Hi Everyone:

I'm wondering how much grooming a sheltie needs. I've heard from one person to expect one hour of grooming every other day. I've heard from another person 10 minutes/day. Can anyone tell me for sure how much grooming a sheltie needs? One hour every other day seems excessive to me.

Thanks,
Butter

hi Butter

Shelties are not my breed - Cockers are mine, but I groom mine for a good half hour each every day - sometimes more than once a day. As an equally full coated breed I would have thought that depending on where your dog has been, ie how much rubbish has the coat picked up on that stroll down the lane, then half an hour each day was a reasonable estimate.

hth

Pam n co

Thanks for the reply. I admit I was hoping for an answer easier to bear. I wonder if this is the breed for me then. I was hoping for an hour/week for grooming. I like the fact that the sheltie meets my needs: exercise (1 hour/day walks), plays with kids, good for obedience, beautiful dog, not too big so won't hurt me (I have really bad osteoporosis) or the kids with exuberance, and not too small. I can accept the shedding and the barking. Maybe I could get by with 15 minutes of grooming/day.

Thanks, from butter

Hi Butter,
Shelties are my breed! They need to be brushed about 1/2 hr. every few days, mostly get tangles behind ears where the hair is fine, and along their back legs. I don't experience many problems with matts other than that. My kids start grooming the puppies early to get them used to being brushed and handled, this also helps bond the kids and dog. Springtime of course calls for a little more effort because they shed their winter coat. By the way, male dogs get fuller coats than the females. They are so good with kids and a sweet loving breed, course I'm biased. Let us know which way you end up going!

Thanks Bumblebeeacres and Val. That sounds like something I can handle. I do know that you're supposed to get down to the skin by line brushing one side at a time. I've seen a groomer use a slicker brush for the whole coat and then a comb, but a book said to use a pin brush for the whole coat and then a slicker for behind the ears and the feathering on the legs. What do you recommend? I like the idea of using a pin brush. Do you have any words of advice for a new sheltie owner (plus a first time dog owner)?

Thanks for your help,
Butter

Hi Butter
I'm in the process of homing my litter of Rough Collies, similar coat, bigger dog. Amongst other things, my puppies go to their new homes with a slicker brush (with a bent pin) and a grooming demonstration! With the correct REAL grooming, rather than waving the brush over the dog, I suggest that 15 minutes twice a week will keep a Rough Collie in good condition. I don't think that a Sheltie should be a problem if the breeder shows you how to deal with the coat.

Hi Val:

Do you mean that the slicker brush has bent steel pins or that the handle is bent? You find that works better than a brush for the main body - O.K.

Thanks again.

Oh, by the way, we're getting a male in the spring/summer.

Butter

Yes Butter, a slicker brush has bent metal pins. I use a Universal deluxe, available from all the grooming suppliers. Many people say that it's not as gentle as a pin brush but it's quicker and more thorough and it does the job! It's what I send home with all my puppies. It's also what I use on my show Roughs. I only use a pin brush if I'm preparing them for a show and don't want to pull out the loose undercoat! To me, if the coat is loose (apart for trying to preserve it for one last show!) it needs to come out. I then use a comb for behind the ears and the furnishings on the back of the front legs.
I bet you're looking forward to your new addition. What colour are you expecting??

Glad to hear that your expecting !
As you will read in the other post about herding kids, I recommend training. Take your puppy to a puppy kindergarten class for socialization. It's important with a sheltie to be consistent. They are very smart and have long memories. Never hit your puppy for bad behavior, this breed works better with positive reinforcement type training. A lot of praising when they do what you want them to do. At around 4-6 months they like to test to see if you are pack leader, mostly by playing what I refer to as "sheltie keep away". Don't chase the puppy, make him chase after you, by running away from him. It actually works. I am getting a bit ahead of myself, but it's late and I'm tired, so forgive me. I recommend reading "How to Raise a Puppy You Can Live With" by Rutherford and Neil, an excellent source for rearing a puppy. Also if you can check out a book called"Sheltie Talk" a wealth of Sheltie info. in there deemed the sheltie bible.
Got any more questions, please ask away, I'll do my best to answer them. Hopefully when I'm not half asleep!
Oh yes, I forget major important thing! Make sure you do crate train the puppy. Check out Purina.com they've got all kinds of free puppy advice.
Good Luck, keep us informed!

