Sheltie Nation

Sheltie Angel Ornament: A great way to support rescue!

Is your Sheltie an Angel on Earth?  Have you ever loved a Sheltie who has gone to the Bridge?  Regardless of your reason, this is a must have for anyone who has ever loved a Sheltie! 

"Sheltie Angel" is an exquisite collectible Christmas Ornament, designed exclusively for The American Shetland Sheepdog Association and it's endorsed Rescue Groups.

The ornament is available in 6 colors, all of which are handcrafted in the USA by the artisans at Incolay.  What a wonderful gift for yourself or for the Sheltie lover in your life. 

The ornaments sell for $24.95 each, with 100% of profits directly benefiting Shelties currently in need of help. What better way to give back to the breed that gives us so much joy!

To order your "Sheltie Angel" ornament, click here. 

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Additional information on Incolay:

Incolay is a handcrafted product that is made right here in the USA.  It is not mass produced by machinery in China.

All products are made by hand, from beginning to end by skilled artisians. This means that the Incolay 2-part stone formula is mixed by hand, poured by hand, demolded by hand, finished by hand and antiqued by hand.

There is a lot of time and work that goes into each product, which accounts for the cost and collectibility factor.

Here are a few pictures from some of the artisians at the Incolay factory.

Win a book! One Nation Under Dog

After journalist Michael Schaffer and his wife adopted Murphy, a mistreated St. Bernard puppy, in rural Pennsylvania, Schaffer found himself being drawn into the significant options and spending for pet care, so he decided to go deeper into the lives of people and their pets. The result is not only a very happy and healthy Murphy but also a fun, eye-opening, and touching examination of America’s pet obsession, ONE NATION UNDER DOG: Adventures in the New World of Prozac-Popping Puppies, Dog-Park Politics, and Organic Pet Food, by Michael Schaffer.

ONE NATION UNDER DOG introduces us to people who will spend their life savings on medial treatments for their pets and breeders who put potential owners through intensive screening before selling them a dog. We hear arguments for and against different training philosophies and look into a pets-only funeral home and bereavement groups for lost beloved animals. Schaffer also takes us to the darker side of the pet industry, going undercover at a puppy mill, talking to victims of the tainted pet food scandal, and looking at current legal battles over what can constitute on paper the pain and suffering brought from a pet’s mistreatment or untimely death.

Throughout ONE NATION UNDER DOG, Schaffer turns the lens not only on the industry but also on his relationship with Murphy. As he attends pet fashion shows and talks to “petrepeneurs,” Schaffer personalizes the experience with great wit and shows how the changing status of pets reflects shifts in American culture.

Send an email to sheltienationraffle@gmail.com to enter to win.  Name will be drawn May 22nd!

Congrats to Ann C. in CT!

Sizing up Shelties: Finding the Right Furniture

When it comes to purchasing items such as a travel crate or a dog bed, the one concern that most owners have is whether it will fit their best friend.  Picking the right size the first time is important because most pet stores, whether online or retail, won’t let your pet try out their products first and won’t accept returns if there are signs that it has already been used.

Sizing up Shelties can be especially tricky, as they can fall between small and medium depending on their size and the measurements of the product.  In this article, we’ll explain some good guidelines to consider when determining the proper size for your Sheltie friend.

Dog Houses
Whether buying a dog house or building one yourself, it can be a big investment, so you want to make sure that your dog can fit comfortably.  Although most Shelties would prefer to be indoor dogs, lounging on your couch or bed, sometimes a dog house is a nice addition to the back yard.

Since Shelties aren’t that tall, the door frame itself shouldn’t pose much of a problem so long as you leave at least 10 inches for the height.  But to ensure that the confines are spacious enough make sure that the width and depth of the house are at least 5 inches longer than the length of your Sheltie(excluding the tail) and that the overall height of the house is at least 25 inches (or at least 5-7 inches more than the standing height of your dog). 

Travel Crates
If you ever find the need to travel with your Sheltie, a crate is a must, especially when it comes to flying.  The two most important considerations when it comes to creates is a.) whether it is travel approved and b.) whether it will fit your Sheltie properly.  While any product description should list clearly whether the crate is approved for domestic and/or international airline traveling, finding the right size can be a bit trickier.  

