I'm considering adding a Sheltie to our family. We have 3 dogs - 2 Havanese and an English Springer Spaniel. I have gotten so many conflicting opinions on whether a Sheltie is a good fit for us that I am totally confused. Thought you guys could help me with your opinions. Are all Shelties high energy dogs? Are they all crazy barkers? If not, how do you find the ones that aren't? I'm not necessarily looking for a couch potato, but a bouncing-off-the-walls type is not going to work either. Thoughts??
Are they all high energy barkers?
- Thread starter truedat
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Justicemom
Forums Celebrity
No simple answer to that. No they are not all high energy and no they are not all super barkers. But then that depends on your definition of high energy and super barkers.
If you don't not like barkeing and don't want to take the time to work with your puppy to train them not to bark and to channel their energy than likely shelties are not for you.
A good breeder knows their puppies and can help make an appropiate selection. We have 4 breeding bitches here. 1 of them(Diva) is very super high drive herself and likely any puppy she has is bound to be high energy though 2 of the 9 have been quite laid back. 1 bitch is super laid back and her puppies so have been quite laid backed(interestingly) she is half sister to Diva's 1 of laid back pups. So when looking at puppies let the breeder make a recommendation based on what you are looking for. Trust us, we know them better then anyone.
We had a lady here looking at Diva's pups based on their questioniare and talking to her, we gave her the pick of 2 puppies. She points to 1 Tri male and says what about him. Oh no not him, he is too much dog for you. He came out barking, not scared of a thing and has the energy of the energizer bunny on crack. He lives on a ranch and runs behind horses for a living now.
So again it depends. I find Springers quite high energy myself.
If you don't not like barkeing and don't want to take the time to work with your puppy to train them not to bark and to channel their energy than likely shelties are not for you.
A good breeder knows their puppies and can help make an appropiate selection. We have 4 breeding bitches here. 1 of them(Diva) is very super high drive herself and likely any puppy she has is bound to be high energy though 2 of the 9 have been quite laid back. 1 bitch is super laid back and her puppies so have been quite laid backed(interestingly) she is half sister to Diva's 1 of laid back pups. So when looking at puppies let the breeder make a recommendation based on what you are looking for. Trust us, we know them better then anyone.
We had a lady here looking at Diva's pups based on their questioniare and talking to her, we gave her the pick of 2 puppies. She points to 1 Tri male and says what about him. Oh no not him, he is too much dog for you. He came out barking, not scared of a thing and has the energy of the energizer bunny on crack. He lives on a ranch and runs behind horses for a living now.
So again it depends. I find Springers quite high energy myself.
LadyMcBeth
Forums Enthusiast
My Daisy is a low-energy dog...not much of a barker at all (only when someone knocks at the door). I would recommend you consider rescuing an adult dog, so you know what you are getting....plus these dogs really need good homes.
Our Perry is high energy only when he's supposed to be. At the farm or in the woods he is absolutely active, running all over the place, herding geese and horses and so on
But in the garden or house he's quite quiet, he mostly watches what's going on and doesn't need any extra activity.
He only barks when somebody is at the door (mailman...) or when a tractor goes by. Sometimes he barks when he's very excited, but it's not often and it's easy to stop it.
But in the garden or house he's quite quiet, he mostly watches what's going on and doesn't need any extra activity. He only barks when somebody is at the door (mailman...) or when a tractor goes by. Sometimes he barks when he's very excited, but it's not often and it's easy to stop it.
UConn Sheltie
Forums Regular
Ditto the rescue comment; Lilly is one. We've been togather 5 months and I've yet to hear her bark. But we live in a small condo and I'm "a lady of a certain age". We are a perfect fit. 
Sally is my first sheltie and i am hooked. Plenty of energy but not too much and she is really sweet and tuned into what we are doing. She sleeps on the sofa and has free roam of the house...loves learning tricks and likes to keep her mind busy. She is reserved with strangers as many shelties are and yes, there is barking, but we are able to control it and she doesn't bark when we are away from home. You didn't mention the desire to herd things and Sally does herd the cat and oddly the cat tolerates it pretty well...shelties are excellent companion dogs and you won' t regret adding one to your family of dogs !
It generally depends on the dog itself. In my house I have 6 dogs. Only one is high engery. The rest are pretty mellow. 4 out of the 6 are barkers. The other 2 will stand there and look at you like why are they doing that?!?!
it all depends on their personality. So working with a Breeder who is in touch with each puppies personality will work out in the end because they have the puppies best interest in heart and are not looking for a quick buck! they want to make the best possible match!
it all depends on their personality. So working with a Breeder who is in touch with each puppies personality will work out in the end because they have the puppies best interest in heart and are not looking for a quick buck! they want to make the best possible match!SheltieGuy
Forums Enthusiast
Snickers is a total bounce off the walls type of sheltie, lol but that is only if he doesnt get his daily stimulation. He has to burn off his energy daily and then he is content to lay on my lap or on the bed. I think some of the barking can be decreased with early training. Snickers mainly barks if he thinks someone (person, animal) is near our home and I like that he alerts me to possible situations since that is what they do instinctively. If we dont burn off his energy he tends to be more high strung and looks for things to bark at. In my opinion, if you have the time to interact with a sheltie on a day to day basis, the loyalty and love they have for you outweighs any of the sheltie "habits" they may have. I cant imagine having anything other than a sheltie.
My parents have 5 shelties and so long as they are walked they are fine. One or two of them would be fine without the walk but I wouldn't do that to them. Part of it is just what they are used to, if they are walked really far every day then you stop, they will go mental but if you don't then throwing the ball for a bit every day would almost be enough. 2 of them are chronic barkers, anything will set them off, one will bark when she's really really happy but the other 2 barely bark at all. Only when someone comes home and the girl doesn't even do that. I'd say the barking is something you could train though, especially at a young age.
I would say that shelties are absolutely lovely dogs and once you get one, you'll wonder why you didn't have them for your whole life. And I'd say if you have a spaniel then the sheltie will be no more high energy than him.
I would say that shelties are absolutely lovely dogs and once you get one, you'll wonder why you didn't have them for your whole life. And I'd say if you have a spaniel then the sheltie will be no more high energy than him.
Beau is my first sheltie mix.
When I first brought him home from the shelter he didn't bark at all. Now, he barks, but, he does so appropriately. We live in an apartment, he will bark when there is some one is the hallway. I go to open the door and tell him no one is coming in and he stops barking.
As far as energy. We usually walk about 1 mile to 2 miles a day. He's pretty laid back and generally to tired after his walks.
He's not only a sweet dog, but he is the BEST dog. I Hope you get the second best dog that you can possibly find.
When I first brought him home from the shelter he didn't bark at all. Now, he barks, but, he does so appropriately. We live in an apartment, he will bark when there is some one is the hallway. I go to open the door and tell him no one is coming in and he stops barking.
As far as energy. We usually walk about 1 mile to 2 miles a day. He's pretty laid back and generally to tired after his walks.
He's not only a sweet dog, but he is the BEST dog. I Hope you get the second best dog
that you can possibly find.