Interested in adopting an Old English Sheepdog
I am looking to adopt an OES towards the end of next year. I will be graduating with my Bachelors degree in December and would love to share my happiness with a new dog! (a little chessy but i have always wanted a sheepie and i feel that is when i would be able to commit the most amount of time) My main question is with space. I currently live on a farm (19acres). Lots of room and i have 2 other dogs (border collies). Would an OES work fine with a fenced in yard?? I heard they work best with fences but its kindof hard to fence in that much land. I know alot of people have said that sheepies do require alot of grooming. I never had much experience with sheepies, (just talking with owners if i happened to run in to them). So i am basically wondering, how much is involved. I haved at the grooming link on the site and on a few others. But any other heads up/advice it greatly appreciated!! Thank you! |
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Welcome to the forum! 
They don't seem very picky on space, at least most of them don't so a fenced in area would probably be fine for when it's outside. They are a family oriented breed though, so it's important to make sure you have enough time to commit to an oes, they prefer to be with their people, not left outside... As for grooming, it really is a lot of work, but many find that for a pet it is easier to just shave them down a couple of times a year. |
| Welcome to the forum!!!
Yes! I keep my dog in a puppy cut year-round. However there's still a ton of ear maintenance, paw maintenance, under tail maintenance, eye maintenance. That hair grows everywhere!  |
| There is a lot of grroming involved, but once you get used to it, its no worse than grooming yourself...especially if you keep it up!
Panda is in puppy coat most of the time, but I do take a break from clipping from now till about April....just a lot more brushing. Your space seems ideal for a sheepdog! If only Panda had that much room to run around! |
| I also live on a farm. We have a fenced area of our yard for the dogs, but they also do well out of the fenced area. Our puppy Chewie is our 3rd OES, and he is following the pattern of the others - he likes to be right with you and be a "helper". We do raise sheep, so our dogs have a job, as well as being a family pet.
As far as coat, we have kept ours clipped - they usually got twice yearly haircuts. We had them clipped fairly short - about 1/2 ". They grew out nice and shaggy, then got clipped again. I don't know where you are at - climate usually plays a part in most people's decisions about timing of clips. Being in MN, we tried to time the fall clipping so they would have an inch or so by the time the cold weather hit. We do brushing, spot trimming, baths and toenails at home. We do have a grooming table - it helps save your back and the dogs quickly associate grooming and getting attention. All ours, even Chewie, love grooming and love their table. We have found grooming goes much easier on the table, vs the floor. They behave alot better! We have 6 other dogs - from a 7# min pin to a 65# lab. They all are obedience trained and are well socialized with people and dogs. Adding baby Chewie a few weeks ago to the group was easy - he was 4 1/2 months old then. Everybody is getting along and they love playing together. As far as your border collies, it would depend on their personalities and how they have been socialized. They can be protective and intolerant of new dogs if they haven't been exposed to alot and just stayed "home on the farm". That goes for all breeds, not just border collies! I love the fact you are treating yourself to a dog as a graduation gift. I did the same thing with my chocolate lab Macy 13 years ago. I had lost my previous dog Jenny, a GSD while I was a student, but knew I didn't have the time then to devote to a new dog and all the activities I wanted to do. I had shown Jenny in obedience and did therapy dog work also with her. I was so excited to get Macy and get back to doing the fun dog stuff I missed out on while being a student!! Macy is retired now, but we have had a lot of fun the last 13 yrs. Good luck in your dog search. |
| I agree with what has been said above. ALSO - be prepared for a different dog than your Border Collies. I grew up with Borders and the difference I see in my OES puppy already is amazing. Although they are both herding dogs, Bingley is MUCH more mouthy and nippy than my Border Collies ever were. Never in an aggressive way as he's just a pup but we are constantly on the watch for his mouth and we are expert toy-stuffers! The adult OES I've fostered have been much better about this but they still like to use their mouths a great deal!
As others have said, coat care is high maintenance, but if you are prepared and committed before the dog comes home you'll be fine - especially if you are adopting a dog that has it's adult coat already. Check around your area and see if you can talk to an OES owner about hair care - especially ears (that's my big area right now). OES don't have the "eye" that Borders do, and they are frequently referred to as 'clowns' and 'velcro-dogs' because of their funny antics and how they love to be with their people. They also have a surprisingly loud and piercing bark which should be a joy on 19 acres. You're doing your research well and I bet by the time you're ready for your new BIG bundle of fur - I mean joy of course - that the perfect OES will be waiting for you. WELCOME to the forum! |
| Thank you all for the advice!
I am still trying to locate an OES owner in the area. BUT I am willing to help with a breeder or rescuer in southern va, all the way up to richmond area! Anything that will give me experience. I had spoken with an OES owner real briefly and she informed me thatmany people turn their new pups in because they were not that prepared for the attention and now that i have read the replies, the grooming! Hopefully I can find an OES (pup or adult! i am not picky, just a nice home!) |
| Yeah Virginia! Bring more sheepies here...
I know there is someone on this forum (can't remember who right now) that has a pretty young dog in the Hampton Roads area...Have you contacted the rescue around here? Betsy does the mid atlantic sheepdog rescue. |
| Since you're in VA, you might want to check out the Old English sheepdog club of America National Specialty to get a really good taste of the breed. It's in Williamsburg, VA, the first couple of days in October. Details are here - http://www.oldenglishsheepdogclubofamer ... cialty.htm Doesn't cost anything to attend the shows and on Friday there is a rescue parade so you can meet key people there as well. Next year the specialty will be in Michigan, so this would be ideal for you to check out if you can make it.
If you go, keep an eye out for Lambluv's Fire in the Hole being shown on Thursday by a member here named Maxmm. I'll probably be somewhere in her vicinity, but not with a sheepdog.  I'll have my little brown dog with me...  |
| One nice thing about OES's is that they don't really shed (like a lab, rottweiler, german shepard). If you keep them clipped, grooming is not that big of a deal. With my 1st OES, I'd have her cut very short when summer came (like 1/2 inch). She looked like a dalmation. It took a few months to grow out (probably 5-6 to get full coat if I remember correctly)- and 3 months were nice as there was no grooming other than baths and the usual dog stuff. My last oes and current were both velcro dogs - they stay on the property and by me or within 20 ft.. if they are sniffing around - and they were never 'trained' to do this, it's just instinct. They don't run away which is nice in large open areas, but in fenced smaller areas they did great too. My first oes I had in NYC and lived in an apt...she was huge, and 3 years old when I got her so very calm. I walked her tons and she was totally fine with apt. living. |
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