Is a Sheltie Right for Me?

Hi and welcome to the forum.

My husband and I both work. We leave every day at 6:30 AM and don't get home again until 5:00 PM. Our pair of Shelties are home alone all day, no pet walkers/sitters/etc. and they do very well. We usually confine them to the bed room or an Xpen just to keep them out of mischief even though they tend to sleep all day.

The breeder I got my dogs from is also a teacher. She is out of the house all day from about 7 - 4 and her younger dogs, show dogs, are in their crates when she's not home. The older dogs are allowed to remain loose in the house. The do just fine as well.

Puppies, of course, will need someone to take them out regularly until they are old enough to control themselves.

Your lifestyle doesn't sound very different from mine when I was working on an MBA. I had very little time to spend with my little boy (we only had one Sheltie at the time) but I made that time count. After I finished my schooling, when I had more time, I was able to add fun activities to my dog's life, like agility training. You learn the balance and Shelties are very good at adjusting to the lifestyle you lead. Be honest with the breeder you talk to and a good breeder will help guide you to the pup that best fits your life because, like people, their personalities run the spectrum from over active to totally laid back home-body.

Good luck in your search for the right dog to add to your life; and THANK YOU for taking the time to find the right dog to fit your lifestyle rather than just saying "let's get that breed because...". To many dogs end up in shelters or rescues because people fail to research.

 

I'm reading all this advice and getting excited about pup coming home - even the bad bits!

Angel_Night, I work with teachers and know a lot who have dogs and manage quite well. Of course depending on where you get working you may be near enough home to pop in at lunch and straight after school, so pup will not be alone more than around 3 hours at a time.

Will you leave him with your mum when you are at work or will he be in the house alone?

If your boyfriend is a trainee vet have you considered the possibility of him taking the dog to work with him? I know a few vets bring their dogs to work.

As for contacting breeders, you could start sending out feelers as long as you are strong enough to say 'no, thanks' if they have puppies now Getting to know of local breeders, getting to know the names of kennels and the lines they breed from is a good way of researching where to get your dog.

Plus you can run any pedigree dog name through the Kennel Club website and it will tell you what health tests that dog has had.

 

I think everyone gave you some wonderful answers. I wanted to answer the few about you moving.

Assuming you are matched with a good puppy, one that isn't too high strung, more laid back, and you make sure the dog doesn't have separate anxiety, I honestly think your move won't affect the dog too much. Why? Because, you said it'll be a couple of years, so the dog will be older.

With my first Sheltie (who by Sheltie standards, doesn't act like one), I moved when he was a year old. There were a lot of changes going on too. 1. I was going to school full-time and working part-time 2. I just got divorced 3. We moved and it was just the two of us 4. I bought a cat not long after the move.

Right after we moved, my dog wasn't adjusting very well. He's very sensitive. He actually didn't poop for almost 3 days and I was getting worried, but my vet said it was most likely the stress of the move, and wait another day, so I did and he was back on schedule. I was going to school, almost all day, I'd go home, eat dinner, play for about 30 mins then had to go to work for 4-5 hours. I'd come home, play some more, sit down with him next to me, and go to bed. After awhile, he seemed okay with this schedule and didn't mind the lesser interaction.

I bought a cat so he'd have a low-maintenance "friend". They hated each other immediately. That lasted 3 days. Then they were best of friends. Like someone said, they just needed to work it out.

I honestly believe by the time you move, your dog will be at an age that it'll adjust. It may take some time, you may have to put more effort into getting some play/quality time, but the dog will adjust. From my own experience, even with a sensitive dog, it took some time, but I always made sure that I interacted with him a lot, that I wasn't ignoring him, etc.

I think your timeline is actually a good one. Lots of puppy time, get some training in, and when you move, the dog will be older.

As for when to look, I'd start at least a year out. That way, you'll figure out who is going to try to breed and approximately when. Also, good if you have to go on a waiting list of sorts. I'm not sure of a specific time when to get more serious about the search. My first, I got within a month. My second, the breeder asked me if I was interested.

Lastly, if I were you, I'd maybe think about getting an older puppy. Maybe 12 weeks versus the typical 8 weeks. It may be easier to raise/adjust as it's older. That's just my experience as my first dog was 11 or 12 weeks when I got him. Granted, it could also be because he's not really Sheltie-like. Hmmm.....Any thoughts from others out there?

 

I couldn't agree more. The fact that you took the time out to plan ahead for a dog you'll potentially be getting many months from now already makes you more responsible than many that get dogs on a whim.

I think on your schedule you'll be fine with a sheltie. They are terribly smart, so make sure you keep their mind just as busy as you do their little bodies Good luck!

Edit - one other thing - never feel weird about asking how much for a puppy, they can vary wildly based on the parental backgrounds, breeders, etc.

 

This is an article we have on our rescue website. It's a true and honest evaluation of the Sheltie breed. This way you can decide for yourself if a sheltie is right for you.

Are Shelties for Everyone?
Based on an article by Trini Gilmore
In truth the Shetland Sheepdog is NOT a breed that fits into all households.
Naturally, Shelties have a wide range of personality traits that cannot be
"lumped" under one description. However, there are certain traits that are
fairly universal to the breed.
1. Shelties are very verbal.
2. Shelties are reserved by nature and early socialization is needed to keep
them from being shy.
3. Shelties are extremely loyal either to one person or one family.
4. Shelties are sound sensitive and sound reactive.
5. Shelties will chase (in attempt to herd) anything that moves.
6. Shelties are very bright and need to be given something to occupy their
mind and bodies. Many will invent a "job" if they are not given one.
7. Shelties do not like to spend time away from their people. A Sheltie that
is left alone all day is usually not a very happy little dog.
8. Shelties are an emotional breed. They are very sensitive to the moods of
their people. They do best in a home where gentleness is the way of life.
9. Shelties are an active breed and need exercise everyday. They need more
than a 10-minute walk around the block.
10. Shelties need regular biweekly (minimum) grooming and they shed
extensively.

If someone is looking for a very laid back, not particularly sensitive,
doesn't really care if you are coming or going, low maintenance, average
intelligence dog…they would find the Sheltie exasperating, to say the least.
Shelties demand to be an integral part of the family to which they belong.
They stick their noses into everyone's business and feel compelled to make
comments on their observations.
They will follow their person to the corner of the earth and ALWAYS into the
bathroom.
They consider you leaving them behind as an aberration of proper behavior
and will voice their disapproval…loud and long…often accompanied by frantic
twirling and jumping.
They are selective as to which of your friends is worthy of their affection,
and which are to be observed from a distance, before a verdict is rendered.
They will steal FOOD, GLORIOUS FOOD, right out of the mouths of babes, and
show no shame.
They will give chase, if not properly restrained, to any and all moving
objects.
They will sense your every mood and will be happy and sad along with you.
They love attention and they love to learn.
In short, they demand nothing less than being a FULL member of your family…
they do not consider themselves mere dogs (banish the thought!).

So if you are considering bringing a Sheltie or, Shelties, into your family,
be prepared to spend a lot of time, energy and love on this new member…for
that is what they need. In return they will give you some of the most
wonderful moments of your life, and memories you will cherish forever.
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