Cassie was a Shetland Sheepdog aka: Sheltie. This was years ago and our family made SO many mistakes. I would do almost everything different if I had Cassie today. I would try a bark correcting machine, hire a professional behaviorist, anything other than "debarking" (I am of the opinion that ventriculocordectomy is a cruel practice and should ONLY be preformed under MEDICAL necessity.) which was what my family vet did.
The other HUG issue was that Cassie self-mutilated. She would chew her own legs and lick and lick till she bled, till you could see muscles and even a bit of bone. We tried so many things to stop her. E-collars, Prozac, and these ridiculous pants. If she were alive today (well, she'd be around 17 now, but yeah) I would ABSOLUTELY get her a ThunderShirt for her freak outs over storms, fireworks, construction, etc. I would have got her involved in Agility Training to give her a "job"... she was so smart and great at Frisbee. She would have been amazing. And maybe she wouldn't have started the SMing that eventually killed her.Shetland Sheepdogs are typically very intelligent dogs and do best when they have a job to do... even if it is a made up one. Cassie firmly believed it was her job to guard the house from thunder and wind, not to mention mailmen, garbage trucks, basically if it moved and it wasn't our family, she was responsible for our safety. She was neurotic and shy, which is not terribly unusual for a Sheltie. The AKC words this as "Shelties love their families, but may be reserved at first with strangers. As a herding dog, they can be inclined to bark at and herd people." True! But Shetland Sheepdogs who DON'T have "enough to do" can easily turn into problem dogs. (Or, as I think of it, dogs who have problem owners.) So if you go with a Sheltie, keep them busy! They are highly trainable and love to please.
Shelties are very protective. Think Lassie, in miniature. (Lassie was a Collie. Shetland Sheepdogs are sometimes called Miniature Collies, but they are really their own distinct breed.) In terms of appearance, they can be Black, Blue Merle or various combinations of Black, White, Sable, and Tan, the last type being what Cassie... AND Lassie were. Ears that fold over are "breed standard"... Cassie didn't live up to that, and her coat was rather silky instead of their "preferred" rough... but she was MINE and I still think she was a truly GORGEOUS dog and my best friend for 9 years.
Dog-Breed-Facts.com sums up this lovely little firecracker like this:
So, there you go, Dog Watchers. The Shetland Sheepdog and the beginning of this slightly addle-brained blog! -DW
The Sheltie is extremely intelligent, agile, sweet tempered, gentle, obedient, loyal and somewhat sensitive. Shelties are playful, charming and easy to train. Most Shelties make great companions and family dogs and get along well with considerate children. Some Shetlands are too nervous, shy and high strung and must be thoroughly socialized while puppies and trained to control excessive barking. However these types of Shelties can be unreliable around young children because the children are too noisy and rambunctious. Shelties love to please their owners and like the higher level training required for advanced obedience, agility and other competitions. Shelties respond best to reward-based training and will respond to verbal commands.The breed is somewhat leery of strangers and makes good watch dogs. Most Shelties do fine with novice or first-time owners.
