New member from so cal!!

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Sharon7 said:
Welcome, Ken. I live up the coast from you in So Cal, nice to have another potential Sheltie Nation member from my area!

My comments are, Shelties bark. Yes you can train them to be quiet, but most of them are noise sensitive. Asta barks much less than Ally, who needs to remonstrate with the vacuum, coffee grinder, hair dryer, lawn mower.... you get the picture. Our first Sheltie used to attack the telephone when it rang, altho she grew out of that after many corrections.

There is a Sheltie club, I believe it is Tri Valley Shetland Sheepdog club and I know they are holding a special Sheltie show of some kind in November. If you Google it you'll probably find it. I believe it was going to be in the neighborhood of Santa Paula. It would be a great place to observe tons of Shelties and also talk with owners and breeders.

My one caution would be breeders who advertise "high performance/drive Shelties". My friend got one from San Diego area and the dog is just nuts. She goes so crazy during agility class - spinning, barking. She was disqualified from a Rally competition for excessive barking. So, do your research. My two Shelties like agility but they don't lose it like that.

Good for you for getting information BEFORE getting a dog!

Sharon
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Hi Sharon,

Thanks for the advice and information. I know that all dogs are different but I'm so afraid that I might get a Sheltie that is sensitive to noise. Do you think I can desensitize a Sheltie by making a lot of noise or play a tape recorded of many types of noise around the puppy a few hours a day? - Ken
 
KenRC51 said:
Hi Sharon,

Thanks for the advice and information. I know that all dogs are different but I'm so afraid that I might get a Sheltie that is sensitive to noise. Do you think I can desensitize a Sheltie by making a lot of noise or play a tape recorded of many types of noise around the puppy a few hours a day? - Ken
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I do. I have done that with my dogs when they were puppies. Mine do not random bark at household items, or things on the street. My dogs were not noise sensative as pups before that. They can all power nap though the hustle and bustle of a dog show. Justice and Ember never bark during training, Diva only barks in agility if I make a mistake, never during rally or obedience. Ember had that most barking tendiences as a small puppy but she has a more reactive temperment. One of the reasons she is spayed. She is not as steady as my other dogs. With my new puppies we will be playing noise CDs to help desensitize them to noise. The key is start with very low volume(you can hardly hear it) and for brief periods as not to overwhelm them. Feeding time works great as it pairs noise with a positive thing -food. :smile2:

The caution is if the pup has an underlying weak nervous temperment. It may not help as much. That why it is important to get a pup from a good breeder that handles and works with their pups. Ask questions about how the puppies are raised and handled. One that breeds only dogs with sound temperment, meet the parents at least the mom. Also do not take the pup that hides under the chair and doesn't want to approach or seems overall nervous when the rest of the pups are outgoing or the naturally demanding one. Shelties can be reserved with strangers but that should not be mistaken for shy. Two totally different things. A breeder who knows their pups can help you.
 
I totally agree with Dr. Shelli. We didn't get Ally till she was a year and a half old, and she was part of a pack at the breeders, so didn't get much exposure to indoor noises at all. I think exposing them to everything early will help with the sensitivity! Wish I had known all this with my first Sheltie.

They are a fabulous breed tho. :smile2:

Sharon
 
First, the Sheltie Specialty is Nov 13-14 in Moorpark. I'll be there with my 2 Shelties (agility and rally). If you can make it and if they aren't too busy, I'd definitely talk to some of the breeders if I was you.

When I bought Miko (12 years ago), I went to a local ASSA meeting and talked with some breeders. Miko was the runt and available. He was such a sweet puppy, so I took him home. He didn't bark until he was 1 yo. And from there, he'd only bark at the door and vacuum cleaner.

I went to a show to find the breeder again and y'know what I saw? Her dogs, all 6 of them, weren't barking (I take that back, one was a barker and was debarked). Her dogs were so laid back. And that's why I love her, lol. I got a second dog from her. Now, Koji barks a LOT more. But, he also barks to get attention, if he's not being paid any attention, if he's being mouthy, etc. Unlike a previous poster, I didn't know how to train him and deal with his anxiety. Nowdays, for the most part, he doesn't bark. Unfortunately, Miko taught him how to bark at the door and at noises outside (he never did before, very strange). He also barks at me during agility when he's "talking back" or I make a mistake. But at home, just hanging out, he's not a barker.

