Hello from a fellow sheltie lover...

[Eyssa]

Oh wow! What a wonderful reception! Nice to meet you all, and thanks for your condolences with Callie. I've attached some pictures of my current animals, and my sheltie girl I love so much.

This was my sweet girl, Callie. I believe I took this picture this past August, before all the troubles swept in.

Bambi is our GSD/Lab mix of one year, who we adopted from the local shelter this past July. I think the shelter people took this pic, before we adopted her. This is the only one that shows off her cute lopsided ears, lol. They don't stand up like that now, but she's still adorable!

Meeko is about a year and a half now... she actually showed up at the age of four weeks on my birthday last year. I consider her and Callie to be my babies... I mean, not like I'm playing favorites or anything, lol.

And this is my musical Meeko again...

Sanders is such a lovebug... he's possibly the sweetest cat in the world, alongside Jazzy.

Here are three of my baby bunnies, Basil (front), Willow (middle), and Mouse (back). Unfortunately Mouse died a few weeks ago after an attack from an unknown assailant. I was devasted, but at least she had a good seven months. =[

This picture was taken before we fully welcomed Tiko into the family. He's now a spoiled indoor cat, and even more handsome now. ;-)

Here's miss Mattie, such a darling girl and another shelter rescue. She was at the humane society for almost a whole year, after she got hit by a car. But we came along and rescued her from a lifetime of sleeping in a tiny cage... in her litter box, no less.

...I'd have more pictures, but my computer crashed and I've probably lost them all... and my camera ran out of batteries and we don't have the right ones to replace it. But maybe later, if I can get batteries, I'll put up pics of Angel, Riley, Jasman, Carmen, Sugar, Spice, Tori, Kady, Leo, Zoe, Mandy, Jasper... am I missing anyone? Lol.

Anyway, thank you all for welcoming me into this forum! And thank you very much for all the info, Ania! It'll definitely come in handy when trying to find the right breeder and pup. I'm still not ruling out a rescue, but we don't have very many sheltie rescues in the area, so I may have to settle for a breeder. Thank you all!!

EDIT: The picture of Tiko was goofed... but now it's fixed, lol.

 

[Ania]

Love this pictures! Thanks and can't wait to see the rest of the gang!

 

[Calliesmom]

So sorry to hear about your Callie - from the pix posted- she was very pretty.
Welcome to our little group

 

[Esmiles04]

Welcome, I'm sorry about Callie, she was beautiful. Some of the others have offered some great advice about sheltie breeders. Also, be sure to follow your gut, if something feels wrong, then it probably is. I commend you for the all of the rescues you took in, they are all very cute. Good luck in your search and I'm sure we'd all like to stay informed.

 

[BarbV]

Ok, I've done some searching and finally remembered where I read a lot about choosing a breeder and a puppy. Sorry for how long this is, but I though it is easier to copy it here for everyone to read. It is taken from my local area sheltie association. Hope this helps!

Some things to consider when choosing your Sheltie puppy:

First and foremost is the health of your puppy...

· Does it appear healthy?

· Are the eyes and nose clear and dry, or are they running?

· Is the coat soft and shiny?

· Has it been checked and certified healthy by a veterinarian?

· Is it up-to-date on vaccinations and already dewormed?

· Are there any guarantees regarding both the short term health, (the first few days at home), and long term health of your sheltie?

· Have you seen the parents? Do they appear healthy?

Genetic testing is important! Although it does not ever guarantee that your puppy will end up with a genetic disorder, it does give you a fighting chance, a head start, so to speak, that indicates that reasonable precautions have been taken to ensure the long term health of the puppy. There is less likelihood that the puppy will end up with a genetic disorder later in its life if the parents have been cleared genetically of hereditary defects known to affect the breed.

Next, and equally important is Sheltie temperament

Sheltie puppies should be happy and outgoing, curious about their environment, eager to learn, and easy to train. Some breeders may already have started the housebreaking training, depending on the age of the puppy.

Meet both of the puppy’s parents if possible. Always see the mother (dam). If you like the parents, chances are you will like the puppy. Keep in mind however, that many breeders select sires from breeding kennels which may be some distance away, and the sires therefore may not always be available for viewing.


Talk to the breeder about socialization and early training. Select a breeder who raises puppies on his/her premises, in the house, as opposed to a kennel environment. Ask what techniques are used for socialization.

· Avoid excessively shy or aggressive pups;

· Follow your breeder's guidelines to avoid problems;

· Look for someone who is proud of his or her dogs and is willing to give references.


CHOOSING A BREEDER


· A breeder will be happy to meet with you and discuss your needs;

· Most reserve the right not to sell a puppy to you if they don’t think a sheltie is right for your family;

· Most go through an interview process to ensure that the puppies they place are going to the right homes;

· Some breeders will even ask for references. This is a good thing. Breeders SHOULD CARE about where their puppies are placed to ensure the best welfare of the puppy. This is important to make sure you get the best suited puppy for your family!

