If you do decide to get a sheltie, I'd let them both interact and see what happens. If it looks like it's going to get ugly, return the sheltie to the breeder.
Thinking about a sheltie puppy, already have a mini schnauzer
- Thread starter jhwyung
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If you do decide to get a sheltie, I'd let them both interact and see what happens. If it looks like it's going to get ugly, return the sheltie to the breeder.
corbinam
Moderator
I think this thread is full of disagreements
because I disagree with the above. I think the sentiment is correct--I wouldn't leave a sheltie puppy alone all day every day. But, if your heart is set on a sheltie and you're willing to put in the extra time or money, working full time can be okay with a sheltie.You can hire a dogwalker to let the puppy out during the day, or maybe you can arrange your schedule to come home once during the day (for the first few months or so), and then in the evening you just have to make it a priority to spend time bonding with it, and also tiring it out mentally & physically.
My husband and I both work full time, and our dogs are home alone from 8:15 to 6 on most days. Do I wish I had more time with them? Absolutely. But it's just not feasible right now. So, we make sure they get some play/love in the morning, and then some training/walks and play in the evening.
I think in their shoes if I were set on another dog then I would look for an older sheltie one that is less active than a puppy would be, maybe a rescue, also if I were a breeder this would not be the optimal situation I would be looking for my puppies.
I wonder how many folk really follow through on getting a dog walker during the day - that's just the cynical part of me. I agree if there really is a commitment to make the dogs your priority once you are home, and spend the money necessary for a dog walker then it can work. I also believe there are some breeds that are more suited to being left all day than shelties.
I wonder how many folk really follow through on getting a dog walker during the day - that's just the cynical part of me. I agree if there really is a commitment to make the dogs your priority once you are home, and spend the money necessary for a dog walker then it can work. I also believe there are some breeds that are more suited to being left all day than shelties.
Tabitha
Forums Enthusiast
First off, I haven't read all the replies in this thread yet as I'm posting in a hurry, so if I'm repeating someone or speaking out of term sorry in advance!
I don't like turning people away from shelties, but I also don't like to think of a sheltie in a home where it's not suited (not saying anything against you Jeff). But in your situation from what I can tell I don't recommend a sheltie. You have a full time job, the dog will be home alone 8 hours a day, your are not able to take the dog out for regular walks, and you have another dog that shelties are known not to do well with. Now many people are in this situation and everything is fine. And most everyone here is in at least one of these situations, but it's a combination of all of them that make me think a sheltie isn't right for you. I've had 7 shelties in my life and all but one (Sunny my sheltie angel) have been active and a bit hyper. I personally think a herding or working breed in general may be too much for you and your little dog.
Example, take a border collie. It's listed as the most intelligent dog in the world. But really, how many people can own one? They'er high maintenance and need a LOT of exercise. They need a job to do, that's what they were breed for, and if they don't get that job it's very likly they'll invent one. That could mean destruction. Now sheltie's aren't as active a BC but it's pretty much the same thing. They need exercise not only for your home's sake, but their health as well. I do wish you luck in finding the right companion
I don't like turning people away from shelties, but I also don't like to think of a sheltie in a home where it's not suited (not saying anything against you Jeff). But in your situation from what I can tell I don't recommend a sheltie. You have a full time job, the dog will be home alone 8 hours a day, your are not able to take the dog out for regular walks, and you have another dog that shelties are known not to do well with. Now many people are in this situation and everything is fine. And most everyone here is in at least one of these situations, but it's a combination of all of them that make me think a sheltie isn't right for you. I've had 7 shelties in my life and all but one (Sunny my sheltie angel) have been active and a bit hyper. I personally think a herding or working breed in general may be too much for you and your little dog.
Example, take a border collie. It's listed as the most intelligent dog in the world. But really, how many people can own one? They'er high maintenance and need a LOT of exercise. They need a job to do, that's what they were breed for, and if they don't get that job it's very likly they'll invent one. That could mean destruction. Now sheltie's aren't as active a BC but it's pretty much the same thing. They need exercise not only for your home's sake, but their health as well. I do wish you luck in finding the right companion
Justicemom
Forums Celebrity
Well don't tell mine that. I work 9 to 5 and sometimes longer. I have always gotten puppies (except my JRT mix who was 1yr and more work than any puppy I have ever had for years and years and years) and have always worked all day. I have never hired a dog walker and don't plan to. I do make special effort to go home at lunch when they are young puppies But but 4-5 months they do fine. I don't believe they suffer for it and I have no issues with seperation anexity either. They know the schedule and they know nap.
I have taken my dogs to work and all they do is sleep all day there too.