The important thing to remember is that crates do not need to provide the same amount of room as a dog house, but it does need to be big enough for your dog to at least stand up and turn around.  Most importantly, it needs to be long enough for your Sheltie to lie down in it, since dogs tend to spend most of their time sleeping while travelling. 

The best rule of thumb is to measure your dog from head to tail bone and add 12 inches to this total to determine the proper length.  And also make sure to measure your dog’s height from the ground to the top of their heads and 6 inches to that total to figure the amount of standing space needed.  Generally, the proper width should be three-quarters of what the length should be.  For most brands of crates, this should put most Shelties in the medium sizing range, although some of the bulkier pooches might need a large crate instead.

Dog Beds

Shelties are active and intelligent dogs, so there really is no such thing as buying a pet bedthat is too large.  They usually tend to like more space then comparably sized dogs and unlike some breeds of toy dogs, they won’t be overwhelmed or intimidated by a large dog bed.  On the other hand, a dog bed that is too small can hinder his/her ability to sleep comfortably so it is really important to go bigger if you think it might be necessary.  The bottom line is you want to pick a bed that has a measurement of at least 9-12 inches longer and wider than your Sheltie when he or she is lying down.

While these tips should hopefully help, it is important to note that the right size can vary depending on the size of your Sheltie, so make absolutely sure to measure your pet first before making a purchase. And if you find yourself caught between two sizes, always opt for the larger one.  Even if it costs a little more, it is a safer bet than opting for the smaller size and gambling that your dog will find it comfortable.

Sponsored post

Product Warning: Pimple ball with bell by Four Paws, Inc.

WARNING: A few images posted in this article may be difficult to look at for some readers.

On June 22, 2008, my 10-year old lab mix, Chai, sustained a severe injury from a product that the company Four Paws, Inc., produces. The toy I'm referencing is the pimple ball with bell (Item #20227-001, UPC Code #0 45663202279).

While chewing on the toy, a vacuum was created and it effectively sucked his tongue into the hole in the ball. From speaking with my vet, this likely occurred because there is not a second hole in the ball preventing the vacuum effect from happening. I became aware of this when Chai approached a friend at my home whimpering with the ball in his mouth. She tried unsuccessfully to remove the ball but the tongue had swollen and could not be released.

Chai was taken to the Animal Medical Center (an emergency care facility in New York City ) and was treated by Dr. Nicole Spurlock to have the ball removed. Because the size of the opening on the ball was so small, all circulation to his tongue was cut off. The doctors had to sedate him in order to remove it. Once the ball was removed, his tongue swelled to the point that he could no longer put it in his mouth. Chai was sent home with care instructions and to be observed overnight for any changes.

By the following morning, Chai's tongue had swollen even more.

This is the dogs tongue not the Toy!

He was taken to his regular vet, Dr. Timnah Lee, for treatment. He was admitted and kept sedated for a period of three days during which time they were treating his wounds and waiting to determine how much of his tongue could be saved. On June 26, 2008, Chai had his tongue amputated.

He was kept in after-care for an additional three days. On Sunday, June 29th, I brought Chai home from the vet with a barrage of home care instructions, to last for an additional 7 days. His next visit was to have his mouth re-examined and have the feeding tube in his neck removed.

On the way home from the vet we stopped at Petland Discount where I purchased their product to speak to the manager on duty. Upon meeting Chai and seeing his condition, he removed all of the balls in question from the shelves. He also ga ve me the customer service number to their corporate headquarters to request that they refuse to continue purchasing all Four Paws products.

Additionally, I shared my story with friends who have a French Bulldog named Petunia. Upon hearing my story, their eyes widened. They explained that the same thing happened twice in one night with a smaller version of the same ball to their dog. Fortunately, they were able to pull it off before the tongue swelled, but not without tremendous effort and pain to the dog. They recalled how horrific it was to hear their dog screaming while they had to pry the ball from her tongue.

To date, my veterinary bills total over $5,000 and I will have regular follow up appointments for some time. Additionally, Chai now requires a much more expensive form of food beca use of this injury, averaging approximately $200 per month.

Additionally, I now have to re-teach my dog to eat, drink and adjust to life without his tongue. Feeding him takes me about 90 minutes twice a day and for at least this first week he is not to be unattended for more than 20 minutes at a time.

