An Aussie or a Sheltie? A comparison

M

Mom2Melli

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I am in the mood to remember my three Aussies and so I thought I would add a comment here for all the readers who are thinking about either an Aussie or a Sheltie as a new companion. If you go to my profile page, you can see an album with my three Aussies as well as my current dogs.

Anyone else with experience with both, feel free to join in.

First, the Aussie. I had Aussies from 2002 to 2011. My first Aussie was all soul. The quote was "Everyone loves Quasar and Quasar loves everyone". He was none to bright, but his heart was bigger than his 69 pound body. He was a danger to himself eating anything (CD, bible, vitamin pack, shoes) and after an incident where we were almost hit by an RC jet plane he became a runner and could never be trusted off lead after that. His coat was rather short and flyaway. He shed like you wouldn't believe. Blue Merle but I wonder if there was some golden in there someplace. This dog was my 100% heart dog and he and I were as close as close could be. Oh, he could sit. That was the extent of his ability. My second was a black tri. Never shed except once a year she would stand up and leave a pile of fuzz and season change was over. She was smart. Really smart. She was also wired for aggression. We protected her from the world and the world from her. If she could have killed me and had the husband all for herself, she would have. If she could have talked, she would have cursed me and then we would have worked out a relationship of mutual tolerance, which we did eventually have. My third was a red tri, ginormous at a lean 93 pounds. Tremendous coat, little shedding, very poor vision. I believe he had Cushing's though no one looked for it. He died way too young at about 8. He was bombproof but dumb as a box of rocks. Safe with kids, go anywhere I asked, but none too bright. He was patient and gentle and someone distant. I think he missed his first owner who passed away. He could sit and lay down and stay off furniture. Amazing on leash though. He was a really really good guy.

After the Aussies I got Shay my shepherd mix. Fearful and fear aggressive, very poor start to life as a feral pup, came to me too late to be exposed to the world properly. Very sensitive and fine in his comfort zone. I wanted to do everything with Shay, train, compete, travel, etc. No, he is too worried the world is out to get him. I found Melli and thought hmmmm, sheltie, it's just a mini Aussie with a tail. She came in and was great though has a few quirks like being food aggressive with other dogs. Her former life was none too great. When we went to training class, we skipped basic because she tested out of it and I think they needed the space for someone else. She held her own in intermediate and by the end really had it nailed. She got her CGC too which makes me so proud. Her brain truly impresses me. She watches, she observes, she learns from others, he is an intelligent wise soul in a little body. Eventually, I got the pup Cubby. He is SO smart. He can learn something in just a couple tries. He is eager and happy. He is a little stranger shy, mostly because they always grab his muzzle and he would rather they scratch his ears or head, but he is OK by and large with people and as he grows he will be more comfortable. He's great in dog school and has been truly a joy to work with. He gets the zoomies twice a day but is calm in between. He has been a happy and easy puppy.

So, I saw the difference. Shelties are not Aussies with a tail. Shelties are thinkers and quick learrners. They are more barky but mine seem to have something to say when they bark, not just yap, and my shepherd is far more barky than the shelties. They are certainly smaller than the Aussies and really my shelties are not shedders but Melli has a shorter coat and Cubby is just growing his so ask me in about 6 more months. Shelties are also watchers. They keep an eye on you while the Aussies are more like "Eh, she's fine, if something big happens, I am there". I wouldn't say either Aussies or Shelties in general are more hyper and crazy. It's about the same but I think varies with the genetics of the dog. I do think the Shelties really understand more of the world in a thoughtful way while Aussies just accept without understanding. I kind of call my Aussies airheads versus the shelties. Good people, just airheads.

Anyway, not sure if this will ever help a person decided Aussie or Sheltie, but I am a convert and love my Aussies for their hearts but love my Shelties for their mind as well as hearts.
 
That was actually very helpful. I've been looking for a new friend for Honey, and had been considering Aussies as well as shelties and borders. But I did think they were closer in personality to shelties.
 
We've had Aussies (2 pure, 2 Aussie/BC crosses) as well as 2 pure BCs, 1 BC/Sheltie cross and now the pure Sheltie.

