URGENT! Will my dog get more energy?

Question

I just bought a shetland sheepdog last week. He was from a shelter, and he is 3.5 years old. I intended to do agility with the dog, and go on daily walks/runs and occasionally hiking. He is a great dog in many ways (good with our cats, not a barker, has no destructive habits), but I've started noticing he is rather low energy and quite stubborn. His previous owners taught him to sit and lie down, and I try to work on that with him in our backyard. On a very good day, he will listen. But most days, he will act like i'm not even there, and completely ignore all my commands. I also have some very low agility jumps set up, and for the first 5 minutes of training, he does alright. But then he gets very stubborn, when I direct him to a jump, he plants his feet and refuses to move, no matter what I do. Also, he will not run with me, only walk. He does not play with toys, and when I let him outside to run around and play, he waits by the door, and spends all of his free time inside sleeping in this one certain spot. I have 1 week to decide if I want to keep him. I have grown very attached, but I don't want a dog that will always frustrate me by being so low-energy. He has had a hard life, so he might not know how to play. Will he grow out of these behaviors once he bonds more with me/  with professional training? Or is his "not-so-eager-to-please" demeanor likely to always be a part of him? Could he ever excel as an agility dog? (Also, if he is off a leash, there's NO WAY he listens)

Evauna · Answer

Believe it or not dogs are shy so let him get used to his surroundings. Give him some space but obviously don't leave him unattended!

Annabelle · Answer

Your dog has JUST come into your home, and you're already expecting a lot from him. It's not fair to approach a dog with these expectations. You've just adopted him, and he needs time to settle into his new home.
However, I think your dog is being stubborn because he thinks that he is the leader of your pack (in other words, the alpha)
Read the following articles to understand more about this whole alpha thing:
http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/articles/dominanthumans.htm
http://www.cesarsway.com/tips/yournewdog/establishing-leadership-with-your-new-addition
I'm sure the stubbornness will be gone once you establish yourself as the leader.
As for agility, I'm sure he will do better in this too, but some dogs just aren't meant for agility, or enjoy the activity that much. Also, agility is supposed to be a fun and interactive sport between dogs and their owners but I think you are taking this too seriously and building a negative association with the agility course. 
If all you want is a dog who will be agility star, then don't adopt this one. If  you're looking for a loving and loyal companion once he settles in (and also enjoy doing agility for fun), then adopt him.
Good luck!

Anonymous · Answer

The energy may pick up as he settles in, but Shetland's are pretty notorious for moodiness and being stubborn. He's a herding breed and very intelligent but typical exercise isn't going to entertain him. He needs a JOB to happy. I feel that you didn't understand the breed before adopting one and that your expectations may not be in line with what he was bred for. If you can train him to listen he would probably love agility. It would provide the mental stimulation he is lacking. You should get a professional trainer involved ASAP.

About the recall off leash.... Again, he is a herder and very prone to wander off in search of a flock of get under control. It's likely he will never be truly trustworthy off leash.

Bri · Answer

He is in a new environment with a new owner asking a LOT from him. He needs time to adjust. He seems overwhelmed. You can also take him to the vet to get his thyroid levels checked just in case. Sometimes they get lethargic if their thyroid is too low.

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URGENT! Will my dog get more energy?

4 Answers