Trixie unexpectedly said goodbye

Just from my experiences... YES, there is a difference in sheltie temperaments...
I wanted a lay-back pup. That is what I got.
Some people want a border quality type that is high energy for agility.

If you want a show-quality pup you will be asked to show. Cost: $2.5k vs $4k and up.
Also, consider if you have your heart set on a female they will most likely want you to breed her!

Just some points to consider... I am sure others will chime in.

 

Think about the job you want your new pet to do. All Shelties need a job that is theirs to do. My dog Teddy is my companion and keeps a eye on my BP. He is very happy to be quiet and keep his eyes on me wherever we go. When my wife walks him is is more active. When my dog walker has him he is high energy. I believe he gauges the energy level based off of who he is around. He is an only child so we make sure he is well socialized and has a variety since he doesn't have any playmates living here. Just my two cents. Good luck with your search.

 

Others with more experience from the breeding side will hopefully reply here. I will say, reputable Sheltie breeders are also very concerned about where their dogs go and what's expected of them. I think those questions that breeder asked are very typical. There is a variety of energy levels even within Shelties of the same line. Of the 4 girls we chose from, one was VERY active, one was VERY mellow and the other two (one of which was Meadow) were in the middle. My guess is you'd have a hard time getting a show dog as an individual who has never done it before, and isn't even committed to it. Nothing wrong with that, I have no interest in showing conformation either.

I know you want what you want and that's fine, great to know your requirements, but if you come off in a very intense manner it may be off-putting. For instance, not wanting much black in the coat. Being open to something maybe not exactly what you are picturing will open more doors. I bet most breeders have their email boxes overflowing with inquiries. But being a previous Sheltie owner is definitely a plus. Good luck, I hope you find the dog you want.

 

I think if it were me I’d initially reach out to see if an6 pups are available and ask them about what kind of breeder are they…do they show their dogs, how many litters do they have per year (are they a small hobby breeder or a puppy mill type breeder) and what do they test for. Also I’d want to know are the pups raised in their home (more handling of them). I’d tell them a little about myself but not too much, just that I’ve had Sheltie’s for years and know what their requirements are. I wouldn’t ask to be put on a waiting list initially until I’ve heard back from all of them. I would suggest you check out ASSA for a list of reputable breeders and either email or phone from there. One more suggestion, I would hesitate to be on more than one waiting list…believe it or not it’s a small world and all of them know each other. If your on 2 or more wait lists they may find out and it may make it harder for you to get a pup.
I do remember when I got Piper I was so worried the breeder wouldn’t sell me a puppy! Believe it or not they are really good at telling our character and they’ll know your a good person! I now have 3 Shelties all from the same breeder!
And remember it’s just as important that you vette them as they do you. Ask if you can visit and see the dam and sire (sometimes it’s not possible to see the sire, quite often they use a stud dog from another breeder) but it would definitely be a red flag if they won’t let you visit!
Good luck…I’m certain you’ll have no trouble finding yourself another puppy!

 

Just a quick thought - you probably should make a new thread on this topic so more people will look at it.

 

When I got Teddy I had been talking to the breeder for 3 weeks. The Breeder knew that this will be my 3rd Sheltie, I prefer a male, my use was companion animal, and I needed the dog not to be afraid of my bad arm.
I loved the pictures of the one we did not get. When we got there I played with the mom and she was very sweet. Then I sat in the playpen and watched and waited to see who came to me. Turned out to be his sibling They had named him Kenny but we had a neighbor named Kenny so was renamed Teddy. We thought the neighborhood should have thought I was crazy if I started calling Kenny in our backyard.