I agree with the grooming methods of Val, the lady does know whatshe's talking about! I can see the fur flying from those collies! They must look gorgeous when you're done with them!

BUMBLE VAL HAS GORGEOUS COLLIES . I have a 14 yr old collie . she is a champion .I spent a good few years in r. collies and I know a good one when I see ONE. Im qualified to judge them at championship level. I am not blowing my trumpet :) im just telling you so you know I know what im talking about. and I am saying, if I ever got the longing for a rough collie puppy to show again. I would go to Val. they are everything I would be looking for in a collie . best wishes Mari

Hi Bumblebeeacres:

Yes, I will do puppy kindergarten. I have a couple of clickers for training purposes, and I will crate train.

I don't know if this is feasible, but I'm going to try agility training when the puppy is older. I don't know what age one starts this - 2 years of age? I don't know if I'm a good enough trainer for this either. But it does sound like fun.

Thanks for your advice!
Butter

Hi Val:

We don't really know what color we're expecting. The breeder has bi-blacks, bi-blues, bi-merles, sables, and tri-colors. Whatever her next paired mating is will determine our color. I am especially partial to bi-blues, bi-blacks and sables. We have asked for a puppy with personaility that goes well with kids. The breeder recommended a male puppy. I've heard that sables are easier to brush, because their coats aren't as curly or as fine. Don't know if that is true.

Thanks!
Butter

Now I'm confused Butter. When you talk colours, you're not talking 'English'!!! Which side of the pond are you?? UK or USA?

Val, what are the English terms for color?
I didn't know they were different!
Butter, are you in the US? I am and understand your terminology.
I have a litter with bi-blacks, they are beautiful. Have you seen the Piano Man before? He is a famous sheltie showdog in the US, just gorgeous!
I know that the standard is different in US than UK.
In the US shelties are not supposed to have any curl to their coat(don't know about UK), so I have no experience grooming one with it, they should have a double coat though, sometimes they are missing the soft undercoat which makes them look less fluffy.
Whatever color they are so sweet it really doesn't matter, you might find one just isn't enough.
Glad to hear you are going to invest the time to train your puppy!
In order to do agility(and shelties excell at this) you need to go through obedience classes. Unless you want to do it all at home. But going to classes helps you meet other dog people and it can be a lot of fun.
Can't wait to hear what color you end up with, and where your from!

I have a friend in Chicago (not doggy) and we found 31 years ago that we needed an English/American dictionary!! Here in Roughs and Shelties we have sable & white, tricolour and blue merles, all with the white marking (feet, collar, tip of the tail) carried to a greater or lesser degree. We don't recognise whites or any colour without the tan markings, I'm assuming that's the bi-colour, please correct me if I'm wrong.
I don't remember seeing bi-colours in the American Collie book by Sharon Vanderlip, but I haven't seen it for some time as I lent it and it didn't come back.
Click my name and then my webpage and you'll see that Rough Collies here look different to the ones you see in America.

Hi Val!
Beautiful collies! They are very different looking to me than the collies here in America. Their heads especially. They actually remind me a lot of the shelties over here! Very sweet expressions, where the collies over here seem to lack that, my friend next door breeds collies, they are very pretty also but look almost a different breed.
As far as color, over here white collies are accepted in the show ring.
Bi- colors are without the tan color, do you have sable merles ever?
Unfortunatley I haven't seen the collie book you mentioned.
Why is it that you can't show bi-colors over there?
Do collie breeders there still breed for them anyway?
We aren't allowed to show color headed whites(shelties) but the collies are permitted, very silly if you ask me, because both breeds are herders, and produce same colors. I can't imagine mistaking a small sheltie for a sheep----that is their excuse over here. Shelties over there are even smaller(generally). It's amazying how the types of these breeds have changed over the years.
Ever visited Chicago? If you do have plans in the future, let me know I know a few different collie people that you could meet, if you like!