Now on the flip side when I am home we are togther and spending time with each other and doing things. That is most evenings, days off and weekends. As Ashley says tired them out in the morning and evenings and they are fine.
Oh yes I had a terrier mix and shelties at the same time too. It was super hard and took some management. Shelties really really do not like physical play unless it is their idea.
My neighbour has a 2 year old Australian Shepherd that I defy anyone to tire out! She is an amazing dog - smartest and most highly trainable dog I have ever met. For example, I taught her to "say her prayers" in 2 - 3 minute sessions. Her mom works from home except 1 day a week and on that day I go over and take her out at lunch. When she was little I spent about 1/2 an hour playing ball with her in the yard and wishing now that I had asked to take her into town instead because her family didn't feel like doing it themselves after a long day at work. As a breeder, I wanted my pups to have better than this. These are not bad people but they do represent a lot of people. Just ask any trainer that works with dogs that have not been socialized.
This dog hears my voice on the phone and she makes noises because she wants me to come over. She is totally untrustworthy with strangers because of lack of socialization and a brute of a vet that managed to scare the heck out of her when she was 16 weeks old. Yes, she went to obedience school as a young dog but not much else.
My point is, the more intelligent the animal, the more likely for problem behaviour. All things can be managed if you manage them. Unfortunately, not all humans will do what is necessary to turn puppy into a civilized dog. Leaving them for hours a day and then coming home and playing with them will not do it. You still have to go out and expose the dog to many things. Obedience school is not enough. No matter how tired you are after a long day at work, you need to go out and teach that pup about the world around you. Crating has gone from being a useful tool to being a way to keep pup from experiencing things and learning from that experience. No animal should have to be in a crate all night and then again, all day with only a few hours in the evening to be out of it. Even then, I keep reading that you should stick it back in the crate if it doesn't pee, if you have to turn your back on it etc. Giving the dog a break at lunch, taking it out for more than a pee break or hiring someone else to do it that knows how to deal with puppies is something that has to be considered. Not everyone works close enough to their homes to be able to share the lunch hour with their dogs so they should find an alternative.
This dog hears my voice on the phone and she makes noises because she wants me to come over. She is totally untrustworthy with strangers because of lack of socialization and a brute of a vet that managed to scare the heck out of her when she was 16 weeks old. Yes, she went to obedience school as a young dog but not much else.
My point is, the more intelligent the animal, the more likely for problem behaviour. All things can be managed if you manage them. Unfortunately, not all humans will do what is necessary to turn puppy into a civilized dog. Leaving them for hours a day and then coming home and playing with them will not do it. You still have to go out and expose the dog to many things. Obedience school is not enough. No matter how tired you are after a long day at work, you need to go out and teach that pup about the world around you. Crating has gone from being a useful tool to being a way to keep pup from experiencing things and learning from that experience. No animal should have to be in a crate all night and then again, all day with only a few hours in the evening to be out of it. Even then, I keep reading that you should stick it back in the crate if it doesn't pee, if you have to turn your back on it etc. Giving the dog a break at lunch, taking it out for more than a pee break or hiring someone else to do it that knows how to deal with puppies is something that has to be considered. Not everyone works close enough to their homes to be able to share the lunch hour with their dogs so they should find an alternative.
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I had a lovely neighbour when we lived out west - she had 2 little kids under 3 and they decided to adopt a husky/shepherd cross from the pound about a year old. She was a lovely dog with the sweetess temperament you ever saw - both mom & dad worked full time, kids in day care...they did really well by that that dog for about 3 months ( coming home at lunch - taking it out in the evenings for long walks) Before long however she was left outside all day in a reasonable sized dog run, which she figured out how to unlatch so they had to put a lock on it - they came home fed her and out she went again, barely got any exercise or family time, weekend walks almost stopped. Poor girl just barked and barked all day, it was so sad. In spite of all that she was still just a sweetie pie with anyone who payed her the least attention - after about a year of neighbours complaining they finally gave her away. They were not bad people, they just hadn't counted on exactly how much work a dog that big with that amount of energy would be alongside of looking after a couple of little kids and them mom got preggers with number 3 and there simply was not time for doggie. Best of intentions...
Not saying it can't be done well - but you are not the average dog owner either
Not saying it can't be done well - but you are not the average dog owner either
Sorry if my post was unhelpful. I guess since I work at a dog day care and see at least 5-10 different shelties per week including my own, my opinion is skewed. We have some shelties that run and play with the other dogs, including the terrier breeds, and we have others that like to chill in the corner and mostly just get attention from us, the employees. A client of mine that has a parson russell terrier just got a sheltie puppy a couple of months ago, and they are doing great. They really get wild together sometimes but they're definitely friends. Some of the other shelties do not care for Skye (the parson russell), they kind of ignore him.
