Trixie unexpectedly said goodbye

Katrina said:
So I had a question. I am much better since my words from before and I am sincerely planning for the future. I remember that when I was ready for my new puppy last time how hard it was to find Trixie. I do not want to be in that situation again. Can you all help me? I don't want to prove to future breeders that I am a reliable Sheltie owner or answer their questions wrongly. Or something. I am the most sincere and lover of my Sheltie. I can provide references and you can tell from my grief how well-loved and well-trained my beloved Trixie was ... that said, I will travel the entire USA to find my future best friend! I do need some help however. Please if you can help and refer me to places and point breeders to reach me. I want to find a way to be on their waiting list ahead of time for what I seek. Here is what I am looking for:

FEMALE
Sable and White
Can be larger (both of my dogs were around 35lbs).

That's it.

I would consider buying a show quality dog even versus a pet. I don't want second best. I want what I want. I'm really picky. I mean, it's adopting the best dog who has much to live up to because Trixie was the best dog. You know? It took me ages to find her because the females sable and white are impossible to find. I don't want that situation again. I treasured her because she was just that hard to find!

Yes, I own my own home. Yes, I have a fenced yard but I'd never ever leave her outside alone. Yes, she will get all the care in the entire world and treated with the best of everything. Yes, I can give a letter of reference from my vet as well as character references. No, I don't use a groomer because I lovingly do all of this for her myself. It's my joy.

So .... what can you do to help me? I do not want a rescue. I do not want anything other than a brand new puppy just as soon as she is ready to leave her mother and come to her forever home. We will be waiting with loving arms. I will drive to come absolutely wherever. I just don't want to fight to find her. You know?

Take for example, this email from a breeder. First she tells me that I can go elsewhere as she doesn't have any. I explained everything in clear detail and yet, she brushed me aside with a quick I don't have any and go somewhere else. Here is the email I sent just inquiring:

"Good evening,

I am looking for a reliable and honest Sheltand Sheepdog breeder. I am really picky about where my future best friend comes from and have specific requirements I seek.

I've owned only Shelties in my life, both the very best dogs ever! Our last beautiful girl passed away in her old age, free of all disease. She is sadly missed and our home is saddened by the lack of a dog. I know it takes a while for me to find the right match with a breeder and the fact that I am specifically looking for a sable and white female so I am starting to look. I am willing to drive!

I can give you references. I do not have small children and there are no other pets. All of my Shelties have been well-trained and extremely well taken care of. They never lacked proper vet care.

Can you please tell me about your dogs?

I am specifically looking for a female puppy with as little black on her as possible - I really want a pure sable and white or as close to that as possible. I'm willing to wait but I would like to find the right breeder and get put on a list properly so when she is born, I can be in line for my new future best friend as I'd like to bring her home as soon as she is able - 6-8 weeks, I am guessing from being weaned. :)

I look forward to hearing back from you!
Katrina"

She finally sent me this list of questions when I asked about the waiting list (not one word about her as a breeder to answer the questions I posed above however):
Where are you located? Do you have a fenced yard? Do you prefer a laid back Sheltie or an energetic one? Do you have any particular activities you want to do with your dog, such as obedience, therapy, etc?

Why would she ask me if I wanted a laid back one or an energetic one? All Shelties are energetic. It's a breed standard. Why would she care about those activities? These are all training.

Now, I have never shown dogs yet but I would consider that for the future. Are show quality totally out of the question? What is the cost of that versus me just buying a pet? Would I get taken more seriously if I just say upfront that I am looking for a show dog?? I have been tossing around learning how to show dogs and maybe this is the time to get more involved in that. I am in a season of my life where I could honestly. I couldn't before but I can now. I have never in my life met a person like myself in person who takes training and care of my Sheltie as seriously as I do. I have learned everything from the books I read. My daughters both see me showing in the future, having multiple Shelties (I wouldn't consider that yet but it's a thought for the future) and getting more involved in my life with them. Honestly I would love to do obedience trials or pet therapy or flyball. I just have never done that yet.

What should I do to find the exact right dog? Does all that make sense? I do want to be taken seriously. I do want first pick. I do want that girl. Sable. White. Help. ;)
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Just from my experiences... YES, there is a difference in sheltie temperaments...
I wanted a lay-back pup. That is what I got.
Some people want a border quality type that is high energy for agility.

If you want a show-quality pup you will be asked to show. Cost: $2.5k vs $4k and up.
Also, consider if you have your heart set on a female they will most likely want you to breed her!

Just some points to consider... I am sure others will chime in.
 
Yes, both of my dogs had sweet gentle temperaments laid back but would be fun and playful too but yes, I guess then I could say laid back as I do not want a border collie type - a friend has one of those and nope. And yes, I do have my heart set on a female. I had a male and I don't want that again. It's just a personal thing for me. Thanks for direction.
 
Think about the job you want your new pet to do. All Shelties need a job that is theirs to do. My dog Teddy is my companion and keeps a eye on my BP. He is very happy to be quiet and keep his eyes on me wherever we go. When my wife walks him is is more active. When my dog walker has him he is high energy. I believe he gauges the energy level based off of who he is around. He is an only child so we make sure he is well socialized and has a variety since he doesn't have any playmates living here. Just my two cents. Good luck with your search. :)
 
Ron Atkinson said:
Think about the job you want your new pet to do. All Shelties need a job that is theirs to do. My dog Teddy is my companion and keeps a eye on my BP. He is very happy to be quiet and keep his eyes on me wherever we go. When my wife walks him is is more active. When my dog walker has him he is high energy. I believe he gauges the energy level based off of who he is around. He is an only child so we make sure he is well socialized and has a variety since he doesn't have any playmates living here. Just my two cents. Good luck with your search. :)
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Yes! My Trixie was my right hand man. She was my depression therapy dog as for the last 10 years of my life with the last 5 being the worst trauma I have had emotionally as our lives went through one trauma after another. That was how Trixie became even more important in my life and in the lives of my two daughters. It is a void that will need to be filled and will be filled by our future Sheltie. The pulse of my emotions. My constant at my feet and never alone companion. For sure! But I wouldn't want to tell a breeder that they would think me nuts. ;) But you know what I mean, I think from my talking through the past weeks here.
 
