Shelby

I would also suggest that you contact her breeder (if previous owners have those details) to let them know where the puppy they bred is now residing and so that you also have someone to contact if you need any help with her. She looks lovely and sounds like she will have a great time with your family.

Yay for Roc'n'ralph to always put a smile on your face Just love the mining shot LOL

Awww so cute - just love their wrinkles

In regards to heartworm medication, please use only the daily or monthly ones as shelties can have a reaction to it. I strongly suggest that you do not use the yearly injection that is available although you may find your vet recommends it. It has been taken off the market in US due to bad reactions by many breeds.

I prefer my puppies to be done around the six to nine month mark. Shelties can have bad reactions to some anaesethics, have known some to even die undergoing minor operations and since puppies are quite small, I would rather they have this done when they are a bit bigger.

No, they are not "out of control" puppies. They will play in bursts, just like all pups, and then sleep. They like to play with soft toys and balls. You can even train sit, down & stay as most are very food orientated. I hate seeing people teasing puppies and not knowing when to stop - might be cute when they are babies, tugging & growling on things but not funny when they become older and do the same things. You must remember that puppies, like babies & young children, need sleep and if they are asleep, should be left to sleep. Rules should be set and adhered to ie if you don't want the dog on your lounge, don't let it up when it is little and then try to stop it when they are older. Mine know they can lay on the sofa lounge in the family room but are not allowed on the good lounge in the loungeroom. I never have them on my bed either - injuries can occur when little jumping off pieces of furniture.

Better late than never joining in with some information I have been showing & breeding shelties for 15 years now and I don't think I would ever be without one. Although I don't have children visiting at home, my dogs will interact with children when they meet them. Most of mine have attended various pet expos over the years and love all the pats & attention. I would just be making sure that smaller children and sheltie pups are not left alone. Too easy for damage to be done if a pup is picked up and dropped. Children should be shown that all interaction occurs on the ground - not with the pup being carried around. Most of mine are quite outgoing in their nature - only one girl is quite reserved and will stand back from meeting new people. Sheltie temperament has improved over the years and you see more that are self confident than timid these days. Being left alone during the day - my first sheltie was on her own for a few years and it didn't bother her. Most enjoy having doggy company but I think they could cope quite happy being an only dog. As long as they have a few toys to play with and a nice cosy bed to curl up on, I think they would be fine. As to barking, if it is not allowed when they are young, it is much easier to train. Yes can be cute when they are little but not so cute when a dog get older and its bark gets louder. Normally a stern "no" or "enough" will get their attention and they learn quite quickly what is acceptable and what isn't. Have even trained mine to stay off the carpet (although now that I have gotten rid of the hubby, that doesn't matter ). Shelties love pleasing their owners and any bad behaviour should either be ignored or just a stern "no" issued. Have found that the boys are more interested in cuddles and contact than the girls. Don't get me wrong, the girls enjoy cuddles & pats but the boys seem to make sure they always get extra. My boy will even use his paw to pull people closer so that he can get a cuddle

Just make sure that you do not overfeed your sheltie pups either. Shelties love food & people seem to forget that under that coat is a small dog. If you have any questions, please refer to your breeder for advice. Am sure they will only be too happy to answer any questions you will have. Don't forget to post photos in the sheltie sub forum when your pups arrive.

Full bathing every two weeks will dry out the coat. If you are planning on showing him, you need to read your standard to see what it says about coat texture. Not all long haired breeds are described the same. Between bath times when you are brushing him, are you misting the coat with water? This helps to stop the coat from breaking.

When brushing, do you brush "against" the coat? ie against the way the coat grows. Sometimes I find a slicker brush seems to get the dead coat out better & also spraying a little water on the coat to just mist it. Pants can be a pain sometimes

Missymoo - perhaps keep all the dead coat that you got out of him (poor baby) and show it to the owner when they come to pick him up and ask how they would feel if they were not allowed to brush/comb/wash their hair for six months? Geez why do people buy some breed types when they are not prepared to groom at home on a regular basis?? Would tell them next time cost will be double since you have to fully groom him before you can attempt to start any hand stripping.

