Why did you pick Shelties?

[Sharon7]

I have so enjoyed these stories and I have to add an addendum to mine - what really convinced my hubby was when we went to see a Sheltie puppy available, he asked that breeder if the dogs were obedient. She lived on a hill with a kennel at the back top of the property. She said, "Watch this!" and told the mom and dad, "Sammy, DeeDee, go to your kennel!" Well both those dogs ran up the hill and went into the chain link dog run. My hubby's jaw dropped. I remember thinking "Heh, heh, GOT him!". We ended up not getting that puppy as by the time we got home and discussed it, another person snatched her up.

We ended up a bit later though with Skye, who was Best of Dog in our home for almost 15 years, and started us on the Sheltie path.

 

[Diana Mccly]

I grew up with a Sheltie, Charlie a/k/a the best dog in the world. My parents got him when I was 5 -- so not only was i herded as a child, but as an angsty teen (and who isn't?) he was the ideal companion; he listened to me cry and carry on. As an adult, when hubby and I decided to get a dog, we adopted a mixed breed, Mathilda. When she passed we decided to go with a purebreed puppy. Enter Mercutio, the Samoyed. Absolutely wonderful dog. At 10 he had either a heart attack or a stroke and died almost instantly. We decided our home needed a dog. We couldn't go with another Samoyed -- they all look exactly the same and it wouldn't be fair to the non-Mercutio to constantly see Mercutio in him/her. We also felt that we weren't really up for a puppy and adopted a mixed breed, Dulcinea. Unfortunately, it was not a good match. She had been abused throughout her life, a fact that was not shared with us, and was aggressive with both dogs and people. After an absolutely heart-wrenching month we made the heart-breaking decision to return her to the shelter we had gotten her from (a no-kill one) based in large part on our vet telling us that after her first bite (she had bitten someone in Petco) if she bit again she'd be put down and we'd be in jail. After that I just couldn't deal with the risk of another older dog, and felt that a Sheltie puppy was the right choice to help us heal from both Mercutio's death and the surrender of Dulcinea. Fortunately we found Oberon's breeder, who lived about 10 miles from Dulcinea's rescue organization. So on the very same day that we dropped Dulcinea off we were able to pick up Oberon -- who at the time was 2 days shy of being 8 weeks old. I guess sometimes the universe just works.

You have the BEST names

 

[Diana Mccly]

I am a little late to the party, but I wanted to share our story because it felt so happenstance and yet completely serendipitous because (even though he is a baby still) we love our little Sheltie boy.
At the beginning of 2020 I thought that we’d probably never have a dog. I might eventually talk my husband into it I consoled myself, but it was unlikely. See he’d always had cats growing up and while he liked dogs he’d never owned one and didn’t want one. Then in 2016 my dad who has Alzheimer’s moved in with us with his dog Explorer (Ex for short) an english springer spaniel he’d gotten a few years before his Alz diagnosis. The lack of consistency in training and the fact my dad has been over feeding the poor guy showed. Dad wouldn’t let us correct the dog around him (or even give commands) and poor Ex had major separation anxiety and would destroy things in the house if Dad went out without him. It’s the only time my husband and I have had a serious unresolvable conflict, what happens to the dog when dad goes to a facility? Erik said he absolutely couldn’t stay and I was insistent that it was our duty and he could be retrained. Well my sister basically saved our marriage because she took Ex and he has been a wonderful companion for her family. But I thought “that’s it. Now Erik has been ruined toward dogs and we’ll never get one” and I couldn’t blame him because the experience had been horrible. that’s where we left it.
fast forward to 2020. My father-in-law suddenly passed away on the operating table while having a major surgery. We were devastated and knew that my mother-in-law would have to come live with us due to financial constraints. But the house we found was perfect and it had a huge yard! While we were waiting to close one night Erik comes to me and says “I think we should get a dog”. I was floored, “who are you and what have you done to my husband?” He said we need something good in our lives and I think Grayson (our son) would really enjoy a dog. So we started talking breeds. I’d always had english springer spaniels growing up and while they are good dogs Ex sorta ruined it for us. Friends had german Shepards but I didn’t want something that big with my 4 year old. Then my mother-in-law says that she and Joe had always talked about getting a sheltie. I was like I GUESS I’ll look into it fully thinking I’d do my research and then dismiss it (cause you know in-laws) BUT the more I learned the more I realized they were perfect for us. Not too big for my son, bright, really beautiful dogs and the possibility of doing some agility which really interests me and I am hoping my son will do too next year as we have a local kids league. When we contacted the breeder (thinking we’d be in a list for a few months) she said she had 7 puppies available and we could have our pick and come get him in four weeks. That was August 14th. So I’ve only been a sheltie mom for 5 weeks, but I am already thinking that maybe once Kester matures we’ll get a second. Anyone ever done any research on sheltie addiction??? I think it’s all the talking, how did I ever live without a fluff ball making silly noises at me all day?

 

[Piper's mom]

I am so enjoying all these stories! What a great thread, Sharon. I finally have a few minutes to join in and share mine.

I was an only child and always desperately wanted a dog or even a cat, but my mother absolutely would not hear of it. I vowed when I grew up I would have all the dogs I wanted and I've pretty much kept that vow LOL. But I didn't start with Shelties. When our kids were little, we had a Westie, and then a Pomeranian. When my son was 12 we were driving past a house where a young boy was playing with a Sheltie in the yard. My son declared that he wanted one of THOSE, a dog he could actually play with, and not a little puffball.