Hi Bumble. They are different, aren't they. We have more stop on the head and leave the heads more natural. In the US they have less stop and also trim quite severely, which hardens the expression too. You have kept size over there. I struggle to keep size up to the standard.
We don't breed sable merles. We believe that the sables become muddy and the quality of the clear blue is lost, therefore the sable & blue bloodlines are completely different.
I have never seen bi-colours. They certainly aren't bred for as our standard requires the rich tan markings in all 3 colours.
Sharon Vanderlip is an American Vet who breeds Rough Collies. Her book "A Veterinary Reference for the Professional Breeder" has amazing detail about genetics, problems, health directly relating to Collies. It's out of print at the moment but I spoke to her last month and she's 90% completed a new updated version.
I visit Chicago every other year or so. This year is friend's turn to come over here. Are you anywhere near that area?

I'm about an hour northwest of Chicago, in a quaint little town by the name of Woodstock, we boast an historic opera house(of course by standards over there, it would be considered newly built!).Is your friend in the city? Or a suburb?I envy her being able to come and see you!I really liked it there----the one time I've actually been there.
Seems that Mari is quite a fan of your beautiful dogs, you must feel proud to have such a great line going, keep up the good work, and keep in touch, eh?

Hi Val:

Beautiful, beautiful dogs. Sable is such a lovely color for a sheltie/collie.

Butter

Hi:

Yes, I'm from the other side of the pond. I'm from Canada. It's been quite interesting reading everyone's discussions because the terminology is quite different. Right now it's a cold -28C. A sheltie with its thick coat will fit in nicely here.

Butter

O Canada! That's great! Sorry to hear about your weather though, actually we are in the middle of a winter storm ourselves, made sure we had plenty of popcorn and movies to watch before it hit. Shelties do so well in colder climes, some of mine don't even want to come back in the house!

Hi Bumblebeeacres

I have another sheltie question! My little girl was quite upset. She said that one of the teachers at school told her that shelties were a grumpy breed that didn't like people! So my little girl said, "Mommy will our dog like us?" They are so excited about getting a puppy, and now they've heard this! Shelties love to be with and play with children don't they?

Thanks,

Butter

Sorry Butter I know nothing about Shelties however I would be tempted to ask the Teacher when Canine Studies was introduced into the National Curriculum and what her qualification is to be able to teach in this subject. Ok we are all allowed an opinion and that will differ to others (as shown on this board) however I think in this case what was said to your child was out of order.
I was bitten 17yrs ago by a Rottie (long story but not his fault) and I have since had a fear of them. My son however has no fear of any breed of dog, he just knows all need to be treated with respect from a GSD to a westie. Like the teacher I could of generalised and said all Rotties were dangerous however childrens brains are like sponges and absorb everything. I therefore would be asking the teached not to make such sweeping statements in future.

Hi Butter!
Don't worry about shelties and kids, I have three girls ages 18 months, 5 and 9 years, the dogs (all 5 of them) are excellent with them!
The baby hangs out by my one girls food dish, and feeds her food pieces by piece-----she is so very sweet. She has a litter of 3 and 1/2 week old puppies and lets the girls pick them up and cuddle them. My male has been since a baby sweet as can be, laying on the sofa and taking naps with my middle daughter.
You have expressed that you are getting your sheltie from a breeder who breeds for temperment and that you will socialize and train your puppy. I think you will have no problems whatever, just make sure the kids respect the puppy.
Sometimes teachers say the most STUPID things to our kids. Shelties can be weary of strangers, this is part of the breeds personality. They were used to warn the shepard of intruders, not to approach. Maybe the teacher had a bad experience with a sheltie, but she shouldn't transfer her opinion of the breed to your young daughter. If she were educated about the breed than that would be one thing, but I am and I can tell you that she is not correct in her opinion.
Have you talked to the breeder that you are getting your puppy from?
Have you met the other dogs? I am sure they will be happy to set your mind at ease.
The major reason I chose this breed was because they have such a good reputation with children. This was after one of my girls was bit in the face by a different breed. I researched the sheltie thouroughly and have not been sorry.
No worries!

Thanks Bumblebeeacres:

I just read the pertinent part of your message to my daughter. She smiled and hugged me. So thanks!

Butter

Glad to have helped. Wish I could post some pictures of my kids and our shelties on a web site, but don't have the equipment yet. Just today my now 19 month old daughter was hugging and chasing and kissing all of our shelties in the kitchen, they all loved her right back!