More Ideas on the Sheltie to Choose

What is the sheltie temper like? This article is for those who want to know more about what makes the sheltie tick, and what could possibly be the worst to expect from this otherwise sweet and smart dog.

In answer to the above, sheltie temperaments vary from dog to dog, and from owner to owner. But in general, shelties make sweet-tempered and very brainy pets, drawn soon to a particular family member that it will be loyal to more than the others. They make good watchdogs, and when socialized with kids, make good family pets. At their core, they just want to win their masters' favor, and ideally needs to be taught with gentle but consistent training. Most shelties nowadays are less and less timid and sedentary compared to their earlier predecessors. Instead, most shelties currently have the most feisty and spirited characters, sometimes stubborn, always high-energy, and always in need of things to do.

Thus choosing a sheltie is no walk in the park. The personality suited for work outdoors may prove to be a pain in the neck of an elderly person, and one that likes to laze in front of the fireplace may get traumatized by rowdy teens. A veteran breeder (or rescue staffer) will do his or her best to identify what exactly are your motives for getting such a breed so he or she can point out a good dog to you. If ever you sense that your contact is more gung-ho about extracting a sale from you, close the transaction and beat it to the door. With good care and a little probability, a well-chosen sheltie can live up to at least 12 (if not twenty, in the case of some!).

So what do you need to watch out for in your sheltie? These dogs shed a lot, and some are barkers, the deep-throated sort. Before you go for one, take time to consider if you are capable of managing the issues associated with these two downsides.

Being double-coated, the sheltie needs to be fully brushed at least once a week. Adult, neutered shelties shed their coat mostly annually. There's nothing to worry about puppies 揵lowing?their coat, since it will occur only once. Lastly, although adult males have heavier coats than females, unspayed bitches happen to moult the most, actually shedding with each seasonal cycle!

With regard to barking, train your dog to control and eventually to stop doing it. Alternatively, you can ask your breeder or vet for information on a good trainer who can de-barked your dog.