Weird Habits?

[Nickelbecker44]

Hi there! I'm new to the forum. I've read a few threads but this is my first post :) I have a 6 month old named Tinkerbell (Tink for short). She has a really weird habit of running in circles...like ALL the time! We have an x gate and she loves running in circles in it. We thought she just wanted to run and that's the only way she can when she's in that gate but when we take her for walks that's all she does. She doesnt know how to walk in a straight line....is this just her weird puppy habit? I would upload a picture of my baby but my photobucket is being weird lol.

[OntarioSheltie]

Surprisingly, spinning is a normal sheltie thing. Do a forum search for spinning and look it up on Youtube.

Two of my three shelties spin.

[OntarioSheltie]

Here's a video of spinning.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SDLLdN1FVw8

Personally I try to discourage it when my shelties spin. I don't want them spinning like the sheltie in the video.

Spinning can be about anxiety, frustration or just play and excitement.

[Lahree]

Welcome to the world of posting and welcome to the world of Shelties!

I think Nickelbecker might be referring to "zoomies" rather than spinning? I am just guessing. Shelties love to do what we refer to as "zoomies" which is running incredibly fast with unabandoned joy in circles--sometimes big circles and sometimes smaller circles. My 3 year old does zoomies inside when she is excited and she runs around the couch over and over and again and somketimes mixes it up by running into a bedroom turning around and running back. I will try to find my video of Ellie and zoomies outside.

If that is what you are referring to, it's a Sheltie thing and very normal. It's fun for them and fun to watch!

[Nickelbecker44]

Thanks so much! Glad to know it's normal :). Yes Tink does alot of spinning but it's alot more zooming and she circles everything from couches to kitchen islands to people :). I had an older sheltie growing up (this is my first baby) and she never did any of that so I was wondering. Like a new mom everything she does concerns me haha. Thanks again!

[Lahree]

Originally Posted by Nickelbecker44

Thanks so much! Glad to know it's normal :). Yes Tink does alot of spinning but it's alot more zooming and she circles everything from couches to kitchen islands to people :). I had an older sheltie growing up (this is my first baby) and she never did any of that so I was wondering. Like a new mom everything she does concerns me haha. Thanks again!

Here is a video of Ellie doing zoomies in the snow. It is a long video that my husband shot and stars in, lol. Ellie does her zoomies about 1:28 minutes in. There are numerous threads here on "zoomies" and you can watch other wacky Shelties have a go at it. I have had three Shelties spanning about 35 years and they all did it. :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1nCS-...0&feature=plcp

[Sumac3890]

All I got was a Bill Clinton message, no sheltie in the snow.

[OntarioSheltie]

Originally Posted by Nickelbecker44

Thanks so much! Glad to know it's normal :). Yes Tink does alot of spinning but it's alot more zooming and she circles everything from couches to kitchen islands to people :). I had an older sheltie growing up (this is my first baby) and she never did any of that so I was wondering. Like a new mom everything she does concerns me haha. Thanks again!

We call those zoomies on the forums. Those are normal too.

Here's a video of Sadie having zoomies when she was a pup.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i0j6P...d8zGcU1apIg%3D

[Lahree]

Originally Posted by Sumac3890

All I got was a Bill Clinton message, no sheltie in the snow.

WOW! Wrong video! So sorry!

Try this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1nCS-...0&feature=plcp

[Tagg]

I think it is due to the herding instinct that shelties do it. I was so happy the day that Tinsel displayed his joy this way. My Belgians have their own way of doing this behaviour - bigger circles but when happy and not under command they will do clumsier but definate spins, the Aussie across the street as well as my own dear departed one did them as well. It's so much cuter in the sheltie because they can almost do them on the spot and often with 3 or all legs going into the air. Tinsel does them best when it is him mealtime.