Sorry Kamuzz but I would think having it done through the throat would be far more invasive than "down the throat". Would presume the operation would take a lot longer having to cut through the layers of throat etc and then a line of stitching.

RIP Sage - so hard when they have to leave us but what beautiful photos to have of her last days. I am sure she knew how much she was loved.

Would also suggest you take her to a doggy chiro to make sure that she isn't out in her shoulders, neck or back. You will need to be careful cutting back her toe nails since they are so long - a little bit each week to bring them back to the correct length will help.

It could also be the "smell" that these products have as well. By being on the back of the neck, it probably gives off quite a strong pong to their very sensitive noses. I try to use as little as possible on my dogs - so many chemicals around these days. Seems there are new products out all the time but I doubt if very much testing is done to see what reactions occur like they do with human drugs.

Are you sure he didn't just injured himself in play? Was he with an older dog who could have bowled him over and caused injury to nerves in neck? Just asking as had it happen to a puppy that I had. Emergency vet was quick to diagnose meningitis but I questioned why it would come on so suddenly. One minute a bouncy pup, five minutes later one who couldn't walk or move at all. I was a bit wary about giving a 12 week old the dye test so advised them I would take her home and crate her and take her to my vet in the morning. She had shown signs of getting some motion back and there was no temperature at all. Once I calmed down and thought about it, it seems the alpha bitch in the yard had put her down hard on the concrete. Took her to the chiro and after three sessions back to normal. If there were no signs of bacteria or parasites but just inflamatory, thought it could be through injury? Hope your baby is well soon and continues to recover.

I have had my two oldies (brother & sister) pass away in the last six months (21/7/08 & 20/1/09) and had Pets at Peace look after both. My yard isn't really big enough to bury them at home and I didn't want to do that in case I ever moved. It is a comfort to know that they are still with me in some small way.

Thank you everyone for your kind thoughts. I am trying to find comfort in thinking that he is now free from any pain he might have had and is now at rainbow bridge with his sister who made the journey in July last year. Am sure she was there waiting to fill him in on what goes - Gypsy was the only one who could boss him around. Am pretty sure they would be tearing around together getting into all sorts of mischief until I get to be with them again.

So sorry that you lost your last boy. What a beautiful photo of them both.

Oh Griff sorry to read about you losing Sinna - I hope your memories of her are easing your pain a little. Always hard to say goodbye but especially so when they are your heart dog. I have lost my two oldies in the last six months but I like to think they are now back together again and doing all they enjoy free from pain. I just hope my two shelties are not up there at rainbow bridge annoying the rotties - they both thought they were "big" dogs in little dog bodies.

Today was the day that I had to give Rambo (CH Cranbrook Lucky Hit) his wings. Just in the last couple of days, his body had decided it was tired and so we said goodbye. He was such a happy man who loved everyone and so enjoyed his shows. Rambo will always be remembered by his wagging tail and bark. He was a joy to show and loved being there. Always the ultimate showman. One of his hightlights in his career was reserve challenge at Victorian National from the limit class and also limit in show. He attended his last show at 11 where he took out challenge dog & runner up in show at NSW Sheltie Show. He loved attending anything where he could get a cuddle from any person who walked passed. Rambo will be sorely missed by family & friends but especially by my dad (87) who thought he was the best and had all his ribbons on a wall in what he called "Rambo's Ribbon Room". Rambo will live on through his sons and daughters and grandkids. Bye Beau, say hello to Gypsy for me and bark all you like. Love from Jackie, Nanny & Pop

I just wouldn't take the risk of letting a pap off lead at a beach or anywhere else. You just don't know what other dogs temperaments are like that are there too and one bite and shake and goodbye pap. Just have a longer lead for beach going.

Thank you Harminee - a beautiful tribute to all those waiting for us. Gypsy - gone but never forgotten.

Here is my new addition to the family - Name: Kitty Age: 12 weeks old Breed: Shetland Sheepdog My boy, Connor is her father, and she also lives with her great grandmother, Brandi.

Cowanbree, have located the notes from Jean's seminar and have forwarded them to you. Hope they help.