Others with more experience from the breeding side will hopefully reply here. I will say, reputable Sheltie breeders are also very concerned about where their dogs go and what's expected of them. I think those questions that breeder asked are very typical. There is a variety of energy levels even within Shelties of the same line. Of the 4 girls we chose from, one was VERY active, one was VERY mellow and the other two (one of which was Meadow) were in the middle. My guess is you'd have a hard time getting a show dog as an individual who has never done it before, and isn't even committed to it. Nothing wrong with that, I have no interest in showing conformation either.

I know you want what you want and that's fine, great to know your requirements, but if you come off in a very intense manner it may be off-putting. For instance, not wanting much black in the coat. Being open to something maybe not exactly what you are picturing will open more doors. I bet most breeders have their email boxes overflowing with inquiries. But being a previous Sheltie owner is definitely a plus. Good luck, I hope you find the dog you want.
 
Thanks for your advice! I have learned that what I had first was more of a tricolor so I am just leaving that black marking part out as when I say sable white I am saying it fine. Plus, seeing the parents and what dogs a breeder has rules out things anyway because I can tell from genetics what sort of puppies they will have. That part is definitely most flexible. And from what I've been educated about here today I am learning about temperaments which has also helped me. :) I love all of you and honestly I have been super helped as I got through this last month. It was such a shock but we are looking forward and loving our past baby. All in good time. All in good time.
 
I think if it were me I’d initially reach out to see if an6 pups are available and ask them about what kind of breeder are they…do they show their dogs, how many litters do they have per year (are they a small hobby breeder or a puppy mill type breeder) and what do they test for. Also I’d want to know are the pups raised in their home (more handling of them). I’d tell them a little about myself but not too much, just that I’ve had Sheltie’s for years and know what their requirements are. I wouldn’t ask to be put on a waiting list initially until I’ve heard back from all of them. I would suggest you check out ASSA for a list of reputable breeders and either email or phone from there. One more suggestion, I would hesitate to be on more than one waiting list…believe it or not it’s a small world and all of them know each other. If your on 2 or more wait lists they may find out and it may make it harder for you to get a pup.
I do remember when I got Piper I was so worried the breeder wouldn’t sell me a puppy! Believe it or not they are really good at telling our character and they’ll know your a good person! I now have 3 Shelties all from the same breeder!
And remember it’s just as important that you vette them as they do you. Ask if you can visit and see the dam and sire (sometimes it’s not possible to see the sire, quite often they use a stud dog from another breeder) but it would definitely be a red flag if they won’t let you visit!
Good luck…I’m certain you’ll have no trouble finding yourself another puppy!
 
When I got Teddy I had been talking to the breeder for 3 weeks. The Breeder knew that this will be my 3rd Sheltie, I prefer a male, my use was companion animal, and I needed the dog not to be afraid of my bad arm.
I loved the pictures of the one we did not get. When we got there I played with the mom and she was very sweet. Then I sat in the playpen and watched and waited to see who came to me. Turned out to be his sibling They had named him Kenny but we had a neighbor named Kenny so was renamed Teddy. We thought the neighborhood should have thought I was crazy if I started calling Kenny in our backyard.
 
First, I'd want to know where you're located. Different areas of the country have more or fewer breeders. Start with the ASSA website (American Shetland Sheepdog Association). That will have a list of breeders you can email. The AKC website also has a list of breeders. I would email as many as you can and, as Sharon said, specify that you want a female sable and white, no more, with the information you have about your home and family and experience with Shelties. As a breeder, I'd eliminate your email as soon as I saw the no-black requirement. Even my pure-for-sables have touches of black on them.

Next, see if there's a Sheltland Sheepdog club near you (you can find this out at the ASSA), or go to a dog show even if you have to travel a bit. Talk to the Sheltie people there (after they show at the grooming area, not outside the show ring). It's fine to indicate that you may be interested in showing, but breeders typically place show dogs with people who are going to campaign the dog and yes, breed the girls although not always. Shelties don't have large litters, and if you get one show dog from a litter it's like winning the lottery. You have to prove yourself for a breeder to invest their show puppy with you. I know, it took me years to do it. I followed my breeder around to shows for two years just watching and learning before I was trusted with an adult show dog, not a puppy, and I was a long-time Sheltie owner too. It's wonderful if you do have an interest in showing, and fine to indicate that. But it's not likely a reputable breeder will sell you a show puppy out of the gate if they don't know you.

Keep in mind that breeders don't just breed for conformation. Some breed for performance (agility, flyball, etc.) No responsible breeder breeds just to make companion dogs. A good breeder wants the best representative of the standard they can create. Companion dogs are wonderful, and are just as gorgeous as their showing or performance littermates; they may just be too large or small, or have some other tiny fault that you wouldn't even notice if you weren't a show judge. So don't eliminate companion dogs from your search.

I've thrown a lot at you here. Keep asking questions...this is the place to do it before you search. There's a lot of experience here finding puppies! Do develop a relationship with a breeder or two now...that's the best way to do it. Every breeder I know has a long wait list; if they know you, you have a better chance. Also good to start now!
 
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