Caro
Moderator
I don't think there is any average. I've had shelties that bark at everything and ones that bark sometimes. I will say one sheltie alone (ie without other dogs in the house) is less likely to bark.
Considering a Sheltie, and had a barking question.....
- Thread starter CollieGirl
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CollieGirl
Forums Novice
Wow, thanks for all the great response!! This has certainly given me food for thought!!! 
Toffee's Mom
Forums Sage
bark when your guardian has to sneeze, check
bark when you hear a leaf drop, check
bark when you see the kong is being filled, check
bark when you have to stay in the car, check
bark when you see the other dog playing/tugging/swimming/having fun, check
All in all, mine actually don't bark all that much
Seriously, they aren't even the biggest Sheltie barkers I know and don't spin too crazily and they do stop when asked.
Except the playing thing I can't get Toffee to shuddup, he's very vocal when Spruce gets to swim or play tug with me. However, I think we'd do you a disservice if we wouldn't say yeah, no ifs and but's around it, Shelties do usually tend to bark more than let's say a Collie, Lab or Retriever. It's also true one is usually much quieter, because one always sets the other off... but you do get used to it, lol. I LOVE Shelties
If you have Collies, you will find a Shelties more lively and responsive and just adorable!!!
bark when you hear a leaf drop, check
bark when you see the kong is being filled, check
bark when you have to stay in the car, check
bark when you see the other dog playing/tugging/swimming/having fun, check
All in all, mine actually don't bark all that much
Seriously, they aren't even the biggest Sheltie barkers I know and don't spin too crazily and they do stop when asked.
Except the playing thing I can't get Toffee to shuddup, he's very vocal when Spruce gets to swim or play tug with me. However, I think we'd do you a disservice if we wouldn't say yeah, no ifs and but's around it, Shelties do usually tend to bark more than let's say a Collie, Lab or Retriever. It's also true one is usually much quieter, because one always sets the other off... but you do get used to it, lol. I LOVE Shelties
If you have Collies, you will find a Shelties more lively and responsive and just adorable!!!
CollieGirl
Forums Novice
Okay, well, thinking I will go with the Sheltie! The Collie barks about that much 
, she barks when a car goes down the street! And my aussies were about that level. Of course, it depends on the dog, but I'm glad to know that it isn't a particularly high level of 'barkiness'. My one Aussie talked about EVERYTHING, coming in from going to the bathroom was a three minute growl talk dialog, coming home, eight minute bark fest......
I hate that commercial too!!! And when they ring doorbells on TV shows---cover your ears and shout "TV IT'S ON TV" as loud as you can" lol. I tried that when real doorbell rang too.....but it didn't work.....
, she barks when a car goes down the street! And my aussies were about that level. Of course, it depends on the dog, but I'm glad to know that it isn't a particularly high level of 'barkiness'. My one Aussie talked about EVERYTHING, coming in from going to the bathroom was a three minute growl talk dialog, coming home, eight minute bark fest......I hate that commercial too!!! And when they ring doorbells on TV shows---cover your ears and shout "TV IT'S ON TV" as loud as you can" lol. I tried that when real doorbell rang too.....but it didn't work.....
Cookie does not bark hardly at all. He will bark if someone knocks at the door, and he will bark if he is playing a big game of run and chase with a lot of his friends. But other than that, he really almost never barks. I wouldn't say that is par for the breed, but there are some non-barky shelties out there. Also depends on how excitable and able to get frustrated you are. I am a very low key, calm person…Cookie seems to pick up on that and relax most of the time.
Calliesmom
Moderator
gotta comment on the doorbell commercial. mine went out before Cran came along and I never got it fixed so my dogs never react to doorbell sounds.....
on to barking- Cran grew up with non-barking dogs so doesn't bark at cars, people on the street etc.
Dixie barks at everything that moves/make sounds outside.
they both bark when the other is getting to play....
Dixie taught Jocu and Destin to bark outside but when we're out and about, they don't make much noise.
nobody barks when I sneeze either.....
forgot the barking at mealtimes.....
Jocu is terrible about barking then. he was such a polite puppy sitting quietly while food was put in bowls. then I went on a trip for 2 weeks and came back to crazy sheltie when waiting for food
on to barking- Cran grew up with non-barking dogs so doesn't bark at cars, people on the street etc.
Dixie barks at everything that moves/make sounds outside.
they both bark when the other is getting to play....
Dixie taught Jocu and Destin to bark outside but when we're out and about, they don't make much noise.
nobody barks when I sneeze either.....
forgot the barking at mealtimes.....
Jocu is terrible about barking then. he was such a polite puppy sitting quietly while food was put in bowls. then I went on a trip for 2 weeks and came back to crazy sheltie when waiting for food
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Toffee's Mom
Forums Sage
Okay, well, thinking I will go with the Sheltie! The Collie barks about that much
I hate that commercial too!!! And when they ring doorbells on TV shows---cover your ears and shout "TV IT'S ON TV" as loud as you can" lol. I tried that when real doorbell rang too.....but it didn't work.....
Yep, not more barky than that
It's a tough one tho for people who never had vocal dogs or any dogs for that matter
YAYYY, Sheltie for you!
Spazzy Jazzy
Forums Regular
I've taught a mini-golden, a husky/GSD mix, and 2 Shelties the command "indoor voice". If they get too barky, I give them the command and they all start grumbling at me or giving me tiny, quiet little woofs instead of barking.
My current Sheltie, Jasmine, was a barker. She's gotten so much better over the last month. The only time I don't give her the command is when I'm upstairs and she starts barking at the back door because she needs to go potty.
My current Sheltie, Jasmine, was a barker. She's gotten so much better over the last month. The only time I don't give her the command is when I'm upstairs and she starts barking at the back door because she needs to go potty.
God. I raised Shay and now Cubby without a doorbell. It is so infrequent they don't recognize it. Melli, well, she must have lived with a drug dealer. She knows the doorbell WAY too well. Yes, "It's on TV! It's not real!"
Ovation TV -- yes, that is the one place I can watch Artful Detective (that Murdoch Mysteries show from Canada). They have this doorbell -- halleluiah -- then a random commercial. I have actually complained to Ovation. Sets Melli off every time! However, the Swiffer commercial doorbell is the wrong pitch and doesn't do it for her. Bleh!
Watson's Mom
Forums Enthusiast
Funny you mention pitch... I've been noticing a number of other commercials that have doorbells in them... Watson pays them ZERO attention to the point that if he is asleep, he continues sleeping... That Home Advisor though, oh dear lord--- barking, jumping, tail up... we don't ever use the doorbell at our house, I don't even think it works... he doesn't go to the door, but straight to the tv, doesn't matter where he is in the house. I don't get it.. he's just a goober I guess.