Owning a Sheltie? | The Shetland Sheepdog

[@fletchbundy]

SHELTIES ARE THE BEST!!! I grew up with 2 shelties most of my childhood who had the most hilarious personalities and were the biggest sweethearts. I wish they weren't so hard to find.

[@jahnavikeraval6839]

My boy Cashmere died 2 years ago in October. I miss him everyday. He was the live of my life, my guardian angel. I hope to be blessed with another

[@drlindsaybutzer]

Yes get another one! I am so sorry for your loss!

[@gregskaggs8521]

You shall be

[@briancooper1291]

We have owned 7 Shelties over 37 years- smaller to larger ones now. Our latest -a brother and sister that are 40 pounds and 30 pounds. The boy looks more like a rough collie, and his sister more like a border. They are by far, the most beloved, intuitive, and personal Shelties we have owned. The breed is an incredible resource of never ending, devoted love and must know at all times where the owners are. Both are great travelers. Only other Sheltie parents will understand this devotion.

[@garysager9028]

My wife had 3 shelties when we married. I was a Golden Retriever guy. I’m all about shelties now. I still like Golden Retrievers but shelties stoled my heart.

[@SpooN12344321]

they stole my heart too :) i have 2 shelties girls

[@wendykindler474]

My husband and I got a Sheltie for Christmas 16 years ago, and he is still living. Very loving, loyal, guard, easy to train, always ready to play, run, jump, and play hide and seek. He is slower now but is still all of those things

[@wendykindler474]

I am a widow now, and my beloved dog Bugger is almost 17 years. I loading his weak and tired shell of a body into the vehicle to take his last ride. My heart is broken 💔 😢

[@TheKrisKing]

⁠@@wendykindler474 sorry to hear that, Wendy. My eldest of 3 Sheltie’s (she was my first dog ever) is just over 9, I hope to be blessed with 17 years with her. I dread the day. Sorry for your losses

[@37silverstreak1]

I just lost my beloved Sheltie Willow to kidney failure at 14yrs. She never chased cars, but she did chase airplanes that flew over! She also loved to chase flocks of Canada geese that would fly over the meadow where we walked. Willow was also very smart, I didn't train her- she trained me!!! She was dads girl and had me wrapped around her paw from day one! I miss her so much.

[@LadyofPeace89RO]

💔

[@TheKrisKing]

Sorry to read about Willow. She sounds like she was a lot like my female Sheltie, Minnow. She also chases airplanes that fly overhead and stole our heart instantly. She’s 9 now, was my first dog and now we have 3 shelties. They’re so great. I’m sure Willow was very loved

[@37silverstreak1]

@@TheKrisKing Thank you for the kind words. Willow and Minnow do sound alike, even their names! Please love and cherish Minnow! I hope she lives for many years yet, but the time does fly by. I think about Willow every time I see a flock of Geese fly over. I should have told her she couldn't leave me until she caught one. I hope there are lots of geese in heaven.

[@darkermoonlightshadow2084]

My mom is obsessed with shelties. She just has to have one of every color in my life.

[@GaryHouse-x1x]

We have 3 Shelties and absolutely love their enthusiasm, energy and their unconditional love for us and each other. They are a constant source of joy and playfulness. Cannot say enough about how much joy they give us and all they meet

[@TheKrisKing]

Agree with all of this, we also have 3 Sheltie’s and they just fill us with joy daily.

[@TheDucksfaninpa2010]

My family is currently on Sheltie number 2. We got our first Sheltie when I was 10. We named him Scotty. He was put down on his 14th birthday in 2018. We missed having a Sheltie in the house. The second Sheltie is a blue merle and we named him Sheldon. The Sheltie is our favorite breed of dog. I'm almost 30 so I've had a Sheltie for almost 20 years.

[@shengyi1701]

You named him after the Chief Engineer aboard the Enterprise

[@coryfogle5353]

I've been blessed with REALLY good dogs thru the years. A Sheltie pup joined us last Summer and has proven himself to be incredibly easy to train, as well as readily becoming part of the family.

[@slickdaddy12]

If you get a Sheltie be prepared for a ride. Awesome dogs. Super smart.

[@toetiewitbraad9169]

I have my first sheltie. Adorable

[@exadoorrising1239]

Me too (he’s 4 months old)! Congratulations.🐾🐾😊

[@NicolaSears]

Im on my second Sheltie there so loving , and love to be cuddled.They also love cats and there great around children .

[@ericrose540]

Love our sheltie Ginger. Quirky, Smart, loyal & funny - she is the best pet we have ever had!

