Considering a Sheepie for my family....
I am brand new here - this is my first post. I've been lurking on this forum for a while and I've enjoyed the information so far.... I'm thinking about adding an OES to my family. We are currently owned by a 4 yr old English Bulldog (male/neutered) and 2 cats and I also have 2 children ages 3 and 7. Any advice for someone as a first time owner? Is this not a first time owner breed? Thanks so much! |
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| well, they are good family pets, but they are high maintence...a lot of brushing and grooming...I only have one dog Panda...but from what I hear, they get along great with others in the house hold....just make sure to look into reputable breeders.... |
DarinsMom wrote: Hi All
I'm thinking about adding an OES to my family. We are currently owned by a 4 yr old English Bulldog (male/neutered) and 2 cats and I also have 2 children ages 3 and 7. Any advice for someone as a first time owner? Is this not a first time owner breed? Thanks so much! Hi, there, and welcome...Ditto on the "find a good, reputable breeder" advice from Darcy. Glad your bulldog is neutered. 
As for being a first time owner breed, I think most, if not all of us, were first time owners of an OES at some point!
Lots of grooming, and a 80 pound lapdog....  |
| Thanks Guys!
I'm all about the spay/neuter - I don't need to add to the population and I am really just looking for a pet. What are the health problems with this breed? I know Hip Dysplaysia is one of the biggies. Any others I should know about? Ann |
Bosley's mom wrote: 80 pound lapdog....
80 pounds? We haven't seen 80 pounds since before Clyde was a year old! I've said this before but however much you think a lot of grooming is, multiply that by about 20 and that's the realistic amount of time that it takes to keep a dog in full coat. That being said, a well bred dog will have an awesome, sweet, playful and lovable temperament that is impossible not to fall in love with. For all the background (health, standards, etc.) information that you're looking for, go to http://www.oldenglishsheepdogclubofamerica.org/ |
Well actually.......grooming doesn't HAVE to be that difficult. I keep Tasker trimmed, requires clipping about every three months, then he is no problem to keep groomed. Of course one of the beauties of the OES is their coat but since I'm basically lazy and he doesn't really like to be brushed it's a match made in heaven 
OES can have (mine does) very sensitive stomachs and like many purebred dogs are prone to allergies. Welcome and good luck with your search for the perfect pup. |
Tasker's Mom wrote: Well actually.......grooming doesn't HAVE to be that difficult.
I said for full coat. Clippers are for sissies.  |
| As long as you're aware that Sheepdogs nip and herd, and that your children (especially the 3 year old) will be smaller than the dog and at face level, and may get nipped in the face, and you understand all that this means, I say go for it!
In terms of maintenance, if you want to keep your dog in full coat there is a lot of maintenance involved. Even clipped Sheepies require frequent (weekly at least) ear cleanings and other excess hair issues like between the pads that need to be trimmed every week or two. A very big "WELCOME TO THE FORUM" to you! From a sissy with a nice Oster A-5 Golden Animal Clipper... |
ButtersStotch wrote: Tasker's Mom wrote: Well actually.......grooming doesn't HAVE to be that difficult. I said for full coat. Clippers are for sissies. I'm a SISSY and PROUD OF IT :lol:
Besides, NOTHING cuter than a NEKKID sheepie:  |
| Uh, oh. I think it's on now. Good thing I'm only fightin' with sissies! |
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| Thanks for finding us, Darin'sMom! I think it's great that you're researching a lot before getting a sheepie. We've been sheepie owned for 28 years now, and I wouldn't have it any other way. The breed just has a way of getting into your heart.
In our case, we had the first dog before we had the first child. It worked out great, but of course, you have to teach the kids how to act around the dog as well as vice versa. Keep us updated on what you figure out!! |
ButtersStotch wrote: Uh, oh. I think it's on now. Good thing I'm only fightin' with sissies! Sissies with clippers.
How do you feel about the Mr. T look? |
| I'll hold her down Ron, you clip away!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ooops, I think we are hijacking this thread  |
| Welcome! My advice would be DO NOT look at the puppy pics or your decision will be made. hahahahahaha Who wouldn't want a sheepie? |
You guys are so funny!!! And I'm LMAO @ the shaved status under my screenname. I was like "How do they know?" 
