Activities For Shelillons

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Introduction

We imagine that the idea to cross a Papillon with a Shetland Sheepdog came about due to something like this happening; a while back, someone noticed that Papillons and Shelties look very similar. This hypothetical person may have thought that the Papillon was some sort of miniature Sheltie, thought the "mini  Sheltie" looked insanely cute, and decided to breed the "Mini Sheltie"/Papillon with a Shetland Sheepdog in an attempt to get more. Much to our imaginary hero's chagrin but to our delight, the Shelillon resulted from that pairing. While the actual origins of the Shelillon are wrapped in mystery, their potential to become great family pets will become more clear to you as you learn about and spend time with one of these dogs.

Tunnel Running

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Any Day
Cheap
Normal
15 - 20 min
Items needed
Nylon Dog Tunnel
Dog Treats
Activity description
You typically only see dog tunnels around at dog shows, with the slight chance that someone may have brought one to the dog park for their pets to play with. We think that it's a shame that dog tunnels are not used more frequently, as they're excellent tools for helping a dog burn off a lot of their excess energy while also training a dog's agility in the process. Dog tunnels are fairly cheap and not at all difficult to get a hold of either, as you can get a quality dog tunnel from your dog local pet shop for around $50 or so.
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How to use a dog tunnel
It's not too hard to get a dog tunnel set up and ready for a dog to play with; if you've ever been camping before, setting up a dog tunnel is a lot like setting up a tent. Only it's a really long tent and no one's supposed to go to sleep in it. To prevent your dog from hitting the hay or flat out getting lost in the tunnel, you'll want to stand on the other end of the tunnel opposite to the way your dog went in so that you can beckon your pet to you.
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Different shapes and sizes
Dog tunnels come in all sorts of shapes and sizes, with some being very short and linear in their design while others are very long and crooked. These differences aren't just for show - longer tunnels with twists and turns in them will be much harder for your dog to navigate through than a tunnel that's short and straight. We think it's best to get a short tunnel first before getting a long one for your dog to use after they've acclimated to this activity.
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Agility Training

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Any Day
Moderate
Normal
45 min
Items needed
Pillows
Tables
Chairs
PVC Poles
Hoops
Activity description
Being the naturally spry dogs that they are, Shelillons tend to take to agility training much more quickly than other dogs. That's probably because many of the activities that make your average agility training course are very similar to things that Shelillons do normally; running up and down stairs and slopes, jumping over certain obstacles or jumping straight through others, one could argue that Shelillons unknowingly train their agility just by going about their daily lives.  It's for that reasons that it isn't such a bad idea to create a makeshift obstacle of your own design so that you can train your dog's agility at home. Or you could get in touch with a professional trainer and expedite the process - whichever you feel more comfortable with.
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Agility training basics
The ultimate goal of agility training is to help a dog refine their natural speed and dexterity. This is done by encouraging dogs to try out, and eventually master, a number of unique exercises such as jumping over hurdles, running up ramps, and darting through tunnels. There are many other exercises that fall under the agility training umbrella of activities, but they all should be attempted one at a time before a dog is prompted to complete them all back to back.
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The DIY Route
If you feel more comfortable setting up an agility training course on your own, then you can actually do that without having to break the bank! Just get a few chairs, tables, and pillows that are lying around the place and use them to create a makeshift agility training course for your dog. Start slowly by only having your dog work on one exercise at a time before you have them attempt to run an entire course in one go.
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The professional route
Professional dog trainers have years of experience under their belts that they'll be happy to use for the sake of getting your dog into shape. The two things a person should be aware of before committing to the professional route is the cost of a particular course and the time it will take to complete it; if you feel that you won't be able to bring your dog to each and every scheduled agility training class, then this might not be the best route for you to take.
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Urban Backpacking

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Any Day
Moderate
Normal
12 - 48 hrs
Items needed
Backpack
Food and Water
Leash
Doggy Waste Bags
Activity description
Backpacking is a more hardcore, intense form of hiking that can take anywhere from a couple of days to a few months to complete. Traditionally, backpacking trips usually are completed in the wilderness and backpackers usually aren't able to bring all of their gidgets and gadgets along for such a long and arduous trip. If the idea of backpacking intrigued you but also put you off a bit from being too hardcore, then you're in luck; urban backpacking is an alternative version of the aforementioned activity that will allow you and your dog to experience the same kind of fun one might have on a traditional backpacking trip within the comfort of a city of your choice.
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1
How to get started
The first thing you'll need to figure out is where you'd like to take your trip; you can do it right in the city where you currently live or you could do as part of a vacation you already had planned in another city. You'll then want to use all the resources at your disposal to plan your route; use the names of city streets and notable landmarks to serve as checkpoints along the way. Lastly, you'll want to pack your supplies based on where you're going and where you intend to eat and sleep.
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Hit the trail
Once you and your Shelillon start the trip, you'll want to keep a few nuggets of backpacking etiquette in mind; stick together at all times, don't eat anything that's oddly colored, and follow your trail closely (or at the very least, don't get too carried away if you do decide to take any detours.) Urban backpacking is, by nature, more chill and relaxed than traditional backpacking, so you don't have to be on your guard as much as you'd need to be during a trek through the wilderness. Still, it always helps to be mindful of your surroundings. Keep your pup by your side and be aware of their fatigue level and need for hydration at all times.
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More Fun Ideas...

Sand Jogging

The next time you and your Shelillon are on your way to the beach, consider bringing your running shoes with you so you can give this activity a shot. Sand jogging is exactly the kind of activity its name implies - it consists entirely on jogging through the sand as opposed to jogging along pavement or a trail that was premade for walking.

Treat Toys

Treat toys are fun little contraptions that you can use to take out two birds with one stone; give your dog a mental workout and fill their belly with a tasty treat. Your dog won't have to strain their brains as much as they would with a dog puzzle to open up a treat toy but they will have to approach one of these devices with a more nuanced approach than just lunging at it and seeing what happens.

Conclusion

Thanks a bunch for reading our activity guide for Shelillons. We hope that you enjoyed reading this article (as well as our little anecdote about "Mini Shelties") as much as we enjoyed writing it. We also hope that we've been able to shed some light about the habits and behavioral traits of the Shelillon so that you'll have enough information to decide if this breed of dog would be a good pet for you. Shelillons have a surprising amount of energy for their size as well as a surprising amount of gusto and enthusiasm, meaning that these dogs will be happy to try out a number of other activities that didn't make this list so long as they have a caring and compassionate partner to try them out with.