[@silverdragon7575]

I grew up with a Sheltie. Great dog for kids. I was obsessed with animal planet and made my own “agility course” that I taught her how to run. I also taught her how to play dead when I shouted “Avada Kedevra!” She used to herd my mom on the riding lawnmower, and the grass clippings would turn her paws green.

[@riotsquadgaming7460]

i've had shelties my entire life, they are very wonderful dogs

[@ericrose540]

Best dog in the world. We’ve had our 10 yr old Ginger for 9 1/2 years. She is loyal, smart, loving, barkie & hilarious. Truly my best friend in retirement!

[@marybethsabol1350]

I’m on my 5 th Sheltie I’ve had at least one of every color accepted by the AKC . They are intelligent and eager to please do are willing participants for training. They do well with active owners. I do agility with my Shelties it’s fun and really gives you a unique relationship between you and your dog to tackle the courses. If you keep their coat cleaned and brushed it really helps. They may not do well with really young children, but would make a loyal companion for an older child. Hope this helps if you are thinking of bringing a sheltie into your family. 4:41

[@Kathy-u5d]

We have just lost our little love Cash . He was the joy of our home for 17 years. We can not replace him, but we are waiting for two sheltie pups. We need the love a sheltie gives and the love we can give them.

[@reneelensi7280]

Love these dogs best dogs so loving and best dog to own !!my sheltie just passed away we miss him much! We are talking about getting another one THE BEST DOG TO OWN !!! OUR ROCKIE WAS ELEVEN YEARS AND OUR FIRST WAS 18. GREAT. FAMILY DOG TO OWN !!😊❤❤❤

[@patwilson2546]

I am on Sheltie #2 (Flynn). Sheltie #1 (Liam) lived to almost 14. Flynn is 9, so almost 23 years of Shelties. Needless to say, I love them. That said, they are not for everybody. They bark - a lot. In the case of Flynn, more than a lot. They do need exercise and engagement. Having a Sheltie in suburbia, I let Flynn herd the garbage cans when I take them to and from the garage. He also helps me with other things like getting a beer or a tool from the garage. They are going to be underfoot 24/7, so the key is to talk to them and involve them in as much as possible. Even silly little things like picking something up and moving it. Praise them when you are done. They will be very pleased with themselves.

[@StellaWaldvogel]

Yes! They get excited every time I do anything. And moving garbage cans must be barked at, and herded when possible!

[@CharlesPauley-d7m]

I’ve owned 8 Shelties. They are the most wonderful dogs. Loving and smart!😅

[@donnawoods8039]

I just love my sheltie. I am on my second one. They are so loving.

[@michaelmckenna9022]

I grew up with one in the 70s. The older kids in the neighborhood would try to race the dog for a block with cars and motorcycles. She would always win.

[@TL-is8pk]

Love my Sheltie. He's bright and always up for training or a good long-line walk in a field herding butterflies. They're such devoted and steadfast companions. There's no dog quite like a Sheltie. Beauty and brains in one.

[@drlindsaybutzer]

Shelties are super smart! I had one growing up and he was so fun to have.

[@savannahgg4134]

Hello, i just found your channel. Thank you for sharing your knowledge and insight. Recently, I was given a 2 year old Sheltie as a gift. He is slowly coming out of his shy faze. He is smart and a real sweetie. The Groomer mentioned that the fur on his backside, from just past his hips back, seemed damaged. It's thicker and more wooly looking. Have you seen anything like that before? Would you happen to have some answers on how to deal with this? Hopefully, it can be normalized. I'm just now thinking maybe coconut oil would surely help. Anybody? I'm interested and open to suggestions.

[@jenniferpatrusevich6254]

The hair on their backside (“the pants”) is not damaged, it is just a different texture than their body hair. Crinkly and rough, frizzy-like. Also the hair around their ears is not damaged or “dead” as I had a groomer once say. It is fine and that is also normal. Don’t let them cut it, only trim/even out very end of belly hair and ears couple times a year. Paws and leg feathers get trimmed every 6 weeks. I use a spray conditioner mixed with water when I groom them. This makes their coats gorgeous but will not change the normal variations of texture in their coat.

[@GinaGillie]

Our Sheltie is a sweetheart and she is protective of me. When we are out on our walks she starts barking aggressively if she hears the word “hello”. So I just wave at neighbors. Ha ha. A Tip I’d like to share is make sure your Sheltie always wears a properly fitting harness when walking near traffic or unexpected freight that could cause your Sheltie to bolt. We made the mistake of thinking our perfectly trained Sheltie but she got spooked by a sealion as we walked on the sidewalk along the bay and she went off running right down the middle of street. I did the only thing a responsible Sheltie owner would do I jumped right out in the middle of traffic and put my arms out wide. And cheerfully yelled her name in the happiest smiliest way possible and she came running right into my arms while all the stopped cars watched and waited.

