Picture of my furkids

[oconnorjoy]

They are beautiful! Allie looks smaller than Angel and Mickey. Is she younger?

[k9Karen]

They are beautiful! Allie looks smaller than Angel and Mickey. Is she younger?

Thank you, I think they're beautiful too, but I tend to be a bit predjudiced

Allie is younger, but she will be 5 in August. She is about 18 lbs and is a very small sheltie - about 13-14", but very petite and compact. The others are between 25-30 lbs and are oversized. Both are above "breed standard" and very long bodied (especially Angel).

[k9Karen]

... Are they related? I would love to have a sheltie... but do they want to herd all the time like border collies? Guess what I mean is, could one be happy with only a small, shady yard for exercise?

They are not related, to the best of my knowlege. I don't have the pedigree for Angel or Allie though, so they might be distant cousins - who knows!

Yes they do herd, but not to the extent of what I've heard about BCs. If you have other animals, it can be a problem if the instinct is strong. ?Some have been known for keeping children in the yard - even those that don't belong to you! The main thing with a sheltie is that they consider themselves the "protector and overseer of the flock", and must be with the flock at all times. If you live by yourself or your family spends most of it's time in the same room, your sheltie would happily find spot where he/she could she see everyone and doze comfortably (until you move, that is!). If you have a large family that is spread out throughout the house, the dog will go insane going from room to room to room checking on everyone (this is why they have a reputation as "pacers").

Of course, every dog is different, but I've had 2 that lived most of their lives as an "only dog". I got Mickey about 2 1/2 years before Leah passed away (at almost 15), and Mickey was then our "only" up until 4 1/2 years ago when we got Allie (Angel came a year later). Shelties usually do quite well as an "only dog". They are small enough for apartments or small yards - mine tend to get most of their exercise in the house chasing each other. Before I had more than one, Mickey and I would play and he would run through the house. If by "in a small yard" you mean as a yard dog, a sheltie would be miserable - they need companionship and people. Also, the outdoors tends to not be kind to their very long coats, and a bored sheltie can be a barker.

[Mary Plummer]

...this morning, since it didn't work at home last night either. Can anyone help me see these beauties?

[Mary Plummer]

They look like some happy, excited pups there!

[E's]

K9 Karen wrote:

they consider themselves the "protector and overseer of the flock", and must be with the flock at all times. If you live by yourself or your family spends most of it's time in the same room, your sheltie would happily find spot where he/she could she see everyone and doze comfortably (until you move, that is!). If you have a large family that is spread out throughout the house, the dog will go insane going from room to room to room checking on everyone (this is why they have a reputation as "pacers").

This sounds like what I had hoped: GSD traits in a smaller dog. But no, I should not have used the word "shady" in describing my backyard... I meant lots of ground cover, so there are only the paths Win has made for herself... And I never leave her outdoors alone; she is a 24/7 companion pet... and although she tops 100 lbs, I often have the impression she thinks she is another cat: quite happy to relax for frequent naps, as long as it's someplace close to Q and me... Bottom line: if the various pressures to have her go live with the younger family get to me, I can at least take comfort in the idea of getting a sheltie. Thanks for the input!
Dot B in N'Awlins

[TheSkeptic]

...this morning, since it didn't work at home last night either. Can anyone help me see these beauties?

Sometimes this works.


(Assuming you have a PC)

Try right clicking on the picture.

Select properties.

Copy the URL in the display box

Past into the address box of of your browser and click GO.

Skeptic - Do you know if there is a way to make the picture smaller? It's seems a bit overwhelming.

Edit them before uploading to your picture server. I generally limit them to 8 inches wide (576 pixels)