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[Secrets]

Just a heads up, this is turning into an essay so begin reading at your own peril

I've been lurking the threads for the last three weeks so most of my questions have already been answered but there's just a few I'm still a little unsure about. I'm looking to get a dog probably early - mid 2017. The reason why it's so far into the future is that this is the first dog I have raised by myself and I want to make sure I give it a good life and part of that means doing my research and building up a sizable vet fund. (I'm also getting pet insurance, don't worry). Here's the questions:

How well do they cope with flatting?
E.g. Do they need to live with the same 4 people for the rest of their lives or are they okay with bonding with one person and meeting new people?
Wherever I live will always have a backyard since I like gardening and hate living in apartments so that's one less thing to worry about.

Are they okay with other animals?
I have a rabbit who spends most of her day in her hutch and run, but she does come inside often for snuggles, brushing and rainy days. I know that shelties are herding dogs, so if my rabbit escapes from her hutch would a sheltie be more likely to round her up, chase her out of the garden, or eat her?

What do you mean by they require a lot of grooming?
I have a long haired rabbit so daily brushing is something I'm already used to, but will I need to take my dog to an actual groomers and if so how often? Also with the shedding, do you often find yourself vacuuming more than once a week because of it?

Do they travel well?
If not, is there any way to help with car sickness / car anxieties? Also would it be more traumatic to have an hour flight (baring in mind that dogs aren't allowed in the cabin here) or an 8 hour drive for them?

How do you keep them cool in the summer?
I've read that it's not recommended to give shelties hair cuts because bad for their double coat, but it can get quite warm in Wellington in summer and I don't have air conditioning so I'm worried about the climate being a bit cruel for a long haired dog. I'll also be spending two weeks a year visiting family in Hawkes Bay and it gets crazy hot there so this is something I'm quite worried about.

Are they happy just to be by your side or do they require constant attention?
At least one of my flatmates around that time will be studying post grad at Uni so they'll be home to give the dog some company but they've also got their own work to do so I'm worried that it might keep pestering my flatmates. I'll take him/her out for a morning walk to help tire it out if that helps and I'm certainly not against hiring a dog walker for while I'm at work.

I've read that lots of people sleep with Shelties in their room, is this because of their separation anxiety or just personal preference?
I'm more than happy to set up a dog bed in my room, however my parents don't allow their dog in bedrooms so at Christmas it'll probably be sleeping with their cocker spaniel in the room next to mine.

How do you socialise a puppy with children if you don't know anyone with them?
I've heard that Shelties can be very good with children if you socialise them early and try to crack down on the herding instinct. The problem is that I have no access to children. (That feels like a weird thing to say haha) I'm concerned that if I stop to get a coffee on our morning walk and a child tries to say hello to him/her, my dog won't know how to react and terrible things will happen.

The barking, are we talking constant barking or is it just when something peaks their interest? Also, do they howl?
I don't mind vocal dogs and would love to train one to sing while I play the ukulele, but I have flatmates and neighbors to be considerate of and I need a rough idea of what kind of barking they do so I can learn how to turn it into useful barks.

Do Sheltie puppies have any needs that are different to other breeds?

Overall I've read that they're pretty healthy dogs but what are the main health concerns and also what age do they normally start showing up?
If I have a rough idea on when common health problems set in then I'm hoping to catch them early.

Do you think I'm right for a Sheltie?
We all know that when it comes to dogs it's not about them being right for you, but you being right for them. I'm 22 years old, I've been a chef to support myself through uni but now I've got my degree I'm on the hunt for a 9 - 5 job. (Another reason why I'm not getting a dog til 2017) I really enjoy going for long walks and am looking for a dog that's small enough to make a good impression on landlords, but energetic enough that we can travel around New Zealand and do all the hidden walks to waterfalls and lighthouses etc. I'm also going to be camping to get around NZ so I want a dog that I can snuggle up to when I hear a scary noise outside. I've been brought up with a Golden Retriever and a Cocker Spaniel however I did live with a Labrador and a Border Collie for a year so I have a rough idea of how much exercise a high energy dog might need. The retriever and spaniel were also raised from pups so I also have a little experience in raising and training dogs however I plan on taking my future dog to puppy training classes as I think it's great for socialization. I'm flatting usually in groups of 4 - 5 people. It's normally the same group every year with one person removed/added so I'm hoping that this isn't going to be too traumatic for my new little buddy.