Of our 2 pure Aussies, we lost one this summer. She was a screamer and a total little spitfire. She was very smart but didn't slow down long enough to actually let her brain catch up to her body. She was utterly devoted to my hubby but did suck up to me when it was in her best interest. :lol: She was also aggressive with our other females (all spayed) from about 3 years of age until she died at 11 yrs of age - she could not ever be allowed loose with the other two girls (BC and BC/SS) or she was out for blood. She was fine with other dogs and my male BC.

Our latest Aussie is 7 months old and is again noisy as all get out - screaming and barking (dinner time, out time, play time, bed time, etc.). He is pretty clever too but I think, unlike our previous Aussie, will actually stop to think (I hope!).

My Sheltie is the same age as the new Aussie (well 2 weeks older) and he's way quieter than the Aussie. He will alert bark if there is something odd in the yard when we go out for walks, and will whine to go out. He will bark when he's playing chase with the Aussie pup but is a much quieter dog. He's a thinker and is less likely to jump first and think afterwards! :lol:

I throw into the mix my Border Collies. My first was a wicked smart, reactive dog. I'm pretty sure she was smarter than me. Typical BC energy and drive, and smart, smart, smart. The second was a BC/Sheltie cross; soft, sweet, but she was not the brightest bulb on the string. But I adored her enough to go the Sheltie route this time around. :wink2: Neither were excessively noisy except when excited on the agility course, or if someone came to the door. The last BC is my male. He is over the top energy and drive, hyper-aware of me, and like the Aussie female, his brain is always trying to play catch up with his body! He's definitely barky especially if he thinks he's missing out on something.
 
Thank you, it is always helpful to read someone's personal experiences of breeds as you tend to get better insight. I found your post very interesting as I have considered an Aussie in the past. Can't imagine life without a sheltie though:wink2:
 
Thank you. I loved my Aussies with all my heart but I am SO impressed with shelties. I did almost get an Aussie before Cubby and I am glad I went with the sheltie. The differences really are huge and I am sure I would be very frustrated with an Aussie after working with my shepherd mix who is quite smart and Melli who is wise, thoughtful, and very very intelligent. Not sure I would ever be up to a border collie unless I truly wanted to get into the heelwork to music/freestyle. I don't have enough drive for a border collie.

I just figured that many people will read this considering an Aussie or Sheltie. If they want the more brute physical, shorter coat, no tail, smart but not really that much of a thinker and reasoner, but amazing heart and willingness Aussies are wonderful. However, if they want a different level of intelligence and a thoughtfulness and ease of learning and don't mine a bit more barking, Shelties all the way.

I think Shelties are a great balance of small to mid-size dog, huge heart, trainability, smarts and thoughtfulness, drive but not overdrive, and versatility in a gorgeous package. I would say they edge out Aussies by a bit and certainly the other dogs in the top intelligence rankings: BC and Jack Russell (overdrive), Poodle (too much grooming and nervousness), German Shepherd (size and shedding and a lot of aggression sadly), Golden (size and shedding), and Doberman (size and reputation and some health issues) -- then Sheltie. Aussie ranks 42.

Get a Sheltie but choose a reputable breeder who tests for health problems and really does have great personalities in the dogs and start the pups out right with handling and exposure to different stimuli or choose a rescue dog but do your homework and find out about the dog and whether it is the right fit.
 
I guess my experience with Aussies is much different. There are a lot of Aussies that do disc dog in our area, and I've always found them to be smart, athletic, loyal to their owners. There are a few that are a little..crazy, but we have Shelties like that too. We had two Aussies in our flyball club, one who I have handled on numerous occasions. She's incredibly focused and ready to do her job. She's near flawless and I swore when she would turn and look at me, she was thinking, "You're an idiot, I know what I'm supposed to be doing and you clearly don't." Her sister is also an amazing flyball dog, smaller and a little faster. They have a toddler in the house and they are both very protective of her. They don't have issues with other dogs.

