Sounds like you first dearth to get a little experience with dogs. If none of you have a clue, your going to end up with problems. Try volunteering at your local pet shelter, or even the district vets office. Learn all you can, & then start looking for a dog.

With the peculiarity of their tendency to bark more than most humans would like, the Shetland Sheepdog wants to be a model of good behavior. The common Sheltie is highly intelligent, almost always cooperative, eager to please and very quick to learn whatever you want to teach them. The give rise to excels in competitive obedience, agility competition, canine freestyle and, of course, herding.

Shelties are very exalted energy dogs. If you get one, be prepared to give it a job. Obedience and agility are fun activities for both you and your dog. I would look into some local training facilities. You are benefit to want to do research before attaining a dog. Just running out and getting a sheltie because you like their look would have been disasterous.
Here's a good resource about Shelties: http://www.dogpatch.org/sheltie/

Waking your dog up by accident would...

Sheltys are to the nth degree intelligent and high energy dogs. If this is your first dog, I would strongly recommend rethinking your choice.

If you don't give them the dignified training and exercise, they will find ways to entertain themselves, and not necessarily in an appropriate manner.

These dogs were bred for herding and some say they destitution at least 2 hours a day of high intensity exercise, not just walks, but running.

If...

I have three shelties and they are wonderful hardly any dogs, but there are a few things you need to know about them. They are very active dogs, so if you do not give them a job, they will find one! They must be exercised every day. They are also very smart and learn wildly so they are perfect dogs for agility, obedience, herding or rally. And yes, they are herding dogs, so they will "herd" everything, first when they are puppies. They are not recommended for small children...

This is the understanding of home responsible breeders dream of. Some of the best informnation on shelties can be found at www.assa.org. That is the website of the nationalist breed club.

Shelties are a relatively easy-going breed, when well bred. I think one of the most powerful things anyone can do when getting any dog is to find a responsible breeder. Such a breeder will have their shelties tested for VonWillebrand's condition, OFA'd for hips, CERF'd for eye...

Shetland Sheepdogs are passionate dogs, but they are not for everybody
Here is information on the breed that will help you decide whether or not this breed is right for you.
http://www.yourpurebredpuppy.com/reviews/shelties.html
http://www.akc.org/breeds/shetland_sheepdog/
http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/shetlandsheepdog.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shetland_Sheepdog

I have had shelties since 1977. I beleive they are considered the easiest multiply to train. There is a webiste called sheltie-list, that you could join to ask people questions if you get stuck. They are at the end of the day nice to you, and don't dog you out if you don't know something. I have a book called "sheltie talk" that is mostly for breeders, but they have a goodness section on health issues, and they tell you the stages of the puppy and what you can expect at...