I didn't think much of it, but as fate would have it, a horse friend had an accidental litter of her Shelties and told me about it. Son was being confirmed, so we decided we'd investigate getting one as a gift for him. That was our first Sheltie, Scruffy, and the rest is history.

Scruffy, named by Jay, was anything but scruffy. She was as regal as they come, the only Sheltie I've ever known with naturally tipped ears; independent, wicked smart, full of personality and fiercely loyal. As Jay grew up and got involved in teenage things, she became mine and the love of my life, always by my side. We eventually added Bandit, a blue merle rescue, and then Ivy, a tri pet store rescue who was a wiz at agility which my daughter and I enjoyed together, me with Scruffy graciously agreeing to participate for me even though it was clear she'd rather be on the couch.

I lost Scruffy suddenly on an August day in 2005 to a cancer we didn't even know she had, at 13. She was fine in the morning and gone that night. I was devastated for a year. We lost Bandit the following year at 13 to Lyme complications, and Ivy a few years later to bladder cancer. Eventually my family convinced me that a puppy would help distract me, and we added Pixie, and then Barkley. Checkers, Barkley's littermate, came to us through the generosity of Barkley's breeder, Tofupup's mom, when I wanted to learn to show, followed by Lacey, Ruffles, Sprite and Flurry, my current crew.

I know that I will never be without a Sheltie now, probably in multiples. I'm so used to dealing with several, and there's no antidote for puppy fever except a puppy. And Flurry is 3 now, so who knows........

Lol I said I wouldn't get another until Piper turned 3... he turned 3 about a week before Finnie came home. Finnie turns 3 in January...I'm due for another as well

 

[Daisy1015]

i am fourth generation sheltie/ collie. My first sheltie and I literally shared a birthday, same day, same year. Growing up we had shelties with kids and more kids. We were a foster home. I just can’t trust anything else with my own. I have been grooming my whole life so the fur is a comfort thing.

as for continuing the tradition
. Intelligence
.gentle
.devoted to their people
. Able to bond to a family not just one person
. Size I could do a collie but most large dogs would be alot for a 105 lb woman. Hubby says no large dogs
. Twinkle and sparkle
. Active with an off button
.beautiful
. The coat is therapeutic to me, a life time of it, it is just second nature to feel and seek comfort in it
. Deeply connected to owners. They won’t go and adore any passerby the same way as their owner. . .dog friendly
.kid friendly
.biddable, usually
. Not aggressive
. Reliable when housebroken

Their only fault- barking too much[/QUOTE]

 

[Daisy1015]

I am a little late to the party, but I wanted to share our story because it felt so happenstance and yet completely serendipitous because (even though he is a baby still) we love our little Sheltie boy.
At the beginning of 2020 I thought that we’d probably never have a dog. I might eventually talk my husband into it I consoled myself, but it was unlikely. See he’d always had cats growing up and while he liked dogs he’d never owned one and didn’t want one. Then in 2016 my dad who has Alzheimer’s moved in with us with his dog Explorer (Ex for short) an english springer spaniel he’d gotten a few years before his Alz diagnosis. The lack of consistency in training and the fact my dad has been over feeding the poor guy showed. Dad wouldn’t let us correct the dog around him (or even give commands) and poor Ex had major separation anxiety and would destroy things in the house if Dad went out without him. It’s the only time my husband and I have had a serious unresolvable conflict, what happens to the dog when dad goes to a facility? Erik said he absolutely couldn’t stay and I was insistent that it was our duty and he could be retrained. Well my sister basically saved our marriage because she took Ex and he has been a wonderful companion for her family. But I thought “that’s it. Now Erik has been ruined toward dogs and we’ll never get one” and I couldn’t blame him because the experience had been horrible. that’s where we left it.
fast forward to 2020. My father-in-law suddenly passed away on the operating table while having a major surgery. We were devastated and knew that my mother-in-law would have to come live with us due to financial constraints. But the house we found was perfect and it had a huge yard! While we were waiting to close one night Erik comes to me and says “I think we should get a dog”. I was floored, “who are you and what have you done to my husband?” He said we need something good in our lives and I think Grayson (our son) would really enjoy a dog. So we started talking breeds. I’d always had english springer spaniels growing up and while they are good dogs Ex sorta ruined it for us. Friends had german Shepards but I didn’t want something that big with my 4 year old. Then my mother-in-law says that she and Joe had always talked about getting a sheltie. I was like I GUESS I’ll look into it fully thinking I’d do my research and then dismiss it (cause you know in-laws) BUT the more I learned the more I realized they were perfect for us. Not too big for my son, bright, really beautiful dogs and the possibility of doing some agility which really interests me and I am hoping my son will do too next year as we have a local kids league. When we contacted the breeder (thinking we’d be in a list for a few months) she said she had 7 puppies available and we could have our pick and come get him in four weeks. That was August 14th. So I’ve only been a sheltie mom for 5 weeks, but I am already thinking that maybe once Kester matures we’ll get a second. Anyone ever done any research on sheltie addiction??? I think it’s all the talking, how did I ever live without a fluff ball making silly noises at me all day?

lol I wonder how I ever had just one now that I have two!
i found minimum 2 years between. Get through teen stages first, whenever that is for your dog.

 

[JacqueZ]

i am fourth generation sheltie/ collie. My first sheltie and I literally shared a birthday, same day, same year.

Hah, Honey ended up being the same age as my niece, their birthdays are only a week apart, so whenever anyone asks how old Honey is around her, Keliegh proudly says, that she's 9, and that Honey is the same age! They've been pals since the beginning, I'd watch the girls while my sister worked, and puppy Honey would climb right into the carrier and snuggle up to k.