From: riggle@adobe.com (Kathleen Riggle)
Subject: Re: Need Advice:  Sheltie puppy for son's 3rd birthday
Organization: Adobe Systems Incorporated
Date: Wed, 30 Sep 1992 23:15:10 GMT

In article <22591@galaxy.ucr.edu> julie@ucrmath.ucr.edu (julie martin) writes:
>I have been looking for a puppy for our son Michael who will
>be "this many" (3 fingers up with two held down with other hand)
>on Monday, October 5.  We wanted a collie but decided on a sheltie
>because they are said to be just as sweet, and come in a more compact
>package.  (Our home is super small and so is our budget).  Plus I

[stuff deleted]
>
>I started thinking that I might be jumping the gun.  Aren't shelties
>supposed to be good with children?  I have heard that female dogs are more
>tolerant than males but I really want to give this little guy a
>home.  My son Michael is a sweetheart.  He can be VERY rambunctious and
>wild, but he is also very, very gentle and kind.  He is very good with
>babies; he likes to love on them gently and make sure they are comfortable...
	
I have a friend that raises Shelties.  They are wonderful dogs and
very very gentle with my two-year old daughter.  One of her puppies is
really fond of Rachel and rubs on any article of clothing that Rachel
leaves around.

So, all the information below is from my friend and applies to
Shelties.  Some of the information may be appropriate for other
breeds, but I didn't ask specifically, so take this advice only for
Shelties.

She actually prefers male Shelties to females.  Males are more stable.
There is a dominance issue, but Shelties aren't that dominant anyway.
They generally don't bite for dominance.  They may nip at other
children's heels or poop when mad or upset, but you more than likely
won't have a biting problem with them.  A situation to watch for with
a herding dog is that if there are several children over and a
conflict arises, the dog may side with the household child and bark at
the other children or nip at their heels.

For a 3-year-old, you may prefer a somewhat larger Sheltie.

Things to try with the puppy you are looking at:

1) Roll it over on it's back.  If it struggles and tries to bite, it's
not a good candidate for the household. 
If it stuggles, but then settles down, it's a good candidate.
If it urinates, then it's not a good candidate.  This indicates a
dog that is extremely submissive and an overally submissive dog may
turn into a fear biter.

2) See how the puppy approaches you. 

If it igrores you, that's a bad sign.  If it runs up to you, that's a
good sign.

3) Bring something to make a loud clanging noise and see how the puppy
responds.  If it runs away, that's not a good sign.  3-year-olds are
going to be noisy.  It's best if the puppy goes towards the noise
(curiously) or just looks.

If you do bring this puppy home, it's best to sometimes keep the puppy
and 3-year-old separate, but allow certain times together.  Don't let
the child bother the dog when it's napping.  That may startle the dog,
so respect the puppy's time to be alone.

If the puppy tires to bite the child, teach your child to say NO or
OFF or STOP.  The adult should reinforce this command with a squirt
bottle or shake can.  After the dog stops, the parent should say "good
dog."

Take a puppy training class.  In this area (and perhaps others) there
is training called Sirius Puppy Training.  This is a good class
because it's family oriented and allows all members of the household
to participate.  These classes are for puppies that are 12-20 weeks of
age.  If this training isn't available in your area, look for a class
where everyone is allowed to participate, not just one member of the
family.

Puppies ineveitably bite; not a malicious bite, but a play bite and
you might not want that.  If you don't want play biting, you will 
have to teach the dog that that's not correct behavior.

>Anyone out there have a male sheltie that plays with little ones?  

My friend has 2 males; 2 females.  Her oldest male is the most
fantastic dog I have ever met.  She says that he's a one-of-a-lifetime
dog.  They just don't come along like that very often.  Her smallest
puppy is the one that's "in love" with my daughter.  They are both (as
all of the dogs) very gentle with Rachel and she's probably more
likely to "abuse" them then your son, just because she's younger.
She's been around those dogs since she was an infant and I've never
felt for a moment that she was ever in danger with them.  Now these
dogs are very well trained; my friend works with them and shows them
in obedience, but I think a lot of it is just that they have a very
good disposition.

>P.S.  He may or may not be a "pure-bred" sheltie.  If he is 
>      mixed with anything, it must be very small.  His paws are
>      very petite and small boned.

If the puppy isn't pure-bred, it's temperament may not be just like a
Sheltie.  In that case, running through a few puppy tests is even
more important.

I love Shelties!  My husband says it's a Poodle for him when Rachel is
older.  Oh well, at least Poodles don't shed.

Kathie

-- 
riggle@adobe.com