Jul
13
Which one is better a Shetland Sheepdog or a Labrador Retriever?
ByWhich one is friendly with strangers,friendly with children and easy to train?
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Which one is friendly with strangers,friendly with children and easy to train?
9 Comments
July 13th, 2010 at 5:18 pm
http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/shetlandsheepdog.htm
http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/labrador.htm
July 13th, 2010 at 5:44 pm
both if well bred and well trained. A poorly bred dog of any breed or mix can be a nightmare. Find a breed rescue near you and check out their dogs. Many foster homes have kids so they know if the dog is kid safe. Many Shelties are poorly bred and fear biters since they are so popular. Even tho Labs are popular they seem to keep a better temperament when poorly bred but can suffer from bad hips and eyes.
July 13th, 2010 at 5:55 pm
it all depends on you. those are two different breeds bred for two different things. any dog you take the time to work with and are consistant in training and firm and patient about it will be easy to train. any well socialized dog that’s been taught manners will usually be good around invited strangers and children. as long as the strangers and children have mannors also. any dog well trained, healthy and socialized is happy. if you are looking for an easy dog that you don’t have to do anything with and comes perfect with little maintenance, try a plant.
July 13th, 2010 at 6:28 pm
I agree with ginbark. But my money would always be on a Lab.
July 13th, 2010 at 6:56 pm
The Lab!! By far. Use beef treats to train him. Never beat a dog!!!! It only will make them afraid of you, and then they will not listen. Look for a puppy that looks you in the eye! That one will be the smartest!! The ones that run away or are easily distracted will not pay you any attention
July 13th, 2010 at 7:26 pm
I think the lab is a good chooice them type of dogs are great for a family or just a dog for one on one there very freindly dog and very smart to.
July 13th, 2010 at 7:27 pm
labs are easier to train. friendliness is fairly even
July 13th, 2010 at 7:55 pm
The lab would be a better choice, as I have had the Shetland Sheepdog. The sheepdog is extremely smart, they are good with kids if they are raised around them, but they tend to nip at the heels of running kids (its a herding instinct) and they are very easy to train. The downside is, is they arent stranger friendly and are very protective of family, especially if there are kids around. Labs love everybody, but also have a high energy span and love to run. Our sheepdog never had to be put on a leash, as he just naturally learned to walk right by our sides anywhere we went. Also the sheepdog learned a few other things just by observing and we never had to really put much training into him, as he learned on his own. he was a very good dog. But labs are good too. Just remember they are very energetic.
July 13th, 2010 at 8:46 pm
whoa…quite extremes.
I got my first Sheltie in 1967..bred and showed in conformation, competed in obedience, some herding training and past 14 years agility.
My daughter, who just moved from home to next door
of course, has a Lab now and does agility with him.
My 2 children were raised with Shelties, as I was still raising them when the kids were born. When I decided I could no longer devote the time I needed to a kennel full of dogs, I placed all the dogs…but gave my daughter her own Sheltie pup when she was 6 years old. She raised the dog, fed it, cleaned up, played with it, groomed it, and trained it. At 10 -11 years old, she got 2 obedience titles in her Leasa, started agility training…..and competed against adults and took many 1st placements and earned many agility titles. She got her 2nd Sheltie when she was around 16 and has been competing in agility…then got her Lab 3 years ago and is competing in agility with him.
I lost my “last” Sheltie, my beloved Micah this February. As he was aging, I suddenly realized he was not immortal, and decided I needed a puppy for emotional protection. I got a Border Collie when my daughter got her Lab. The point being, I do not have a Sheltie now. I am not approaching this answer as trying to convince you to get what I have.
So……
neither is “better”. They are very different. Size, coat, temperament. Both are intelligent, but in different ways.
I like herding breeds. They are sensitive, easily corrected with often just a simple “uh uh”….they have been bred to work with man, to look towards their owner for instruction and guidance. They are very quick and easy to train.
Shelties are usually a “family” dog, and some can be tentative towards strangers, and some can be too timid and even spooky. Then there are many who love everybody! AS my daughter’s, who we joke would follow anybody home! It is how you raise them, how you socialize them. Take care in picking a pup. You do NOT want to pick a shy one that will not readily approach you to investigate and play. Over the decades of owning Shelties, I have never had a Sheltie nip my heels. They have a longer coat, and need a good weekly brushing. In case of emergency, they can easily be picked up and carried. But, they are a very athletic breed. Ours have gone hiking, camping, play in water….
The Lab. Too much dog for me. Too big, too powerful, pushy, always in the way with his bulk, not as aware of where his body is or what it is doing….takes more correction and too loud a voice to get a point across, for me. Not subtle at all. A lot more “work” at training. But very smart. Not sensitive, more boistrous, loves almost everybody and in their face. Too much “mouthing for me”..the retrieving thing…doesn’t bite, is very gentle, but constantly needs to mouth at hands. My daughter discovered the lab, though has a short coat, sheds constantly.
People love Labs. They are good dogs. They look like a dog/dog..a masculine dog. Rambunctious.
When you decide on the breed….take care of the individual pup you choose, as within each breed there is a wide variation in temperament and personality. Then, it is how you raise it…..
I prefer the Sheltie.