[@gmctech]

Don't EVER worry about training a Shetland Sheepdog ...... They'll have YOU trained in no time! LoL.... Wow, do i ever miss my little buddy... Whenever I see a Sheltie, I quite literaly get giddy and most would think that's weird as I'm a 6 foot tall big guy... I literaly just melt inside when i see a Sheltie and can interact with them. 😁😁😁

[@StellaWaldvogel]

I wanted to improve my shelties' recall, so I started treating them every time I called them in from the back yard. It wasn't long before they started pretending they needed to go outside, then scratching at the door to be let in and get a treat, lol.

[@donmoore7785]

I am 6'4" and my two Shelties were in-range AKC size - much smaller than I am. We may look funny together but I won't be switching to another breed. Lost my guy a month ago, and after a period of mourning I will be getting another.

[@cherylwebb8340]

I think every sheltie owner feels the same as you ❤

[@ava198]

That's so cool you had both so did I.. As a teen I got A collie her name was Bobbie and later in my 30s I got A blue Merele sheltie named Koa.. Man koa was my lil Einstein I loved working with him everyday and playing frisbee ❤❤ ty for the great video .. Blue Merele shelties are my most loved dog breed

[@pjmartin6690]

Great video! My sheltie will chase all the normal things... but she has always loved to chase Big Airline Jets flying over my house. I hope she never catches one... lol!

[@actually.a_dragon]

This Shetland is huge

[@mabeljoe4305]

My 1st sheltie was a large sheltie he had big paws as a pup. People ask me if he was a rough collie.

[@brettharter143]

probably has some rough collie in it. My sheltie x rough mix is 16kg WAY over the breed standard but looks 100% sheltie

[@donmoore7785]

Yes it is. I had two in the AKC desired range, and this one would tower over them. Very nice coloration though! Beautiful dogs.

[@donmoore7785]

I had a champion female, and she had very large front paws. I asked for a front and a rear paw print when she was cremated, just to remember the contrast.@@mabeljoe4305

[@valerieharvey8719]

Ours is a blue Merle 48 lbs!

[@Kristin2885]

The car chasing is real. Motorcycles and bikes too. Our back fence is along a major road and our sheltie used to run back and forth nonstop whenever a loud car or motorcycle passed by. There are important health issues though - gallbladder should get an ultrasound done at 5 or 6 yrs old to monitor for possible gallbladder mucocele. We lost ours to a rupture just before his 11th birthday. It's become increasingly common with shelties.

[@Dr_Sunshine222]

I have a major road near me also! Mine loves to chase cars with loud engines, when we let her out she spends most of her time watching them go, she loves motorcycles and she loves to watch cars when we are driving 😭

[@StellaWaldvogel]

@@Dr_Sunshine222 Mine go nuts when the garbage truck comes. They look out the window and bark like crazy.

[@gutsandgrittv5076]

Nice dog by the way😂 thanks for the inspiration😍

[@kattskrall]

that's a huge sheltie right there

[@mabeljoe4305]

I own 2 rough collies in my youth and college years in the 80s and 90s one lived to age 12 years and 2nd rough collie lived 14 years but died in 2007 from nose cancer. I mourned a whole year. I decide to down size from a rough collie to sheltie. In 2008 i got my 1st sheltie and he passed away in 2020. I got my 2nd sheltie in 2021 and he will be 2yr old in March 2023. He has a different personality than my 1st sheltie.

[@StellaWaldvogel]

They all have unique personalities! I have a bi black and a bi blue. The bi black is bolder, the bi blue sticks close to me. Love having them around!

[@valerieharvey8719]

Our Sheltie Storm is a big boy, 48 lbs, brilliant, and loves polka music. He is a people person and could care less about other dogs. We take him everywhere with us, and has therapy dog training.

