but Golden Rescue and I had a long discussion about it. They do have their own list of health issues but then what breed doesn't? There is a tendancy for everyone and their brother to breed them as they are sooooo popular so be careful finding a breeder to work with.
Shelties have a lot of coat to deal too and some shed a lot, others not as much. They can be "talkative" and are the most sensitive breed I have ever worked with. They are also extremely smart and so you have to outsmart them at times. The nipping you often hear about excused as herding - is a behaviour that is not allowed with people in our house and none of our herding dogs keep it up past early puppyhood. While teaching the no nipping rule your legs and feet are fair game but my westies played the same game and learned it wasn't acceptable with the cats, the humans or each other so teaching a herder, a breed that wants to work for you, really is an exercise in perserverance.
Shelties are more portable than goldens but both breeds are great. Good luck in making a decision. Mine was made for me when Tin came to our home last year and I have never regretted saying yes to fostering him and yes to adopting him.
 
I had a Golden for a few years. Affectionately called"Goldie Big Dog," she came here as an adult dog that was placed with me as foster and ended up staying. She was very sweet and friendly with everyone, absolutely adored kids. She was very well behaved, never did anything bad, but had stubborn streak on occasion. If you asked her to do something and she didn't want to, she'd just lay down and give an "I don't think so" look. She was huge so there wasn't much you could do about it. She developed arthritis in her front knees when she got older. We had to build a ramp for her to get in and out of the house, she was too big to carry up and down the stairs several times a day.

She was quicker to groom than my Shelties but I have to agree that if not bathed often she had a strong doggie odor and when she was shedding there was hair everywhere. If you can do grooming/bathing yourself it's fine but if you need to see a groomer it can get pricey. Big dogs cost more for everything.

I grew love to my Goldie and do not regret keeping her but given the choice I would choose a Sheltie even with the barking and other funny little quirks that they have. My golden was a people lover but I wouldn't say she was a people pleaser like my Shelties are.
 
Goldens or Shelties

I'd say either breed, just make sure whoever you get has a similar enery level as you. Shelties do bark a lot, are generally standoffish with strangers which I like. I have never had to train any of my Shelties not to jump on people. Goldens loooove people so much, they can be a challenge to train not to jump. I like the smaller size of the Sheltie. But both breeds are easy to train. I like the seriousness of the Sheltie, but some people like more of an outgoing clownish dog, which Goldens tend to be. If you are an introvert, I would go with the Sheltie. If an extrovert, then the Golden.
 
Interesting question!

Comparing Shelties to Goldens is like comparing apples to oranges! That's not to say that they don't have some comparable traits. They do.

I suggest you take a big step back and think long and hard about what you want in a dog.

Size is the first differentiator. If you want a smaller dog, then a sheltie is a good choice. Ifyou want a dog that can dust yourm coffee table with his tail, then Golden for sure

Grooming? Both breeds need lots of it. Shelties for the undercoat....Golden's for their dander.

Personality? That depends... There are the general traits, and then their are the the individual traits.

Shelties tend to bark
Golden tends to chew
etc. etc.
 
corbinam said:
Goldens are really sweet dogs. We have some friends with them, and they are really nice. They want attention, and are friendly with everyone. Not very loyal, but that's not always a bad thing.

I tend to think they are usually a bit sillier than shelties.
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I would agree with this. My in laws have a golden and frankly I like our Sheltie more. Compared to Shelties, Goldens are just so much larger and can be a bit of a bull in a china shop- especially their tail. Also, the ILs' golden tends to drool and be more pushy.
Both shed like crazy, both bark but Sheltie barks are high and carry and Goldens are loud and low, Shelties are more portable while Goldens are supposed to be smarter, I found Shelties in general easier to train.

I like Sundance's response.
 
We have friends that have always had Goldens and to me they shed way more than a sheltiej, a different type of sheddding. Hair is everywhere. The one they have now gets bored easy and chews every thing. She is very friendly but as Goldens do she loves to jump on people and they have not taught her not to beg. But like Barb said they are a different breed and it is like comparing Apples to Oranges. My choice is Shelties all the way.
 
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