My parents have a border collie/aussie mix named Scout. She's very smart, very athletic, but she's very insecure and quite quirky. She resource guards people. So if she comes and jumps on the couch with me, and Missy wants to come up too (because Missy LOVES her), she'll show some teeth to let Missy know to back off. But she's a good girl and tolerates Missy, who loves running around the yard with her. One thing she does that is really funny- there is a little hallway that goes from the living room to my parents' bedroom. Every time Scout goes through that little hallway, she hesitates a little then quickly runs through the door, like it's haunted or something. Or there's an imaginary barrier she has to push through. She hasn't always done it. One day she just decided it was scary and wouldn't go through the doorway, and my parents had to coax her in, and now she just does what I described. Since she's insecure, she doesn't do great with other dogs. She isn't aggressive, but if a dog she's not sure about comes up to her, she'll give a warning growl. My parents don't take her to large dog events anymore because it's stressful for everyone. Scout would rather be at home.

I love Aussies, and I want one in the future. But I think I will get another Sheltie first. I'm not sure, and I also want a border collie. I have a couple years to think about it :biggrin2:.
 
I did have a wicked smart Aussie but she was still not as thoughtful as Melli. Head to head, I think Melli is wiser and more clever and certainly faster to learn. Melli watches and figures things out. Holly was more of a concrete thinker and more of a reactionary and physical response, whereas Melli understands situations on a definitely higher level.

Cubby, well, I can tell he can think circles around my boys and he is still a baby. Flat out his IQ is higher than either of the boy though they were truly amazing boys. None too bright, but amazing no less.

I also think that maybe Shelties are a little misunderstood by people. The longer nose, the smaller eyes, the smaller skull and people don't realize the brain power in there. Aussies are extremely expressive. They do far more with their ears and eyes and even mouths than the Shelties do. I think people look at the beedy sheltie eyes and think no one is home. I just thought I would point out there definitely is, definitely a really thoughtful little being. I always felt my Aussies were young children with the girl maybe being Jr. High. The Shelties, wow. It truly is like Melli is another adult in the house. Cubby is still young, but he's the smart kid. With a little life experience he is going to be phenomena.

Seriously, Aussies are good people. They have hearts that won't quit and they have a different athleticism about them. It's a Quarter Horse to an Arabian or Mustang. There's more physical and a bit less refinement to the mind and body combination.
 
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I think it's really hard to generalize these days, regardless of the breed.

So many factors come into play depending on the individual dogs, genetics, upbringing, etc.

For example, many say that Shelties can be skittish, nervous, standoffish, etc. I've only seen that trait and only a little with Callan. But it only takes a few minutes to decide that you are his next best friend! My other dogs always assumed instant love!

Indy is a barker. Neither Timber, Bacca or Callan (so far) were/are.

Shelties shed! Mine don't....Indy might blow a little twice per year, but generally, it stays parked until I brush it out.


That's not to say that you should ignore some of the generalizations when it comes to choosing a new dog. There is no question that herding dogs herd, and terriers are diggers, and hounds sniff. But you can also train to minimize those less desirable behaviours.

Now if I can only get Callan to stop going into herd mode whenever I out on a pair of socks. :rolleyes2::smile2:
 
I've never had an Aussie, but came very close to getting a female from a local breeder. When I went to see the litter, I didn't get the best vibe. I've always had shelties and aside from the barking, will NEVER change breeds. All the shelties I've had are all heart and brains! Some more than other, but they all have special places in my heart. :)
 
Yes, it really is hard to generalize within a breed. Our Aussie female was standoffish and warmed up slowly to people but our new male LOVES everyone. Our BC/Aussie loved us, but no one else. The female had no off-switch, ever. Our male seems to be a bit more chill.

I'm a die-hard Border Collie fan and will probably always have one but the Sheltie fits well within what I like about the BCs. At least, so far my full Sheltie is ticking those boxes but in a smaller package. Athletic, smart, drive-y, a softer/sensitive temperament (vs. the AS) but with a bit more ham and an off switch (vs. the BC).

From my perspective and experience, I see more similarities between the BC and SS than the SS and AS.
 
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