No, they are
actually a separate
breed. They range in size from
12-19" at the shoulder and weigh from 10-40 pounds. The ears on
the sheltie are
correct if tipped about one third. Most pet shelties' undercoats
are short, furry,
and dense. They should be brushed at least once a week for about
half an hour to
keep the coat clean and free of mats and given occasional baths.
Shelties shed
heavily twice a year, the heaviest in the summer, when more frequent
brushing is
necessary.
Shelties come in 3 basic
colors: sable, tri-colored, and blue merle.
Although uncommon and not allowed under breed standards,
shelties can also be solid
white.
Shelties are intensely loyal,
affectionate, and responsive to their
owners. They are excellent with children as long as the children
are good with them.
They are small, intelligent, very sensitive and will not
tolerate abuse from
anyone. Sometimes shelties are confused by the quick, erratic
movement of children
and will try to "herd" them. This is sometimes interpreted as
aggression
when it is actually only part of their instinct.
Since most shelties are inactive
house pets, they do not need large
quantities of food. They should be kept fairly lean.
Excessive weight is hard
on the heart and, as in many other breeds, will shorten the life
span. The typical
15"sheltie should weigh just over 20 pounds.
Shelties' desire to please, combined
with their high intelligence make
them outstanding in obedience training. Because of their heritage
of herding/watch
dogs, shelties have a tendency to bark. This can be a real
problem at times.
Although the sheltie makes an excellent "alarm" dog, he/she does
not
physically threaten; and, after sounding a warning, they usually
retreat or escort the
visitor through the house. Shelties are enthusiastic at exercise
in work and play.
With
proper care, shelties can live
8-14 years or more. Congenital
defects include eye and skin problems, neither of which is
prevalent. Many shelties
have thyroid problems, making them eiher too lean or overweight and
often giving them a
sparse, greasy looking coat. As with all breeds, medical problems
may arise.
One such problem which commonly occurs is urinary disease.
With regular
visits to your veterinarian and proper care, many of these problems can
be prevented or
minimized.
Where
do you get the dogs
that are up
for adoption?
The
orphans generally come from
owners, who for any number of reasons,
choose to give up their pets. We also act as a referral service
for these
individuals. We cooperate with other humane organizations,
pounds, shelters, and
SPCAs and are occasionally called upon to pick up the animals from
abusive environments or
those that are found as strays.
Why
would someone give up
their sheltie?
People
often buy a dog on impulse or for their children. A pet
requires a tremendous commitment of time and energy, and frequently the
acquisition of a sheltie is not thoroughly thought through. The
owner
may also have had
health problems, etc. that necessitates the removal of the pet from the
home.
What
do you do when a Sheltie is brought to you?
If
current health records are not available or up to date, the sheltie is
taken immediately to a veterinarian for any necessary vaccinations, or
needed medical
treatment. We have each animal spayed or neutered before
adoption, as we do not
adopt out un-spayed or un-neutered dogs. Our orphans generally
live in a
"foster" home with one of our volunteers where they are evaluated for
temperament
and activity level, and remain there until they are adopted.
How
do I adopt a dog from Sheltie Rescue?
Filling
out an adoption
application is your first step. The application will tell us a
little bit about you
and what type of sheltie you want. Your application will be
carefully
reviewed by us. If approved, you will be notified by one of our
volunteers as soon as
an animal matching your application is available. You will then
be scheduled for a
personal interview and to meet the sheltie we have chosen for you based
on the
information supplied to us on your application.
How long
will I have to wait
after I submit my application to adopt a sheltie?
We do not seek out shelties in need
of adoption, although our
"supply" of orphans has been steady. The waiting period can be
from two
weeks to six months or more.
What
does Rescue charge for an adoption?
The
adoption donation, which helps cover veterinary costs, any necessary
medicines and food,
is currently $300.00 for the average adult. However, this fee can
vary depending on age and special needs dogs.
What
happens if the adoption doesn't work?
Our
Rescue is extremely careful in evaluation and placing its dogs,
but if you cannot keep the animal, for any reason, it must come
back us.
Why
can't I breed the the dog I adopt from Rescue?
Rescue's
goal is to place its orphans in a pet home. With
the explosion that is taking place,we believe that breeding
is best left to those individuals who truly want to better the breed,
and who understand
the time, work, and responsibility involved with the breeding
process. Breeding is
hard work, and should never be undertaken "for the children" or to "get
money out of the dog."
Should
I have my sheltie obedience trained?
A
resounding YES is our answer to that question. Obedience training
will create a
bond between you and your dog, and will make your sheltie a friend you
can be
proud of. Our volunteers will be happy to get you started on the
right foot and refer
you to various dog training clubs and classes.
What
should I do if I have a question about training or the dog after
adoption?
We
stand behind each of our dogs -- for the life of the
dog. If you ever have any questions, or just want to brag about
your dog, please
pick up the phone and call us!
Why should I
adopt an older
sheltie?
Our older dogs need
homes just as much as our younger dogs. Please consider adopting an
older dog since there are many benefits in doing this. They are great
companions. In general they tend to be less active (this may be a
positive point depending on your home situation), but this doesn't mean
these dogs are couch potatoes.
You also don't need to worry about getting through the puppy stages of
chewing and accidents in the house. Older dogs are much wiser and have
already experienced this.
Another benefit to adopting an older sheltie is that they are small
dogs and have longer life spans than bigger dogs.
