getting all the facts
so, i was hoping that i could get feedback from people here about the ins and outs of OESs. i am looking plenty of things up online, but there is just nothing like life experience! anything that you could think to tell me would be appreciated. tips on grooming, equipment that one cant live without, things to consider, costs, fun times, bad times, etc. anything and EVERYTHING is appreciated! thanks!! |
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| Good thinking! These are all topics that have been discussed at length in various posts on this forum. Perhaps start with the puppy, behavior and grooming sections and you will learn alot.
With a 3 year old, I would be concerned about the dog knocking your child over or nipping at her heels as she runs. You have to assess your own tolerance for and ability to redirect that sort of behavior. Welcome and enjoy! |
| I second Val's thoughts and maybe I'd like to add that perhaps a rescue dog, well-evaluated for children might be an option, although most rescues don't like to place dogs with families that have children.
"Child vs. pet" is the single most comon reason that sheepdogs need to be re-homed. The children get knowcked down or nipped and the family makes a heart-wrenching decision to place the dog with a rescue program. Since the rescue program is geard towards a mentality of "This time, it's all about the dog", they don't like to make placements where the pooch might have to be re-homed yet again. Personally, I think a 3 year old child might be a little young for a sheepdog puppy. MANY people on here disagree with me, and many have been very successful with their sheepdogs and their children and their toddlers. Other times a dog-owner's mettle has been tested when their dog nipped their toddler's face. Whatever you decide, this is a great place to get lots of opinions and ideas. Welcome to the forum! |
| thanks for the concern. i have heard lots about the fact that OES tend to nip lots when they are younger, and i know that being consistent and ongoing with training is going to be key to any success. i have also heard plenty of concerns on rescue sites about not wanting to send larger dogs to homes with young children because they could be knocked over. to be honest, personally, i would have thought that knowing a large dog could knock over a small child would have been a little bit of common sense, lol. i have been going through all the forums with a fine tooth comb to see what others have had to deal with, and how they got through it. am about to start in on the grooming topics, as i know that it is one of he big parts of having an OES.
thanks so much!!! |
| We got our first OES when our children were 13, 9, 6 and 4 years old. Our youngest is our only daughter, and having 3 older brothers, she was used to a few knocks now and then--and gave as good as she got. She got knocked down by the dog sometimes, as did all of us, at least once. No one died, or was hurt a nd I'm not the kind of mom who would freak out about by my child being knocked down by an energetic puppy.
An OES puppy grows rapidly--my 7 month old Sherman weighs in at 78 lbs as of today--and remain exuberant puppies for a couple of years. At least. They knock little people down not out of agression or mean ness, but simply because they are so full of energy and and high spirits. I didn't really have issues with any of my dogs nipping heels of children, although they did with older people running and bicycles. That's correctable, although it does take some work. Depending upon how you feel about the possibility of your child being knocked down by a bouncy puppy (and a 3 year old will get knocked down by any but the smallest puppy, at least once), you need to consider the following, with any puppy: they teethe. A lot. on everything and everyone, including 3 year olds. It hurts. It's correctable, to a point, but mostly, it's something they outgrow and you train them not to put their teeth on people (and other important things). Potty training is a lot of work. I would never consider getting a puppy anytime other than springtime because I know how much more pleasant it is to walk a dog 10 or 15 times a day when the weather is nice than when it is horrible. I assume you would choose your puppy for sound temperment and sound health. Both are essential to successfully raising a happy puppy with your happy child in a safe manner. An OES will be a large dog, fully capable of carrying a full sized soccer ball around in its mouth. This means that your head will fit inside the dog's mouth. The dog will grow to be large enough to eat off the table, while standing on the ground. You have to teach it not to do these things. You want to start the very first day. I'd be concerned about the amount of work an OES of any age requires: Grooming is mandatory and time consuming, even if you keep your dog clipped in a puppy cut. OES are a breed that is not happy on its own all day out in the yard: they want to be with their people. Preferably laying on their people, or at least their people's feet. They think they are lap dogs, even when they weigh 100 lbs, as some do. They need to be walked several times a day. Around the block isn't nearly enough. Now that I've told you the hard work an OES entails, I will also tell you that they make wonderful family pets. They are protective of their families and children, but not overly so that you have to worry about friends and family coming over. My first OES had the responsibility of waking children for school, and greeting them when they came home, tattling if they were fighting, making sure I greeted the teens when they came home, washing faces, keeping beds warm, exercising the children on walks several times a day, and generally dispensing ,unlimited and unconditional love and affection. He was a wonderful listener and a great playmate. He also liked to help me garden and always reminded me when it was time to go out and putter in the yard for a while. He's gone now, but Archie and Sophie and Sherman have taken over his jobs quite well. |
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