I sent this information along with the reference to the French Bulldog to Four Paws, Inc., and it is their position that there just aren't enough instances to do anything about this. I told their insurance company's case manager that was not a good enough excuse. It was inferred that my dogs value wasn't much and that his pain and suffering don't count as he is just a piece of property.

Please visit Chai's blog page to find out more & for updates. 

http://thechaistory.blogspot.com/2008/08/chai-story.html

Since Chai's story has circulated the internet & gained quite a bit of exposure, the company has announced a recall. But there are probably many, many of these toys still sitting in doggie toy boxes! 

http://www.fourpaws.com/news/press-room/four-paws-rough-rugged-pimple-ball-with-bell.htm

DogPause food dish - win one!

Like many Sheltie owners, I had preconceived ideas about how Shelties behave.  We Sheltie lovers can make sweeping generalizations about the breed & most often we would be right.  Shelties are smart.  Shelties love to bark.  Shelties love to herd.  Shelties gobble food...um, no.  Shelties have manners, right?

Well, there is always an exception to the rule of anything...and my little Toby is the dog that does it.  Our little "Hoover", Toby is famous for gulping down his meal (which includes half chewed baby carrots) in seconds flat...with sometimes not so pleasant results.  Burping & vomiting up his meal almost as fast as he ate it.  Yuck!

I know it's not healthy for him to inhale the food, but other than putting rocks in his bowl (like you do with horses who bolt their grain) I was at a loss what to do about it.

I was recently contacted by a company that makes a feeding bowl called DogPause.  They asked me if I would be interested in reviewing the product.  Apparently, it is the first dog bowl with integrated portion control.  Four sections divide food into manageable portions which forces the dog to pause in between each section.

The company says this bowl is sized for dogs between 15 and 100 pounds and most dog breeds ranging from Beagles to Rottweilers. Dogs just can't get their entire face into the bowl, and as a result, eat more slowly.

But my little Toby is an undersized Sheltie with a long slender nose.  Would it work for him too?  Yep.  It did double the time it takes him to eat...from an average of 30 seconds to about 1 minute.  Is that enough time to stop the vomiting & burping?  Well, sorta.  He still doesn't chew his kibble, but he has taken the time to chew his carrots.  I think he can get his snout deeper into the bowl than say a Golden can, but he does have to use his tongue to get the kibble at the bottom.

The DogPause dog bowl works to slow down the pace of eating and aid with portion control in the following ways:

• Divides the bowl into 4 feeding zones.
• Each feeding zone is 1/2 cup in capacity and designed to "block" the dog from putting his full snout into the bowl; this slows down eating pace as your dog needs to use his tongue for each bite.
• After your dog finishes each zone, he must re-position himself for the next zone.
• The bowl is designed to slide a little on the floor, further slowing down the dog as he needs to re-position for each bite.  For Toby, letting the bowl slide around on the floor was a good thing; it really helped extend his time eating.

The DogPause dogbowl is made of the high quality plastic. It is non-toxic, food grade, and dishwasher safe. It's as safe as Tupperware® or Gladware®   My only wish was that it came in a stainless steel variation. 

The DogPause bowl retails for $17.95,  or two for $29.95 plus free shipping.

The folks at DogPause have generously donated a bowl for Sheltie Nation to raffle off to one lucky "gobbler" Sheltie!  Just email SheltieNationRaffle@gmail.com and put DogPause in the subject line to enter!  Trevor, Toby & Tyler will be choosing a winner on 6/1, so enter today!  (Please only one entry per household.)

CONGRATS TO KAREN MCGUIRE FOR WINNING THE DOGPAUSE BOWL!

Opinion or fact? Dog Buffs

Finding good advice can be difficult, regardless of subject.  Since the advent of the internet, information is readily at our fingertips, but now the challenge can be determining if the information is opinion or fact.  An example of this quandary can be seen on the website, Dog Buffs, where they have a page dedicated to the topic of Nutro dog food.

At first glance, the page seems like a news article about the benefits of feeding Nutro.  But reading further into it, the author compares Nutro brands against each other and then to outside brands - then finally the author "ranks" them.  The article is posted anonymously, leaving the reader with no idea of the expertise level of the writer.