When choosing your breeder, some of the most important things to consider are

· The genetic testing of the parents and other dogs in the pedigree;

· Health and temperament of the puppy;

· The guarantee the breeder provides;

· The housing environment where the puppy is raised, as well as the kennel environment of where other dogs are kept, (for instance a clean environment, adequate shelter and space, indoor and out etc);

· The socialization and exposure to outside stimulation the puppy has received;

· What after sale support you receive in respect to helping you raise your sheltie… grooming, feeding, training information etc;

There is so much joy associated with owning a sheltie… but take time with your decision. Do not buy on impulse! Don’t buy the first puppy you see just because it is cute! They are all cute! They are all adorable! Take time making your decision.

Visit more than one breeder, make sure you have established a good relationship with the breeder and feel comfortable with their dogs and what they are offering.

The condition of the kennels and dogs should be the first thing you notice.

· Are the facilities clean?

· Do the dogs appear clean and healthy?

IMPORTANT: Check the housing condition of the other dogs on the premises. Are they kept in the same condition as the puppies and dam? IF NOT, LEAVE!

Refer to the Code of Practice (link below) for Canadian Kennel Operations, published by the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association and the Canadian Federation of Humane Societies.

This is an exellent and exhaustive document about the care, management, and breeding of dogs.

www.gov.mb.ca/agriculture/foodsafety/chiefvo/pdf/csf12s11.pdf



A GOOD BREEDER WILL:

· Have a copy of the breed standard on hand, and should know and tell you the problems to look for in a sheltie;

· Know all about the pedigree of the puppy - including grandparents and great-grandparents;

· Want to know all about you, your family, your lifestyle, and where the dog will be living;

· Will ask what socialization and training techniques you are planning to introduce to your puppy;

· INSIST ON A FENCE OR DOG RUN for the safety of your Sheltie.

AVOIDING HEALTH AND GENETIC PROBLEMS:

Avoiding unnecessary and expensive health and genetic problems is easier if you follow these guidelines:

· Ask the breeder if the parents of the puppy you are considering are tested and clear of genetic problems. Deal only with breeders who test their dogs and ask for copies of the test results;

· NO TESTS = NO SALE!

· Be certain to get a record of inoculations when you pick up your puppy;

· Arrange to take your puppy directly to a veterinarian of your choice. This allows you to have the health of your puppy checked before there is any emotional attachment.

DO NOT BUY YOUR SHELTIE FROM A PUPPY MILL OR ANYONE WHO MASS PRODUCES DOGS. Good breeders, are those with the welfare of the breed at heart, and they do not typically produce more than 1 or 2 litters per year.




THE PURCHASE AGREEMENT:
· Do business with someone with whom you are comfortable;

· Get everything in writing and signed. A sales contract should indicate the breed of dog, the terms and condition under which the dog is sold, health and genetic guarantees, and return policy. It should also state that the dog is purebred and eligible for registration by the Canadian Kennel Club;

· Ask about the return policy. Get a guarantee against genetic health problems. A good breeder will not hesitate to deal with problems after the fact;

· Look for breeders who sell their puppies with the Canadian Kennel Club non-breeding agreement, and/or a spay or neuter condition in the contract. Both are good signs. A non-breeding agreement must be signed before you leave with your puppy and can be lifted by your breeder if the puppy grows to be acceptable breeding quality.

BE AWARE THAT IT IS ILLEGAL TO SELL A DOG IN CANADA AS PUREBRED WITHOUT SUPPLYING REGISTRATION PAPERS AT NO EXTRA COST TO THE PURCHASER. IT IS THE RESPONSIBILTY OF THE SELLER TO REGISTER THE TRANSFER OF OWNERSHIP OF THE DOG. IT IS NOT THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE BUYER. THIS RIGHT IS PROTECTED BY FEDERAL LEGISLATION KNOWN AS THE ANIMAL PEDIGREE ACT.

Under the Animal Pedigree Act, the person who sells you the dog is responsible for registering the dog with the Canadian Kennel Club - Not You! In Canada, purebred dogs are governed under the Canadian Pedigree Livestock Act, which states that any puppy sold in Canada as purebred MUST be sold with Canadian Kennel Club (CKC) registration papers provided at no extra charge to the purchaser.

In other words, the breeder of your sheltie MUST provide registration papers to you at no additional cost.

Please beware of breeders who do not comply with the Livestock Pedigree Act. They should not be selling their puppies at one price with papers, and another price without. The cost to register a dog within 6 months of birth is only $40.00 for non-CKC members. Don't let a breeder charge you hundreds of dollars extra for registration papers.

A breeder who sells their dogs/puppies as "purebred" but does not provide CKC registration is in violation of the Pedigree Livestock Act and may be charged by the RCMP with a violation under that act.

Kelly - this might be a good add to the "Reference " part of the forum. I know the questions has come up before. Just a suggestion.