[@zuzuspetals8323]

Polka music?! That’s so great. 😊

[@jennyeve3889]

I have been owned by 4 Shelties...Sasha, Frasier, Riley and River. I just love the breed: they are sensitive, intelligent, easy-to-train and want to please. Sasha was barking inside during a snowstorm to get out. I let her out, and she came back with a baby bunny in her mouth, and gently dropped it on the carpet. She pawed at the door to go back out again, same thing. In all she brought 4 bunnies in from the snow. When I had surgery, Frasier was by my side, knowing something was wrong, and I'm sure his presence aided in a swifter recovery. Riley is now 14, mostly blind and somewhat deaf, but he can chase the neighbor dog up and down the fence like a teenager! When River was 2, he developed chylo thorax, which is oftentimes fatal, but thankfully I could pay for the 3 surgeries he had to have to fix it. He's 8 now, and after also having to have his gallbladder out, he is a healthy, happy dude. Yes, they do bark. Yes, they shed. Yes, you will love this breed to the moon and back!

[@carolynlamberton8726]

Our Sheltie Jake loved to watch TV. He hated the MGM Lion at the beginning of a movie. He would come from any part of the house to run the lion out of the house. He would bark and growl at it until it went off then he would scratch his back feet on the carpet to prove he had saved us all. He didn't care for animals on TV even cartoon dogs.

[@memewalkerb5305]

Can Shelties be trained to live with a pet bird? I am looking at this breed because my housing requires small dogs but I still power walk and do moderate hikes. Thanks for any response.

[@MultiMel0]

I’ve personally had shelties and one bird, and I would say yes! My shelties were never herders, they all came from show lines so they had all but lost that instinct making them super gentle, I’ve also never had any issue with nipping past puppyhood. They lived well with chickens and cats too. The main issue is going to be barking. They can be very noisy dogs and it’s almost impossible to train that out so that might be disturbing to a bird and incompatible for apartment life

[@donmoore7785]

@@MultiMel0 Agree with you. My two Shelties were show quality (not that I needed it but I was confident the breeding was good), and debarked by the breeder so her dogs would not disturb neighbors. I will likely debark my next Sheltie. Even at half volume they are noisy. I would not own another breed though - such wonderful companions!

[@lindaloukuhlman383]

Love Shelties

[@shonbrossard7859]

Shelties are the best ! I have three Harley , Piper and Jazz !

[@Flanneryschickens]

I knew a sheltie who lived on a farm, great dog, patrolled the whole place

[@juanhartley4897]

My sheltie is my shadow. Not always polite but extremely loyal. The best breed of dog if you ask me. Right amount of seasonal coat, cute and an alert system. I got a good deal on mine but I’d pay around $2000 for a pure “perfect standard” one.

[@marjoriejohnson6535]

For a registered show kennel sheltie you can expect $1600 up. One from a great breeding with perfect markings and etc don't be surprised if in $3000 range...

[@juanhartley4897]

@@marjoriejohnson6535 yup. I’ve herd that before. $650 for my “18lb” sheltie Perfect markings akc registration. And full breeding rights.

[@johnwilde164]

Every morning, after he had his breakfast, my Sheltie would herd me out of the bedroom, to make sure he got his morning potty outing. If I paused, he would give me little nose pokes in the back of the leg to get me going.

[@mariad4183]

...ours favored birds I'm very surprised I don't see these dogs more often amoung dog owners! tyfs

[@rhondasanders4323]

I had a Sheltie named Daniel💫♥️. I named him Daniel after the prophet Daniel, because I needed GOD to protect my pup like he did Daniel in the lions den. Daniel never chased cars. He was a white sable. Absolutely Brilliant and Beautiful ♥️. So smart. He enjoyed playing ball and especially freezbee. And going for long….walks. I would not recommend a Sheltie in humid states. We lived in Colorado. It was perfect. With a HUGE YARD. With all sorts of birds. And raccoons at night, which always scared me, because I thought one of them would get ahold of Daniel. Shelties need major outdoor fun and long walks. And they love to give love, and they need your loving. He liked sitting in the arm of my long chair. Everyday I would give him a back massage n he would end up falling over. His head and neck also. Daniel ENJOYED getting into the river , and me with him ! Lol Very, very smart dogs. Loving n smart. And grooming a Sheltie is a MUST. You don’t like grooming and shampooing, don’t get one. If you are a homebody or lazy or motivated, a Shetland Sheepdog IS NOT FOR YOU. Yards with grass. Now, Shelties are barkers. And they need to be socialized. With people, children and other dogs. They need your attention. And Daniel wanted you to sleep with me in my bed. Lots n lots of brushing. He lived to be a little over 14 yrs. Great dog! Anyone who has had a Sheltie, never had anything bad to say about their shelties. I miss you Daniel 🥹♥️♥️♥️

[@scottkew6278]

Shelties ARE the best! Smart, gentle but noisy. Healthy and very energetic. They DO have an undercoat but it is not too bad. They are bred down from rough collies. Known as TOONIES they are natural herders, including children. They will protect children from the swimming pools. They need chores to do. However they DO enjoy flopping down next to you in the evening for a good movie.