I think that's it for now, I also have a million questions on finding reputable breeders and puppy personalities but I think I'll save those for when I know for sure what breed I'm getting. Thanks for reading, sorry it's so long!

 

[Lunatic59]

Just a heads up, this is turning into an essay so begin reading at your own peril

How well do they cope with flatting?

Good place to start ... Let me first say that every Sheltie (every dog for that matter) will have their own personality. Some exhibit none of the standard breed traits while others have them to the extreme. You can get a good idea about the puppy from the parents, but nothing's a guarantee.

Shelties love their people. Mine have always bonded to one person but are fine with others once they get to know them. Actually, having more people around is better than fewer if that means they'll be alone less.

Are they okay with other animals?

Sure ... especially sheep. Seriously, my two boys love cats. Can't figure that one out, but the cats tend to like them too once they realize they aren't going to be eaten. I'm not sure if the Sheltie herding instinct would kick in with a rabbit. My boys love to chase them, but i doubt they'd eat them. If you introduce them early in very supervised conditions, i think a Sheltie would be find having a rabbit buddy. The question is how will the rabbit do with a Sheltie's playful nature?

What do you mean by they require a lot of grooming?

Shelties are double-coated and the fine undercoat has a tendency to mat. If that happens, it can be very painful and cause skin problems. You most likely will have to cut out a mat rather than try and brush it out, which is a pain for both you and the dog. I brush my boys once a week normally and more often when they are "blowing their coat" which they do twice a year. Of course if find a mat forming i comb it out right away. As far as grromers, commercial groomers usually get Shelties wrong, so i do the trimming myself. You can go simple trim around the feet, legs and backside, or go for a full show trim. Whatever you do don't ever shave or short-cut a Sheltie.

Do they travel well?

I have one that puked as a puppy but is better now. A good travel remedy are ginger snap cookies as the ginger is a natural stomach settler. You can give them a 1/4 tab of Dramamine, too an hour before travel if it's severe and your vet says it's okay. Personally, I'd rather drive my dogs than trust them to an airline.

How do you keep them cool in the summer?

Make sure they have shade and water and they'll do fine. While it may seem contradictory, their double coats insulate them against heat as well as cold. Those big fluffy coats are their own shade and keep cooler air close to the skin. Shelties can handle pretty extreme climates, but in the high heat, limit the activity.

Are they happy just to be by your side or do they require constant attention?

Like I said earlier, Shelties love their people and will be happy to just be with you (everywhere, including the bathroom, so get used to having a fuzzy shadow!) The thing is, Shelties are smart, high energy dogs and require both exercise and mental challenges from you or they will figure something else out. Mine love frisbee and will be happy with a 1/2 hour of chasing, but if i don't do something with them on a daily basis they let me know. Either by bouncing a ball for hours while I'm trying to work, or worse, tearing something up for fun. Don't get em wrong, my boys aren't destructive, but a bored Sheltie is a naughty Sheltie.

I've read that lots of people sleep with Shelties in their room, is this because of their separation anxiety or just personal preference?

They are companion animals, so they want to be with you. Of course as pups it's better to start them off in a crate for training purposes. Our dogs have always had access to the bedroom, but they don't sleep on the bed. In the summer they prefer the cooler floor in our foyer, but in the winter they sleep by the bed. They decide, not us. I guess I'm trying to say that if you get a Sheltie, be prepared to spend a significant amount of time with him/her. It's worth every second.

How do you socialise a puppy with children if you don't know anyone with them?

That's a toughie. You can socialize a Sheltie to be good with people, but kids are harder. They tend to be jumpy, unpredictable, grabby, loud and right at the dog's level. Those are all the things that push a Sheltie's instinct buttons. I have a six month old grandson and when he visits, the dogs are NEVER with him unsupervised, but supervised they love him to death, although the licking does get a bit much.

The barking, are we talking constant barking or is it just when something peaks their interest? Also, do they howl?

I would say they are reactive barkers. Shelties don't bark for no reason. But, motion, a new person or a bird can get them going. Some bark more than others, too. That's a personality thing.

Do Sheltie puppies have any needs that are different to other breeds?

Just typical puppy stuff.

Do you think I'm right for a Sheltie?

If you are ready for daily exercise and playing games, having a pal in the bathroom and accepting fur as a condiment, then you are right for a Sheltie.