The site is a great place to start your nutrition or training research...but for in depth information and to answer the "why?" factor, you will have to search elsewhere.  For example, on the puppy foods page, the statement "dry puppy foods are generally healthier and more economical" might in fact be a true statement, but the article doesn't justify the author's position or tell the reader why they should trust their judgment.

Dog Buffs does contain a lot good tidbits of information on clicker training, puppy socialization and behavioral problems.  The website is clear, easy to navigate and an easy read.  But, it did leave us wanting for more.  We really would like to have seen clickable links to the products or websites referred to in their articles or reviews.  It can be quite a pain to have to copy/paste into a new web browser to see what the author is talking about.

Dog Buffs claims it wishes to be "the authoritative online encyclopedia for dogs and puppies".  While the site has made a good start towards that goal, it needs to add a lot more content & provide the background on the authors before it can begin to fulfill that claim to it's readers.  Dog Buffs has the right idea and their hearts are in the right place - wanting to give dog owners the best information.  The site just needs to do a better job convincing it's readers who they are & why their information can be trusted.

We as dog lovers must not believe everything that is posted on the internet is accurate.  When researching information on your pet's health, nutrition or training, it is best to do your homework.  Read as much as you can & from as many sources as possible on the topic and then consult a professional.  Your vet and respected professional trainers are your best source to determine if all the conclusions you have reached are based on fact or opinion.

Sponsored Post

Sheltie Nation's 20% Off Holiday Special!

Just in time for the holidays...Sheltie Nation is having a 20% off sale!

Do you realize there are only 20 shopping days until Christmas? Now is the best time to get a member decal for yourself or someone you love.  They make great stocking stuffers!   

These decals are printed on high quality, all-weather vinyl with UV resistant inks and laminated for extra protection to provide years of beautiful, bold Sheltie color.  They are 4.5 inches round on a 5 inch square backing. 

For a limited time, they are just $4.00 each plus shipping! (No sales tax either!)

Click here to order the decal:

"But Sheltie Nation, I want a t-shirt, mug, & more... I want more Sheltie Nation gear!" OK then, Cafe Press is running some shipping specials, so visit the Sheltie Nation Cafepress store for other great gifts!

 

 
Of course we owe a big thanks to our Sheltie Nation mascot artist, Diane Troese for the great logo Sheltie.  Please visit her website, Emprise Shelties, if you would like to see (& purchase) more great Sheltie art.  She has great t-shirts, tote bags & some new hand painted boxes.

Breeding Master

Breeding dogs is part art, part science.  A responsible breeder keeps meticulous, detailed records of every dog involved in their program; past and present.  But it can be easy to misplace information & loose track - especially if you are running a large, multi-dog operation.

The folks at Breeding Master have developed software to help dog breeders consolidate any and all information related to their dogs.  It might seem a little daunting to those of you accustom to paper files, but once you spend the time inputting the information, you will find that the software has some very handy features.

The software organizes & tracks individual dogs, tracks pairings & resulting  offspring, kennels you network with, show results & points, awards &   photos - even vaccination records.  It also has a section for "human" information, broken down into "breeders" and "owners".  Wouldn't it be nice to track all your puppy buyers and business contacts in one place?  Now it is quick & easy to find the phone number of the person who bought that potential show pup from you last year.  With a few clicks, their contact information is displayed & you don't have to rummage through stacks of contracts.

 

The pedigree generator for an individual dog goes back 5 generations (which users might want to see increased).  But, the pedigree can also be easily printed - a nice thing to pass along to puppy buyers or other potential breeders.

 

The only thing we wish we saw was a back-up feature.  We don't recommend relying on any computer or software as their only repository for their important information.  Computers & their parts sometimes break or, god forbid, a fire or flood takes out your home.  Backing up computer information is important & it would be helpful to capture the information files to disc for back-up storage elsewhere.

 

Breeding Master uses the Windows Office® platform & was super easy to install.  If you are familiar with Windows Office®, you will find using & navigating the software simple & intuitive.  Even better, Breeding Master encourages customers to submit software upgrade suggestions for future version releases - a nice touch.
 
Bonus: Breeding Master has a 30 day free trial.  But even so, it is very reasonably priced at $35.00 and upgrades are free.  Give Breeding Master a try...what do you have to loose?

Link: Breeding Master

Sponsored Post

The Sheltie holidays are coming...

Be sure to have your Sheltie Nation member decal on your holiday wish list!  Perfect for the Sheltie lover in your life & great for gift giving. 

