Thinking about a sheltie puppy, already have a mini schnauzer

J

jhwyung

Forums Novice
Hi everyone,

My wife and I are debating getting a sheltie puppy. We currently have a small house cat and a mini schnauzer.

We live house, approx 1000 sq foot with a backyard in an urban setting with dog parks in close walking distance.

We fell in love with shelties when we saw one at our groomers, personally I've always loved the look of a sheltie. But have a few questions I'd like to ask the community.

1) What is their temperament? Our groomer says he's almost always seen very calm and chilled out shelties but the internet says otherwise. Our current schnauzer is very relaxed and lazy, he'll go out for walks when we go but otherwise is very happy to sit and sleep all day in the house.

2) We both work full time jobs, 9-5. Sometimes we'll work late but one of us will always be able to come home for 5:30 to feed and let out our current dog. Will the new shelty destroy our furniture when we're away? We may not be able to go on long walks every day (esp in winter, we live in Canada) and we're afraid our life style won't fit the dog.

3) How are they with other dogs? Very afraid that any shelty puppy won't acclimatize with our current dog.

Thanks for taking the time to read!

-Jeff
 
Most likely any puppy will be fine with your current pets..the question is will your current cat and dog be ok with a puppy :D You don't say how your dog is with other dogs....And every dog's personality is different. I have a calm sheltie, some have more reactive shelties, some have people oriented shelties, I have a dog oriented sheltie.

I don't think Shelties in general are destructive when left alon(mostly food oriented!), but crate training can fix that. They do go through a chewing phase like any dog, but they are not usually like labs who eat through walls!
They do tend to be barkers though....how is the neighbor situation?

A puppy will need exercise! In the winter, I would suggest many short walks and play inside if possible.
 
I'm not keen on putting a sheltie puppy with any breed in the terrier group. Right now, your schnauzer is acting mellow and laid back. Bringing a sheltie puppy into the mix, may bring out the prey drive. Any strong willed temperament that is already in the household could crush a sheltie's optimistic nature. Now if you say your schnauzer is older, I say, it will be less tolerant.

Everyone has an opinion, and this is just mine. If you came to me to buy a companion puppy, I would tell you not now. Just not a good fit. It is the wrong breed to add to a terrier. Of course there are always exceptions, but I wouldn't want to send a puppy of mine into that household to see if it is the exception.
 
Most of your questions depend on the individual sheltie. If you browse these forums semi-thoroughly, you will find cases of shelties who have ripped all the stuffing out of $4000 furniture, and you will also find shelties who are manner-wise perfect angels who never touch what isn't "theirs." Every sheltie is an individual with a unique personality, and much of their manners regardless depend on the owner and their willingness to train. Mine is generally calm and well mannered on his own accord, others I have met are wired, just depends.

Shelties are a breed with some energy and do require exercise. I walk mine at least 30 min every day, and we have at least some play time daily and trick time. Dog parks don't really count. Shelties are unbelievably smart. That kind of intelligence requires some stimulation, i.e. structured walks, learning, play time, etc. The smarter the dog, usually the more they require because they can get bored.

That said, they are amazing dogs. I have never met a dog like a sheltie (any sheltie). A puppy will acclimate to most environments (other dogs, cats) but will your animals adjust? And do you have the time to potty train, obedience train, and generally work with a puppy?
 
I am going to respectfully disagree with the statement that it depends on the individual sheltie.
The temperament of the sheltie breed in general, does not do well with dogs that get in their face. Either you can have a dog that is intimidated and completely shuts down, or a dog that snaps in the face of the dog trying to intimidate. Neither scenario has a good outcome.

As I said before, of course there are exceptions, but who wants to place a puppy in that situation to find out.
Puppies don't always "acclimate to most environments", usually they take the path of least resistance.

The sheltie breed by nature, is a softer, more sensitive breed. Terriers are tenacious by nature. Both have their place as family dogs, but not usually together.
 
I have lived life with one dog + cats and two dogs + cats. Most recently one dog + cats and I had the perfect tranquil home. We added an adult sheltie who aside from food aggression is the perfect dog with cats, in the home, very inactive, perfectly potty trained, etc.

It changed everything, every dynamic about everything. Not nec. for the bad, but certainly for the louder.

Is that a bad thing? No, I work from home, I have enough dog experience to compensate for her quirks as an older rescue. We live on 5 acres with no neighbors.

My point is think long and hard about upsetting the applecart. You both are working long hours and there would be crating or animals left to get along to their own devices. I wouldn't add another unless circumstances change. Also, what is upcoming? Might there be a move? Children? Parents moving in with you? Can you reasonably look ahead 15 years? It's a very big decision.