I guess it is just different to me to bring in a puppy rather than an adult dog. When I got my dog, he was 8 weeks old, and my cat was 1. They are thick as thieves and I don't know that that would be the case if I would've gotten him as an adult. The sheltie as a breed does like some space on occasion though. And all puppies require a good bit of time. I guess I really am sort of new to the sheltie world so my opinion is really not very valuable. I would suggest listening to the other posts. I don't have the experience nor do I have multiple dogs at this time. Good luck.
I guess it is just different to me to bring in a puppy rather than an adult dog. When I got my dog, he was 8 weeks old, and my cat was 1. They are thick as thieves and I don't know that that would be the case if I would've gotten him as an adult. The sheltie as a breed does like some space on occasion though. And all puppies require a good bit of time. I guess I really am sort of new to the sheltie world so my opinion is really not very valuable. I would suggest listening to the other posts. I don't have the experience nor do I have multiple dogs at this time. Good luck.
trini
Forums Sage
In any given subject there are going to be differing opinions based on each of our experiences. Some topics get a lot more discussion and disagreement than others.
With your job at a dog day care facility, you see several shelties in a setting that gives you good insight into how they respond to other breeds, their general activity level, etc. It is good that you added your observations to this thread.
Trini
Shelby's mom
Forums Enthusiast
We got Shelby not long after loosing our 13 year old. Let me just say that we really forgot how much work it was to raise a puppy again. At 13 Hollie was no longer active at all, just laid around the house.
We both work full time and unfortunately Shelby is home a lot longer than I would prefer but that is just the way things are. She had no issues adjusting to being home alone (neither did Hollie). We do have arrangements with our neighbors, if anything were to happen that we could not come home from work (I am a nurse he works emergency management so that is very possible) they will take care of her for us. That is very important to us.
In the morning we have some play time, and training. When we get home it is more play time, training, and then a long walk after dinner. I also take her to the local nursing home to visit the residents, and we are usually enrolled in some type of training class every few months. It really is a lot of work and time commitment to keep her busy and tired. We socialized her like crazy so she is comfortable in pretty much any situation. She will be 4 next month so it is a lot easier now. We also have "inside" games (nose work, we have agility jumps and tunnel in the basement), that we use when the weather is not conducive to being outside.
Shelby is the complete opposite of Hollie. We do still crate Shelby when we are at work (any other time she has free roam of the house). Shelby most definitely was easily bored as a pup. If she did not have a job to do and was not being mentally stimulated she would make her own job, which more times than not was something she should not be doing (chewing walls etc.). This is why she is still crated. We never had those issues with Hollie.
So I guess what I am trying to say is please do not underestimate the amount of time and commitment it takes to train and occupy a Sheltie pup. They are wonderful companions and I could not imagine my life without one. But they definitely are not for everyone. And as we learned no two dogs are the same. They are all their own persons. Shelby's breeder was spot on when she told us how Shelby's personality would be. So that maybe be helpful when making your decision.
We both work full time and unfortunately Shelby is home a lot longer than I would prefer but that is just the way things are. She had no issues adjusting to being home alone (neither did Hollie). We do have arrangements with our neighbors, if anything were to happen that we could not come home from work (I am a nurse he works emergency management so that is very possible) they will take care of her for us. That is very important to us.
In the morning we have some play time, and training. When we get home it is more play time, training, and then a long walk after dinner. I also take her to the local nursing home to visit the residents, and we are usually enrolled in some type of training class every few months. It really is a lot of work and time commitment to keep her busy and tired. We socialized her like crazy so she is comfortable in pretty much any situation. She will be 4 next month so it is a lot easier now. We also have "inside" games (nose work, we have agility jumps and tunnel in the basement), that we use when the weather is not conducive to being outside.
Shelby is the complete opposite of Hollie. We do still crate Shelby when we are at work (any other time she has free roam of the house). Shelby most definitely was easily bored as a pup. If she did not have a job to do and was not being mentally stimulated she would make her own job, which more times than not was something she should not be doing (chewing walls etc.). This is why she is still crated. We never had those issues with Hollie.
So I guess what I am trying to say is please do not underestimate the amount of time and commitment it takes to train and occupy a Sheltie pup. They are wonderful companions and I could not imagine my life without one. But they definitely are not for everyone. And as we learned no two dogs are the same. They are all their own persons. Shelby's breeder was spot on when she told us how Shelby's personality would be. So that maybe be helpful when making your decision.