These decals are printed on high quality, all-weather vinyl with UV resistant inks and laminated for extra protection to provide years of beautiful, bold Sheltie color.  They are 4.5 inches round on a 5 inch square backing.  They are just $5.00 each plus shipping. (No sales tax either!) Click here to order:

Don't forget you can get t-shirts, hats, mugs & more at the Sheltie Nation store too. Visit our Cafepress store for other Sheltie Nation goodies!

 

Your purchases help keep Sheltie Nation going strong & make great gifts!

FURminator meets Sheltie...

Written by guest author & Sheltie Nation member, Jorge Hurtado.

Luna likes to go to the local dog park here in Gainesville.  Over the past couple of weekends, Luna’s friends kept talking about a grooming product called the FURminator.  Crystal (my fiancée) and I had never heard of the FURminator.  We went in to the dog park gift shop where they had a few on sale. We had to check out what this latest craze was.

The FURminator is a grooming tool which resembles a fine tooth comb.  It looked promising until we noticed the price on the FURminator.  The smallest tool (the tool we eventually purchased) is a 1.7 inch edge FURminator with a hefty price tag of $35.00.  The medium (2.6 inch edge) and the large (4 inch edge) went for $42.00 and $49.00, respectively.  We’re college students so the price tag was somewhat steep for us.  Since everyone was raving out the FURminator, I went ahead and did a bit of research on the web.  First, I headed to the FURminator website.  On their website, they showed pictures of dogs (and cats) after a session with the FURminator.  Globs and globs of loose fur laid around the dogs.  The site itself was very informational with pictures and a video as to how the FURminator works.  It almost seemed too good to be true so I went ahead and did a little more research on sites such as Amazon and Petsmart.  For every 100 reviews on the tool, I could only find one or two which may have been considered a negative review. 

I went ahead and searched around for the FURminator on the internet.   I was able to find the cheapest price on Amazon.  At the time of purchase, the small 1.7 inch tool (we figured that would be best for Luna) went for $25.99, about $10 less than most places we searched. We ordered one for Luna and waited a few days for it to arrive.

A few days passed and UPS arrived with our new grooming tool.  After coming home from work, we opened the box and inside was a plain plastic bag sealed with a FURminator cardboard tag.  Inside the plastic bag were directions on how to use the FURminator.  The first thing we noticed in the directions was the following:  Because the FURminator deShedding tool will extract an abundance of hair, position your dog or cat in an area that is easy to sweep or vacuum. We decided to take Luna into the bathroom since it’s tiled and easy to vacuum.  Here’s Luna preparing for a date with the FURminator.

Luna’s always been a good dog when it comes to grooming.  (It does help when you start at an early age.)  After 30 minutes of brushing with the FURminator, here’s Luna wondering where it all came from. 

The FURminator claims that as a result of regular brushing (twice a week for about 20 minutes each session), shedding is kept to a minimum and as a result your vacuum (or broom) will love you for it.  After using the FURminator for a week, I can confidently say that the amount of hairballs and loose hair on our carpet and inside our cars has definitely been much less than normal.  It’s very easy to know when it’s time to brush again because your seats begin to turn sable (or blue/black for those with more exotic Shelties!). 

Luna loves the FURminator.  She stands and laughs during the whole process.  Luna has dry hair along her back legs and tail but since using the FURminator her hair’s been much more smooth and healthy looking.  The rest of her coat feels almost silky and has a nice glow to it.  Mind you Luna is a smaller than average Sheltie so the amount of fur will vary between her and your Sheltie, but the amount of fur we still removed was incredible.  The price of the FURminator was more than worth it.  My only regret is not knowing about it until now (I believe it’s been out a year already).

Overall, the FURminator’s a wonderful tool to help curb shedding.  It won’t stop it completely, but it has helped tremendously.  The amount of hair not on our clothes, couches, car seats, floors, etc. has decreased considerably.  We’ve been able to vacuum our apartment without having to change the bag multiple times!  If you need help with your Sheltie shedding, try the FURminator.  The price is well worth it (and if you don’t like it, it does come with a 30 day money back guarantee!).

Thanks Jorge - we would be interested to hear other members comments on this product too!

If you are interested in purchasing a FURminator - Amazon has the best pricing.