Sheltie Planet

Are Shelties Good Family Dogs?

These furry little munchkins make wonderful family pets as long as they're well-socialized with children early on. This means exposing your puppy to children of all ages so they can become familiar with their behaviors. Once your Sheltie is comfortable around kids, they can join in with all family activities: herding balls along the beach, playing hide-and-seek, or zooming around with no apparent purpose whatsoever.

How Do I Groom My Sheltie?

From 5-6 months old, Sheltie puppies develop a soft, dense undercoat that must be brushed out carefully to avoid matting. Severe matting is not only painful but promotes skin infections and diminishes the ability of the dog to thermoregulate.

What's The Sheltie Temperament Like?

Shelties are sweet, quirky, and expressive. Many are highly vocal which is to say they bark, whine, howl, whimper, sing... and talk. Fortunately, they can be trained to stop barking with firmness and consistency. Being a small dog breed, Shetland Sheepdogs are naturally gentle, yet as alarm dogs, they'll alert you to any unusual sights, sounds, and smells with vigorous barking.

Should I Get a Sheltie Puppy?

With their big floppy ears, beautiful almond eyes, and silky soft fur, the Sheltie puppy can be deliberately cute on demand. Still, puppies are hard work. They demand constant supervision so they don't pee everywhere, chew on cables, get stuck in small places, or escape through fence holes. There's also the responsibility of housetraining, obedience, puppy vaccinations, neutering/spaying, and socialization.

How Do I Train My Sheltie?

The number one rule of dog training is to build a relationship based on mutual trust and respect. So before you begin obedience training, focus on forming a loving bond with your Shetland Sheepdog so you can understand his needs and instincts, while allowing him to understand and develop trust in you. Show affection, define boundaries, and treat any breaches with kindness but firmness.