Question-------------------------
Followup To
Question -
I have a total of 10 shelties...Thanks (again) in advance for your time.
Answer -
Hi Laura,
I'm surprised at the sheer numbers, and also amazed at your stamina.
First thing: I do believe in bark collars. Sorry, but the short term training value far outweighs the slight discomfort. We used ours sparingly when the don't bark command was being trained. We can bring it out and not turn it on to remind them of their training. The citronella collars seem perfectly harmless so why not try them? If they don't work try the shock collar. It isn't like an electrocution; more like a strong static charge when you rub your feet on the carpet and touch a doorknob.
You definitely need to get a trainer who will work with you at your home to discipline these Shelties. As you know, they are intelligent and will challenge authority. They need training and that takes a lot of time and attention to individual pups.
As far as the poop: two issues. There is an additive at FosterandSmith.com that should make the poop unappetizing. The second is feed them a meat-based food instead of corn based (the first listed ingredient on the bag) so there is less poop. I buy the 25lb bag at Sam's for about $20. They only need about 1 cup of food each per day, ok?
Because you have come to me for advice I must give you some additional food for thought:
In our home have reached our capacity to give a decent amount of time to discipline and keep our 3 shelties clean & healthy. IF your pups are eating poop is that a sign that you have exceded your capacity? Would another home with a loving family benefit from the love of a Sheltie? The important question is would the Shelties you love benefit from additional attention and not having to fight for time with you?
Having 3 cats and 3 Shelties I am NOT CASTING STONES here. I just want you to think about their benefit, ok? I don't volunteer to do this for humans, I do this website for the benefit of Shelties. I am trying to pass along some of the love my Shelties have given to me.
'sneezes
Dave
Dave,
Thanks so very much for such a quick & friendly reply...and asstd. information. Our vet has also suggested the citronella collars which I have yet to find, but will be looking for them at the petstore (I would rather try that before the other type of collar, but will keep your suggestions in mind). Also, in regards to the suggestion of the "poop" item from Foster & Smith, ironically I have that already but need to restart it since I had not used it when the pups were very young and now they are 9 months it should be ok. I guess I forgot about that item in my pantry and will have to bring it out again, but I do not recall it being very effective the first time I used it with the older dogs, but will try it again.
As far as your thinking that I have exceeded my "limit" on shelties, which is I am sure what most people think when they find out about our dogs, that is what I figured you would say, but I can't imagine finding several other people who are like me that I would be comfortable with in giving up my babies (and money is not the issue as I can't put a value on them at this point).
I keep in contact with the breeder who I got the mother from and she tells me of the "horror" stories about the people who buy dogs from her and have problems (over silly reasons that they can't deal with-like the dog barking or having an accident, etc.) and need to return them to her and get their money back. She keeps hoping and praying to find more people like me, but she said that they are few and far between and she has more people waste her time instead and do not give her the confidence of being a good pet owner.
My pets are my heart and I cherish them and realize the complete & lifetime responsibility that they require and I would not trade them for a million dollars and I am sure that you along with many other people think that I am "nuts" for thinking that way. We take them to Petsmart every 12 weeks for their grooming ($300-400 each time for all 10 including a 10% multi-pet disc. I negotiated) and they are the "stars" of the store everytime, with other customers admiring them. We also had their pics taken recently with Santa and that turned out adorable (6 puppies in 1 photo, mom & dad in another and the 2 oldest in the third) Also have had professional pics done in the past with the older dogs.
(I also have my "passed" pets "privately cremated" so that I have their remains with me in memory of them and over the years I have lost 3 cats, 1 rabbit and 1 guinea pig, so I spare no expense for them in that way either).
We have a good size yard (live on a corner lot) for them to run and play and they are outside many times during the day/night for excercise and "potty breaks" along with my attention to them in the house. They are actually more indoor dogs, but they have their fun when they/we play out in the yard also.
As for their food, I have been feeding them a variety of "kibble" types for variety (buy the different flavors and mix them in a large food bin) and I thought that they were "meat" based, but I will recheck that the next time I get some. I saw something on one of the sheltie web-links about "Neura"-Old Mother Hubbard (95% turkey) mixed with yogurt and canned pumpkin to help to "calm" them and wondered what you think about that idea.
I just find it amazing that they have plenty of food and treats but want to eat feces, and not necessarily their own, but "only" that of the 2 older dogs who as I previously mentioned eat all the same food as them. I spend hundreds of dollars on buying the best treats, food and chew things so that they are satisfied. I guess I just have to work some more and have the patience to know that it can be broken. I would love to have the "dog whisperer" come to my house, but I don't think he travels to Illinois.
I keep using the positive reinforcement of saying "good dogs, no barking", which helps at times, and that in addition to the clicker training, I guess I just have to keep at it. But as you know with having more than one, that if one of them starts barking, then the others follow. And their jumping on me when excited started from the 1 & 1/2 yr old and the younger ones follow her lead. I remind them at night that when they go outside before bedtime "everyone is sleeping and it is time to go to bed" and they seem to understand that and I have very little problem with that routine. But being that we are on the corner across from a park, when other dogs are out or someone walks by the fence, they start barking (during the day), so I have to keep an ear out to make sure that they stop quickly.
I would love to have a 6 ft. privacy fence (have 4 ft picket with lanscape fabric to block view between slats), but they could still smell and hear so that might not help that much-just would eliminate the "gaukers" over the fence who want to look at my dogs and admire them.
Thanks again for your support and understanding. Laura in Aurora
P.S. and the shelties thank you as well :-)
P.P.S. My license plate on my car is "SHLT R D 1" (translation-"Sheltie are the one")
AnswerExcellent response. As money is not a problem try to find a trainer who can come work with your pups to help with the jumping and keep up the excellent work.
Thank you for the heads up on the additive to prevent poop eating not working for you.
Google is your best friend for finding odd items. Try the citronella collar search there.
D
