ShesaLikeableBiBear

Oceanaussie, an easy drive for you http://www.enterprisesearch.com.au/austral...LD%20Australia/ http://bigdogpetfoods.com/

We run a farmstay and in the last month have had children aged 3,4,5, and 8 wanting to come into the house yard to see our dogs. Neither of our pups, (aged 9 months) nor Cassie (2 1/2) have been around children before and have been fine, provided that the children do not run around (that means a game of chase). We ask that the children sit down quietly and let the dogs come up to them.

blithspirit, suggest you pop your question into the showring forum

Phew what a lot of questions :p Hey where are other sheltie breeders Onslowsmum, dont' think they are any smaller or frailer since the '70's, shelite size is always hard to predict. In one litter you can get pups both over and under-sized. Bonnie Parker, in over 21 years of owning shelties we have never experienced ear problems. Kaivk, Shelties can be both timid and shy around strangers, but in a "pack" situation, they can be "monsters". As mentioned earlier they excell at both agility and obedience and LOVE please.

As with Collie Roughs/Smooths and Borders, Shelties do have a sensitivity to Ivermectin, some Breeders do test for MDR1. As an example to the sensitivity, a friend recently used Advocate on her pup as recommended by her vet. Her puppy reacted to the Moxidectin which is in Advocate.

Perhaps the term working dog could be misunderstood by many. Shelties are working dogs and they were bred to work sheep, i.e. they will go out and bring sheep to the "crofter", "farmer". One has to remember that in the Shetland Islands everything is on a small scale, not like here where you may be talking of thousands of acres and paddocks may be over 100 acres each. In this situation I would doubt a sheltie could cope as due to their size they don't have the stamina (or for that matter the speed) of, say, a border collie or kelpie. Shelties are "upright" dogs in their manner of working and depending on ability can either fetch or drive. We have 40 acres and are set up as an ANKC style sheep herding training facility. Two of our dogs will go into a paddock (the largest being 6.7 acres) and bring the sheep to me, i.e. fetch. In ANKC style events Panda is more comfortable driving the sheep. We have a birman kitten, 3 days older than our youngest shelties (9 months) and they do not herd him i.e. "round him up".

Agree with Cavandra, Colin offers a wonderful, prompt service with heaps of advice as well. You will however need to post blades to him. He is at Moruya NSW. His DOL pseudonym is Nicestman77.

DO NOT let your puppy out of her crate, until you get her home, you do not want her escaping. She may not be used to a lead yet. We purchased a puppy from Sydney, taking into account the drive to the airport, check-in and flight times, including the drive home she would have been in her crate at least 6 hours. She was fine.

Owner/Breeder/Exhibitor. Invloved with them for 22 years The breed originates from the Shetland Islands, off the North Coast of Scotland, and were used by crofters (farmers) as sheep dogs, they are more commonly known as Shelties. They are very popular in Australia. When living in suburbia we would take ours for a run on the beach/ a road walk or play ball for approximately 1- 11/2 hours daily. We now have seven and they are more than happy playing amongst themselves. Shelties excel at both agility and obedience and are easily trained. A first time owner of a dog could quite easily cope with a sheltie. I would suggest that when they are dropping their coats that an owner take them to a groomer for a hydrobath and blow dry as this will assist in getting the undercoat out. Shelties are not generally too boisterous for young children or the elderly/infirm. Having said this if there is any concern about a puppy in this situation then an older dog may be more appropriate. Inheritable diseases include CEA (Colie Eye Anomoly) and PRA (Progressive Renal Atrophy), although the latter is more prevalent in Europe. Shelties are also hip scored for hip dyspalsia. As far as shelties being used for working this is entirley up to the owner. Five of ours have their herding instinct certificates and two are actively participating in herding. Insofar as the colours are concerned the sables, tris (now to be known as black, white and tan) and blue merles are the most popular. There are a few bi-blacks (black and whites) in Australia and the odd bi-blue (blue merle without the tan). I have not seen a black and tan, either "in the flesh" or indeed in any book on the breed.