There are some that are talkers, and some that aren't. Definitely look at the line. I wish I could refer you to my breeder, however she moved across the country and no longer breeds. I could ask about her lines over here, to see if there's anyone, but otherwise, definitely look and learn.

I think everyone gave you some great advice if a Sheltie is right for you or not. In regards to the barking, only you can determine what is too much. For me, Koji's barking is way too much. But I have only myself to blame for not training early on. Not sure why he's barking at noises, but it could be our "new house". I dunno. I also know Miko instigates barking and Koji learns.

Good luck.
 
k9kreationz said:
First, the Sheltie Specialty is Nov 13-14 in Moorpark. I'll be there with my 2 Shelties (agility and rally). If you can make it and if they aren't too busy, I'd definitely talk to some of the breeders if I was you.

When I bought Miko (12 years ago), I went to a local ASSA meeting and talked with some breeders. Miko was the runt and available. He was such a sweet puppy, so I took him home. He didn't bark until he was 1 yo. And from there, he'd only bark at the door and vacuum cleaner.

I went to a show to find the breeder again and y'know what I saw? Her dogs, all 6 of them, weren't barking (I take that back, one was a barker and was debarked). Her dogs were so laid back. And that's why I love her, lol. I got a second dog from her. Now, Koji barks a LOT more. But, he also barks to get attention, if he's not being paid any attention, if he's being mouthy, etc. Unlike a previous poster, I didn't know how to train him and deal with his anxiety. Nowdays, for the most part, he doesn't bark. Unfortunately, Miko taught him how to bark at the door and at noises outside (he never did before, very strange). He also barks at me during agility when he's "talking back" or I make a mistake. But at home, just hanging out, he's not a barker.

There are some that are talkers, and some that aren't. Definitely look at the line. I wish I could refer you to my breeder, however she moved across the country and no longer breeds. I could ask about her lines over here, to see if there's anyone, but otherwise, definitely look and learn.

I think everyone gave you some great advice if a Sheltie is right for you or not. In regards to the barking, only you can determine what is too much. For me, Koji's barking is way too much. But I have only myself to blame for not training early on. Not sure why he's barking at noises, but it could be our "new house". I dunno. I also know Miko instigates barking and Koji learns.

Good luck.
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Simi Valley is not too far from me. Can I attend and watch Shelties and talk to people there? Is there a fee or go? Is it for members only?
 
Barking Sheltie?

Hi KenRC51,

You are asking the right questions and getting good responses.

Shelties are barkers and can be trained to bark less if you can establish an alternate form of communication. Desensitizing is rarely necessary. Shelties are so sensitive and want to please their humans that most will naturally redirect if you ask them to. (Then reward the good behavior.) What is most important for Shelties is contact and routine. Shelties want to be your partner and have fewer behavior problems if you have a stable routine. If you keep your Sheltie inside the house with your parents while you are at work or school the Sheltie will be much happier. We get quite a few Shelties with barking 'problems' because they are separated from the family or put outside. Shelties tend to bark incessantly when they get lonely or bored. Since Shelties are smart and spirited, some barking is part of the package. There are so many things to consider when purchasing a Sheltie. How do you feel about hair, shedding and grooming? My favorite book about Shelties is Sheltie Talk. There is also some good information on the ASSA.org website. You have received good recommendations about attending the Tri Valley SSC event. Also there is the Southern CA SSC and the Greater San Diego Shetland Sheepdog Club. Hope this information helps. You are welcome to contact me directly if you have questions.

Sincerely,
Sarai Johnson
Southland Sheltie Rescue San Diego
www.AdoptASheltie.com
www.SheltieRescueSD.com
 
This is the intro category. You should be checking the other forums for answers to your new pup questions there first.

I'm closing this thread so the questions & conversations regarding puppy raising can continue in the proper forums.
 
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