I think I would leave well enough alone. One dog is a doted on and happy dog. Two is a whole new dynamic -- regardless of a breed mix that may or may not be the best mix.
 
My two spend a lot of time with two mini Schnauzers that belong to a friend. They did flyball together so we travelled a lot, stayed in hotels and my two have stayed with the Schnauzers on many occasions. There haven't been any problems. The Schnauzers are several years younger so will play a lot and my two aren't that interested in playing, but that's probably an age thing. The Schnauzers do look up to my two and just think Deska is the bee's knees. I do think mini Schnauzers can get along with a Sheltie quite well.

The only thing I would add though is a Sheltie does need more stimulation - they are a sheepdog after all. Your working during the day isn't an issue. But if you can't walk your sheltie then you still do need to be prepared to play and stimulate them instead.
 
I am a terrier person. Our dogs have played with just about every breed you can think of. At a dog show they are taught to "put on the terrier" but as soon as we are back at home or to a hotel room, they act like any other dog. They won't back down so if challenged, they are likely to let the other dog know to smarten up. When Tinsel came into our home it was the terrier that protected him and gave him her support. She has never gotten feisty with him.
Being a terrier person, I have a lot of friends that breed and show Miniature Schnauzers. They seem to be much softer in temperament and more likely to retreat than many of the terrier breeds. One friend often had her schnauzers come to me to be taken to the owners of studs or shipped for breeding. They usually were here for a day or two and never was there a fight. As long as your dog is fairly well adjusted and not a fearful dog that reacts badly whenever it sees another animal, it should be okay with a sheltie. Just about any adult dog will get tired of puppy antics and it is your job to ensure that the adult is getting rests from the high energy and Chewbacca behaviour of the young one. As for chewing up the house, welcome to puppyhood. If you don't prevent it from happening by puppy proofing, exercising and teaching the pup, then expect damage. I don't believe in putting a pup in a crate and going to work. I don't believe that pups should be left to their own devices for hours and hours a day. You might want to look into a service that will take the pup out and walk it midday. Shelties do need a lot of exposure to make them well rounded dogs, much like most of the herding breeds. Most like to talk - a lot - but usually when they are excited. They are really sensitive and don't need loud corrections or heavy corrections. Around here a simple uh uh stops most unwanted behaviours in all 3 dogs. I seldom use a loud voice on anything so if the volume increases, they know something is really wrong. Herding is their business, so anything can be herded - including other pets and humans. It is up to you to teach them that nipping at you or the other dog is unacceptable. They are smart dogs, notice everything and love to be loved. Grooming is a necessity on a regular basis.
 
I'm a big believer that there's a stage in life for everything and 2 people away all day at work is perhaps not the best time to consider having 3 pets to be left alone at home all day. Shelties in particular are very attached to their people - they may not want all those strangers petting them ( mine is the exception), but they will follow you around the house ( bathroom included)...I can't imagine leaving one home alone all day. Even now if we are going to be away more than 1/2 day we make arrangements to take Hanna or one of us stays behind.
 
Hi Jeff, welcome to Sheltie Nation and kudos for caring enough to research before just going out and buying a puppy.

Shelties are beautiful, you won't get any disagreement on that from anyone here. :) But, they are definitely not a good match for all situations.

In general they do fine with other animals, but are not typically tolerant of "in your face" from another dog/dogs. Most like their "space" to be respected.

They do need significantly more exercise than many other breeds...a couch potato sheltie is definitely not the norm...although once in a while you do meet one.

For a puppy, the time needs are huge. If you and your wife are working in jobs that don't give you a long enough lunch break time to get home, take your puppy out to do it's business and give it some playtime, then I honestly wouldn't recommend a puppy. Even with an adult dog it is not ideal to have them without a break for an entire day...and for a puppy it is far worse.

Although your groomer has told you that shelties seems very calm...they often act differently in an away from home situation. Mine are all very laid back and very easy at the vet's...I get constant compliments on how well behaved and calm they are...but once we get back home their true selves emerge and they race around 90 MPH...laid back wouldn't be a term anyone would use watching them!! LOL We are lucky that we have 6 acres and have a 2 acre fenced field for ball and frisbee to burn off their energy.

And, mentally, shelties need stimulation. Most are very smart and if you don't channel those gray cells in the right direction they can get into a lot of trouble. They love to learn.

So, yes, shelties are beautiful, usually very sweet, incredibly loyal to their person/s, but also demanding of a lot of your time and energy if they are going to be happy. They are a contradition...in many ways they are an "easy" breed because they love to please and learn fast...but...in many ways they are a very diffucult breed if you don't have the time and energy to focus on them.

You have a lot to ponder before changing your current settled situation. Whatever you decide, I wish you and your wife the best.

Trini
 
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