Breed Retriever

Finding a good source of information on the Shetland Sheepdog can be a challenge.  When you Google for the word “Sheltie”, you are hit with countless responses.  Weeding through the “helpful” from the “time wasters” can be annoying.

Breed Retriever is a helpful site that has an uncluttered appearance and is easy to navigate…even for those not very net savy. There are several tabs at the top of each breed page that guide you to more detailed information on your chosen dog.

As far as their description of the Sheltie is concerned, the breed temperament description has focused a bit too much on some of the “bad apple” traits in the breed.   I don’t agree with this statement: “Especially wary of strange children, the Sheltie is known to bark
persistently at–and not allow itself to be touched by–strangers of any
age”. Yea sure, some Shelties are like that, but lots of other insecure dogs of any breed would do that.  It really isn’t that more dominant in Shelties, but they could more easily become that way with out proper socialization.  (Generally Shelties can be more sensitive than other dogs.)   I’d like to see more emphasis on proper puppy socialization & choosing a proper breeder.

I don’t agree with this statement either: “Meticulous about its own cleanliness, the dog should be bathed only when absolutely necessary”.  Yea, Shelties can be prissy about getting wet or dirty, but that doesn’t mean that they never need a bath.  I’d recommend a Sheltie be bathed at least 3-4 times a year…that is if their coat & skin condition is monitored, they are groomed weekly, never swim or get filthy.
I’m not sure where they get the Sheltie photos, but the images posted so far seem to lean toward the European Sheltie or show less than the best of the breed.  (If you view a champion American Sheltie next to a European one, the differences will be apparent.) Not to say that one is better than the other, but I’d like to see a champion Sheltie like Ch. Zion’s Man About Town shown here.

I’m a bit leary of the “find a breeder” section of the site.  Listing in the directory is free, but there is no known qualified screening of the breeders listed. Backyard “hobby” breeders can easily be listed next to the breeders that acutally care more about the breed than making a buck.  I’d like to see the disclaimer more prominently displayed.  All of their pages should emphasize adoption & provide information about puppy mills or backyard breeders & how to avoid them.  I was glad to see some Sheltie rescue groups utilizing the breeder listings.

Breed Retriever is a fun site to explore & a good site to start your breed research.  As always, it is best to get information from several sources before being able to make an informed decision if the Sheltie is the best breed for you & your lifestyle.

Link: Breed Retriever

Sponsored post

Safe Paw Ice Melter

Did you know that children, pets and the environment can be adversely affected by the use of rock salt and salt-based ice melter products?  For dogs in particular, exposure to those products can mean an unplanned trip to the vet. The problem is that when dogs are let out or walked, they step on and/or eat the treated snow. Dogs either ingest these ice melt pellets right then or they get them frozen into their paws. Later, when they are inside with higher temperatures, the ice melts and dogs begin to lick their paws. The salt can heat up as high as 175 degrees and not only burn their skin, but then their mouth and digestive system once they ingest it!

Rock salt and other salt-based ice melters contain sodium chloride or potassium chloride that melt only down to 24 degrees & do so very slowly.  Salt is a corrosive compound and its residue can damage lawns, plants and even contaminate well water and water supplies. Moreover, it can cause damage to pavers, concrete, asphalt, wood, lawns, floors and rugs. With the exception of Safe Paw, all ice melters on the market contain salt, including Road Runner, Driveway Heat, Zero Ice, Arctic, Halite, Qik Joe, Ice Vice, Safe Step and Peladow.

Safe Paw is a great choice because it is 100 percent safe for children, pets, surfaces and the environment. It is unique in that it does not utilize salt as an ingredient and gives off no heat.  As an added feature, Safe Paw leaves an invisible protective shield that prevents ice from sticking to the surface for up to three days. This makes shoveling easier and saves work. 

The 8 lb jug (3.63 kg.)shown above has a coverage area of 185 sq. ft. per lb and there is a handy, built in spout on the jug to make spreading easy.  Safe Paw is available at most major pet, hardware, and grocery stores as well as many family-owned stores. (Such as Petsco, Shaws, Big Y & ACME.)

Thanks to Safe Paw for making such a great product…and for putting a Sheltie on their label too.  ;)

THE best dog life jacket

When I tell people Trevor has a life jacket, the response usually is “what…a life jacket?”  Then the conversation usually degrades to some chuckles and a statement about how dogs don’t need them.  I politely remind them that Trevor is my child and you wouldn’t let your kid go splashing without one, right?  If the analogy of dog=kid doesn’t work, I usually come up with this… “Have you ever tried swimming in a wool sweater? That’s what it’s like for a Sheltie!”

Regardless of the breed (or coat on that breed), all dogs who swim should wear a life jacket.  It just makes it easier and safer for them.  I had bought the one you can get at your local pet store and it doesn’t work well.  How do I know? I put Trevor in the water wearing one and the coat floated on the surface, and he began to sink – opening up a gap between him and the vest.  (OK, he isn’t the best swimmer, but the vest clearly wasn’t comfortable and didn’t keep him up.) All the buoyant material was above his back, so his body weight was pushing down on those two belly straps.  Not a great design.

Enter the K9 Float Coat.

Brilliantly designed and ergonomic cut, much of the flotation cells are under and along the sides of the dog’s ribcage.  These buoyancy cells help keep your dog upright and level – making swimming easier.  The cut also allows complete shoulder freedom, but supports the dog’s head and neck.  Its made from brightly colored 1680-denier ballistic nylon to give visibility in low light situations – contrasting against neutral backgrounds and making sure your pup stands out.  High luminescence reflective trim is added to the sides as well as to the top.  It looks pretty darn cool.

Take note of some of the finer details: Side release buckles for easy on/off and helps keep that long Sheltie hair out of the clips.  A hidden D-ring attachment point for your leash.  A low profile assistance handle for help in getting your dog out of the water – very handy!

K-9 Float Coat by Ruffwear – A very enthusiastic four paws up!