Thinking Ahead To Next Dog, Would a Sheltie Be Suitable?

[HarpieDuJour]

For at least the last 30 years I have had working Border Collies(and for my husband,it's probably at least twice that!). However, since my husband is starting to feel his age a bit (72), we have reduced the size of our flock and switched to mainly poultry, and I have bucket trained the remaining sheep. So, we don't have enough work for a BC, but we want another dog (our last one died last Christmas). All that's available here is BCs or Kelpies, which are arguably even less suitable for us. Even the SSPCA mostly has either sheepdogs or Staffie-type crosses, and we really want something smaller.

We are both keen walkers, and have plenty of space for a dog, but we just can't give a collie the life it needs. When I was a kid, we had a Sheltie, who was a lovely dog, although a bit...eccentric. I know there is a chance I'm looking back through a rose-tinted lens, but it feels like a Sheltie would fit. Ours had a very similar temperament to the collies I have had, but was less full-on and not nearly so prone to chewing everything if bored for a nanosecond. I know about the level of grooming and would be fine with that, but are there any potential problems that I'm missing? We have plenty of time to research breeders, and there is no hurry to decide at all, but it helps to plan ahead, because I really miss having a dog.

Two friends have/ had one
The first, Angus was very nervous and neurotic

The second is a really lovely girl - It probably depends on the breeding lines ?
Both very sweet dogs though.

@HarpieDuJour And f I wanted the lowdown on a pedigree, I’d approach a breed club.

They’ll know who has stable lines and any genetic issues.

Good luck!

Would you be looking to get a pup? What about a rough collie. Nothing like a border in terms of exercise. One long walk a day then fine to mooch about. Look on Collie Life website.
Shelties are lovely but I've met a couple of non stop yappers. They are a lot smaller so easily portable and to get in and out of cars, etc.

Yapping really is awful.
Seems it’s a trait some dogs have.

Border Terriers, Poodles, and Bichon Frise are the very worst yappers - shrill and relentless.

Actually painful.

Probably dogs who are bored yap much more than a well looked after dog.

Training also helps.

So many dogs in cafés yap for food
Shrill and very annoying.

OP sounds an experienced dog owner though- a bored Border Collie could probably bark for England! ( Or Scotland)😆

My in-laws had shelties. They were lovely dogs.

What would the difference be between a rough collie and a sheltie @Pippatpip ? I'd always thought of them as being basically the same thing in different sizes!

@HarpieDuJour They are different breeds so I think read the breed specs. There is rather a lovely older pup going on Collie Life at the mo from a good breeder....

Roughs are lovely but very sensitive to noise. They like their herd and mine would certainly have a good woof and keep circling someone if they came into the back garden. Introduce to all noises, fireworks and bangs really early on. Very trainable. Coat just needs ten mins defloofing to the bits you can get to each day or every other day then a good groom weekly. Very dainty and non destructive. Ours still has the same toys she had as a pup four years ago! Can be a bit reactive with strangers if protecting the herd. Full on farm collie with rattley trailers and we will draw a veil over her arch enemy...the wheely bin.

How about a Pomeranian? People think k they are lapdogs but they are really mini Finnish laphunds which is a herding breed used to chase reindeer. So they could go all day or just chill. Might be a good idea?

Big fan of shelties here, had a few. But absolutely agree with the poster that said it depends on the breed lines - some are very nervous and neurotic, usually the ultra fine dainty ones. I had some lovely stocky ones that were very lively, brave and generally great fun. I wouldn't say they're like mini Rough Collies though...Roughs seem a bit more kind, proud and noble. Shelties are a bit more terrier like in their attitude.

The ones I have met are neurotic and yappy. We have collies but think we will go for something more laid back next time. Is there a particular reason that you don't want a staffy/staff cross? They can be really lovely, biddable dogs.

All of the staffy crosses I've seen have been much bigger than we want. I don't really know much about the breed, but we were looking for something reasonably small.

We can provide plenty of activity and a good amount of exercise, but not at the levels a collie requires to be healthy and happy. I've had Labradors before, and Jack Russells , but neither of them appeal (one too large and the other just not appealing at all). I looked at a site which had a lots of information about Rough Collies (may have been collielife) and was quite amused by the idea of them being suitable for herding geese (I maintain that my geese are very polite and well-mannered, but have found nobody else willing to help herd them yet).

To complicate matters, whatever I choose will mean a substantial journey (probably a full day there and possibly 2 or 3 to get back, assuming any ferries running at the time). We have plenty of time before we really need to decide, so will probably procrastinate for months yet. At the moment, a Sheltie is still on the list, with a Rough Collie close behind. I'm sure Pomeranians are lovely, but they give me the absolute creeps (evil teddy bear vibes) so best not, I think.

The problem with having had collies for so long finding a different breed is soooooo hard!

OP would an older rescue collie work for you? Wouldnt need so much intensity as a young collie but still up for long walks lots of activity. Scentwork is fab for the collies, tires them out but less physical for handlers.

I think shelties would be hard work after collies. They are pretty barky buggers and still need things to do but not so easy to amuse as a collie.

Obviously I am a biased collie owner I do have wcs and labs as well but really hope I can always have a collie.....

What about a corgi?

I know one family with shelties and they are the most objectionable yappy dogs I have ever met. Might be the family or might be the breed. They've gone from a cute breed to a never breed in my mind.
Plus the grooming. An eight inch muddy puddle will no longer mean a dunk in the trough and flannel to the belly, you'll be in hose down / bath territory.

If you choose the line carefully, I reckon a mini schnauzer could perform the jobs you require.

We had a sheltie cross rescue. She was about the size of a BC and had the most perfect nature. She might have been crossed with a lab as she ate anything and everything and loved people

She loved herding and had some sheltie traits - excited running in circles, jumping up, barked a lot etc.

I would have got a sheltie but they're rare here in the south

All the bull terriers and staffies I've met are calm friendly and gentle.

Sausage dog?

King charles spaniel?

Minpin?

We have a springer and he's very full on. Cockers seem calmer, but it does depend on the dog itself. He's had gut problems from day 1 so he's very reactive and barks at the tiniest sound.

I've seen a corgi BC cross. He was small and calm. Just a pup so don't know how he's grown. Seems like a good mix though

A lot of the border collie people I know have moved on to Papillons when another collie would be too much - you get the intelligence/loyalty without the non-stop work ethic! Shelties can be great but some lines are a bit neurotic I think.

Have you considered a smooth collie? Having had borders in the past my smooth is a dreamboat, always up for a long walk but more than happy to spend the rest of her time asleep on the sofa. She's not too keen on mud but is very wipe clean. Amazing to house train and has never chewed anything not even her toys. She's very bright but doesn't need a job to do. She will do anything for food! They can be sensitive, she's not great with the doorbell and can be a bit barky and she's not overly enamoured with visitors but once she knows you, you're a forever friend! We were very lucky finding a local breeder but they are scattered across the country. I think the only downside is the shedding! The girls come up smaller, mine is around 21kg so not huge.