Gareth, the OP asked about feeding shelties, both myself and TashaBailey mentioned what we fed our dogs. :D The OP has an answer to a question from two sheltie breeders, neither of us has said you simply must feed a particular product. Yes I used to sell Nutro, and there are others who are members of these forums who sell and recommend their product, the importer of Artemis being one such person. No I was never the Distributor, nor the importer. End of story :p

Gareth, you are somewhat behind the times with my so called flogging of both Nutro and Ziwipeak Some (nearly) 12 months or so ago before Nutro (the US product) was pulled from the market in Australia, it was in my considered opinion (and not mine only) one of the better dry food products on the market at the time. If you wish to contest that fact then do so at your leisure and prove it AND prove that with Ziwipeak as well, if you care to. Neither were MY product as you care to emphasise Since the US Nutro product was pulled from the market here I have tried, Dick van Patten's Natural Balance, Orijen and Artemis and am sorry to say but have switched back to Nutro as made here, but am not 100% happy with it, hence am now feeding a chicken mix. By the way if you are SO knowledgeable on what you feed your dogs, WHY haven't you recommended your "product", "ESPECIALLY" as you are NO DOUBT a sheltie owner and breeder and therefore have an inside knowledge on what to feed a sheltie, which is what the OP had asked about.

Am not sure why Gareth has quoted my reply no way was I implying that diet WAS breed specific. I merely stated what we fed our shelties, which is what the OP asked, and indeed was what TashaBailey advised she fed her shelties and her last 2 litters. As with koolietas when we feed dry food we look for one that has no chemical preservatives, added colouring, wheat and corn.

Have had a number of aquaintances with Sibes who don't ever let them off their leads for "fear" that they won't get them back. What are your recommendations then to new owners re off lead excercise?.

We had always fed Nutro prior to the US product being pulled from the market. We are now feeding 1/3 Nutro (the Australian made product) and 2/3 a mixture of chicken mince (frames which we get from Lennards) which includes long grain white rice, natural yoghurt, V8 juice, livamol, linseed and garlic. The only tinned food we have fed has been Ziwipeak. Suggest both you and your friend pop into the shelties thread, noticed you were there yesterday evening

Perhaps some of those who posted in these threads may be able to help? http://www.dolforums.com.au/index.php?showtopic=153330 http://www.dolforums.com.au/index.php?showtopic=143116

The "white" powder is possibly Whiting?, which can be mixed with either Caster oil/engine oil to make a paste. Another option is cement powder and oil. Either way once you have applied this then use talcum powder to "dry" up the paste mixture.

You could try vetadine. http://www.horsesuppliesdirect.com.au/prod898.htm

At recommendation of a friend with kelpies I bought a Sontax 60 piece Mini Rotary Tool Set from Bunnings for $22.50. It is re-chargeable and cordless. Who knows when you may need the other attachments.

We worm ours at 2, 4, 8 and 12 and then use Sentinel Spectrum monthly as it covers heartworm as well as the other worms.

Suggest you contact the importers for retail outlets in Sydney. http://www.prestigepetproducts.com.au/ Oops didn't see you post Sags

Here it is $250 less 20% for CCCQ members.

Each to his own then, Raz. Have had four (not all mine) done in the last two years, two of whom were done 12 days ago and three of whom are being done this week. Two different clinics involved and each time the same advice, keep them quiet for 10 days. No not what the OP originally asked but further discussion has led to what we are currently talking about.

You should not have to keep them quiet for THREE weeks. The "requirement" is to keep them quiet for the first 10 days after the operation which means NO rushing around like mad things and as little barking as possible, we crate to avoid both these scenarios. One should also keep them on soft food for the first four days afterwards.

Not sure what you are trying to say here, pip. The Nutro product, as made in the U.S., is no longer exported to NZ. The product in NZ is now imported from Australia.

We use these which are light, collapsible if need, but fit in the back of the car comfortably, heaps of extras with them. http://www.k9softdogcrates.com.au/index.php?p=crates PS. Hope all goes well. Your breeder should give you all the info you need including a puppy booklet. If you would like to PM can send you a copy of our puppy booklet.