May
12
question about shetland sheepdogs aka shelties!?
Bymy familly wantts 2 get another dog and i was ondering if a sheltie would be able to fit into our household. so any1 who has owned shelties etc plzz feel free 2 helpp!
lifestyle -mom dad 12yr old and 13yr old. mom works from home
2 cats 1 male dog 1yr old. screened in pool. large park nearby. we take our other dog 2 the dog park at least once a week. take our other dog to the beach at least twice a month during hot months.
we were looking at adopting an older sheltie about 1 – 3 years old a female.
would a sheltie be a good option to adopt in our house?
ps- also can shelties swim??
thnxx!!
6 Comments
May 12th, 2011 at 4:59 pm
Yes, Shelties are great! And, all dogs can swim! (Except daschunds!) Daschunds drown because they have short legs that can’t keep them afloat. Good luck!
May 12th, 2011 at 5:45 pm
It sounds like a Sheltie would be a very good dog for you.
Even though I have not owned a Sheltie,I have volunteered at a shelter once & I have experience with all breeds of dogs plus my friend owns 2 Shelties & I visit them all the time.
Yes,Shelties can swim.
May 12th, 2011 at 6:25 pm
These very loyal and loving dogs are so dedicated to their families and are very good with children. Their intelligence makes them easy to train and they get on great with other dogs and cats. You may find that they can be a bit reserved with strangers and but do make quite good watchdogs…
Shetland Sheepdogs are equally great with children, the elderly, or anyone alone at home who wants a calm canine companion. They also make great pets for those of us with a quiet lifestyle or those perhaps interested in dog sports shelties, they don’t demand much space and make wonderful watchdogs. Litters are usually small from one to four pups, so interested owners can expect to wait up to six months for a pup.
May 12th, 2011 at 6:38 pm
yes a sheltie would be good for you and most dogs can swim(shelties included!)Just make sure you exercise your sheltie when you obtain one that you exercise it at least 4 times a day(thats how my dog is he loves to get out and exercise,if we forget he tears the house appart =[ lolz)
the cats may not be good match with the sheltie because of their herding drive,it may want herd the cats around the house…..So that may be another concern.But it shouldn’t become to massive of a problem!
May 12th, 2011 at 7:21 pm
I think that Shelties are an awesome dog for most households. They are smart, obedient, eager to please, and can be taught to do all kinds of things. They are not “needy” but are very loyal.
I have known Shelties who got along very well with cats, but tht is something you would need to check on with each individual dog.
Keep in mind that Shelties need quite a bit of grooming. Daily brushing is a must and you may want to get them groomed once in a while.
Edit: most of the Shelties I know hate water. And it is a real nightmare to clean them up once they are wet.
May 12th, 2011 at 7:54 pm
You would not be a candidate for a sheltie! Shelties will drown in swimming ! Their coats pull them down under the water when wet ! I have sold two who have met this fate!
2 A male sheltie is the best pet for a family ! you want a female. Males embrace families better than females and are more responsive to their families!Females are more like slugs ! All the really want to do is sit inside and be petted not play and interact with a family!
It is too hot for a sheltie in a beach area ! Shelties have double coats and neutered pets have much more coat than unaltered pets and an older dog has already formed bonds which often do not change!
Only in homes where older folks live do older shelties respond best!