AboutDave Expertise My wife and I are active Sheltie owners. Helpful hints on discipline, training, disposition, selection, and of course acquisition. We think like dogs, so we can help you understand yours!
Experience 2 Shelties currently owned. Rescued and placed 9 dogs (3 non Sheltie).
Question Hello! I love reading your answers to everyone's questions, they're so informative.
I just adopted a Sheltie from my area's humane society. He is purebred and will be three next month; his old owner said she had to give him up because she had a brain tumor. He's been wonderful, but we have encountered two problems.
He was really weird about going to the bathroom at first, but I used your site to work through that and help him become more comfortable. Now he has no problem going outside, but he's going inside a lot - almost every day now, when before we considered it an occasional accident, thinking he was just nervous. We are starting to become concerned that this is going to become a huge problem - he goes to the bathroom outside, then comes inside and sneaks away to go again. We don't use a crate - should I consider getting one?
The second problem is that he does NOT like other dogs. I live in California and have been taking him to the beach to play because it's been really warm, and when he sees another dog he barks and growls and tries to get out of his collar. Should I consider using a choke collar in those kind of situations, or something else? He is great (just shy) with humans but seems to really dislike other dogs
Thank you so much for your help!!
Answer many apologies for delays!!!!!!!!!!!
yes, use a crate
do check w/ the vet for a bladder issue too
restrict water until you get a handle on this, they don't need much...
for other dogs:
get a quiet area where you can get a friend to bring in a dog who is friendly with a properly socialized dog.
work with them with the treat methods and encourage proper social behavior.
for a dog with this history i would definitely suggest seeking personal help from a trainer recomended at a local pet supply house (never pet stores of course!)
For what it's worth, I'm really enjoying the cable channels "me or the dog" and "dog whisperer" programs. many of their techniques work great with Shelties.