[@CarolynHenry1231]

My sheltie is a wonderful dog, smart, sweet and gentle. However , she has anxiety and regularly hyperventilates😢

[@shengyi1701]

Glad i got Charlie my Sheltie!

[@hershchat]

What a beautiful woman!

[@mabeljoe4305]

Did you get your Shetland Sheepdog tested to see if your dog carries the MDR1 gene mutation since common medication can be potentially deadly for herding dog breeds like Rough & Smooth hair collies, border collies, Australian Shepherds, German Shepherds, Shetland Sheepdogs, Old English Sheepdogs and herding breed dogs mixes. Have you found the safest parasite protection (heartworm prevntion) for dogs with the MDR1 Gene?

[@kristiwallace1839]

Most shelties can safely take interceptor. I request that a copy of the mdr1 caution drugs be placed in my dogs vet records and always inform my vet of all meds and supplements that I give to my dogs. I've had one who was mutant/normal for mdr1 take several of the cautionary drugs while undergoing chemo for lymphoma. His oncologist was able to adjust the dosage so he could better tolerate them.

[@terafarnum9576]

I love all the one I have had

[@diegohernandez-vb3cu]

My sheltie, use to look for things in the floor and make mountain of them like sucks or clothes and always in the same spot

[@jonathann.2785]

They have human like intelligent.

[@gangstafish25]

I had a pair. One of their puppies were White. And she wasn't a Double Merle. Lassie was a boy,not a girl.

[@weav8060]

My new Sheltie stopped chasing cars by 1. Being next to me off leash. 2. Having his attention distracted (eg calling his name liudly over and over)

[@alfalfasgirl3562]

I loved my sheltie. But breeders are causing trouble. Mine was crippled by 10 months. I could return her, but they would put her down. Herding dogs can cause problems with children or older people. Needs lots of grooming

[@donmoore7785]

Good breeders are not "causing trouble". Without responsible breeders, there would not be healthy Shelties to adopt.

[@gutsandgrittv5076]

@@donmoore7785not all breeders are equal.

[@kattskrall]

They (atleast mine) did not like water at all, couldn't go swimming with her or go in the water without her because she would freak out and start howling like a very small wolf

[@butwhytho4858]

Wait what about bi-blue shelties?! Lol

[@pschin7]

My Sheltie chases cars 🤦🏽‍♀️

[@donmoore7785]

I have had two, and happily neither one did that. I would walk them on our country road, off leash, and neither chased a car even once and we walked daily.

[@Longest_mustard-0G]

My sheltie is so tall and fat for some reason

[@babietee86]

Shedding twice a year 😂 not my sheltie

[@_Ben4810]

Why are you shouting Doc...?!? Neither the poor dog or your viewers are deaf...🙄

[@josephartuso6985]

Grow up!

[@donmoore7785]

Interesting comment. I am listening to a stereo at fairly loud volume and I could hear most everything she said. It is because apparently she IS yelling.

[@_Ben4810]

@@josephartuso6985 Ahhhh...thank you for not shouting GROW UP...!!! 😘

[@egertergetsen4076]

i do not like their long noise

[@gutsandgrittv5076]

😮😢whyyyy

[@OakwiseBecoming]

You really need to work on your voice. Shouting nasally at the camera makes it like nails on a chalkboard. I can’t listen to this. Literally hurting my ears.

[@Changelightbulb]

You need to work on your kindness.

[@S22-o7i]

she sounds normal this is a you issue

[@smokeynedith3555]

We're all different. That's just how she talks. I don't have a problem listening to her. How do YOU talk? Maybe if I heard it it might be strange to ME.

[@rossimac]

Have got earphones in and the volume at a normal level, her voice is great.

[@GinaGillie]

Our Sheltie is a sweetheart and she is protective of me. When we are out on our walks she starts barking aggressively if she hears the word “hello”. So I just wave at neighbors. Ha ha. A Tip I’d like to share is make sure your Sheltie always wears a properly fitting harness when walking near traffic or unexpected freight that could cause your Sheltie to bolt. We made the mistake of thinking our perfectly trained Sheltie but she got spooked by a sealion as we walked on the sidewalk along the bay and she went off running right down the middle of street. I did the only thing a responsible Sheltie owner would do I jumped right out in the middle of traffic and put my arms out wide. And cheerfully yelled her name in the happiest smiliest way possible and she came running right into my arms while all the stopped cars watched and waited.