Anyway, you've all given me some great info to go on and it's good to know that I don't have to spend ALL my time grooming but I think that nothing is sweeter than a fluffy sheepie. Looks like I'll have my hands full. As far as herding. I've owned herding breeds in the past - it may be a blessing with the 3 yr old 
Not sure if you can recommend breeders on this forum but I'd love to see some sites if you can post them. If not, you can email me privately.
I don't want to rush into this b/c I know that owning a dog is a lifelong commitment. Perhaps I should rescue a sheepie? Ann |
| Welcome Darin's Mom! Sheepies are a wonderful breed, yes they can be a handful but what worthwhile thing in life is not some work. I keep my sheepies shaved down too - and I am not a sissy! I prefer the shaved look as it is much easier to maintain a smell free dog! We camp a lot in the warm months and it is much easier to bathe the dogs when thier fur is shorter. There are many breeders both good and bad, ask questions and please consider a rescue sheepie. Rescue sheepies make wonderful family members and are usually past the puppy stage thus making it easier on a young family. Good luck with your search and please keep us posted. Best wishes! |
| I'm new to this forum and to owning a sheepdog. I'm Wilbur's mom. My better half writes under Willy_K and introduced himself a few days ago.
I can't tell you if a sheepie is for you or not because I am SO new to this breed (Wilbur is only 13 weeks or so) but what I can tell you from a fellow cat owner is that Wilbur is driving them mental! BUT, your cats have experience living with a dog so you maybe better off than I am! I have an 8 year old cat, Toby, who is super laid back and harmless. I was also a foster parent for a cat rescue here in Ottawa and was supposed to have this little girl adopted before Wilbur's arrival. Needless to say, that didn't happen. She's still here with us hopefully waiting to find a very good home. So, pretty much since we brought Wilbur home on Dec.1st, the cats have stayed upstairs and rarely come down but when they do, it is ON! The cats give him a few good swats and hiss and growl. Wilbur just wants to play but he scares them. I just want everyone to get along!!!! Where's that Dog Whisperer? Anyone know how to make my cat and puppy like each other? Please? |
| And why does it say "Shaved" under my screen name? Wilbur's Momma Shaved. Interesting.
Anyone know how I can change that to Superstar or something? |
Wilbur's Momma wrote: And why does it say "Shaved" under my screen name? Wilbur's Momma Shaved. Interesting.
Anyone know how I can change that to Superstar or something? Yes! Just keep posting! As your total increases, your status" will change. . . |
| Welcome to the forum. These dogs are fantastic and are basically easy going.
With you having a smaller child (3 yr old) I would seriously recommend you get an adult sheepie from one of the rescue organizations that has fostered and vetted the dog to make sure that they are ok with children and would be a good match with your family. This is just my opinion. The only reason I am recommending this is that having gone through the puppy period (still there since she is only 9mths old) this year with all of the puppy nipping, biting, chewing, etc... You would need to watch a puppy carefully with a smaller child. That's any puppy but sheepie puppies tend to be on the "large" size. 
Thanks for doing the homework and investigating all your options. Again welcome to the forum from Baton Rouge, Louisiana. |
| We got our first OES when my kids were 13, 9, 6 and 4 years old. Puppies chew a lot--including fingers, toes, barbies, shoes (my puppy prefers MY shoes, fresh from the store, or at least, fresh from the repair shop), furniture, well, you know the drill since you already have a dog.
Issues that we had with a rapidly growing dog and small children: Herding. OES tend to want to nip at heels of anybody and everybody. They can be trained out of it, but it takes some patience. Size: Very, very quickly that tiny puppy will grow to be very, very big. However, they are still goofy, uncoordinated, energetic, bouncy puppies, even if they are tall enough to eat off the table. This lasts at least for a couple of years, often longer. So, expect your kids to be knocked down from time to time. Not on purpose--that's not acceptable, but simple as a side affect of all the bouncing energy an OES puppy will have. If it will upset you or overly frighten the kids if someone gets knocked down once in a while, you need a much smaller dog. My own kids did fine with Merlin. Of course, that was almost 15 years ago, and Merlin has now crossed over the bridge, so it is possible that my memory is fuzzy about any bad stuff other than some chewed up toys. My (then) 4 year old turned 5 several months after we got Merlin. She used to come home from kindergarten and use him as a pillow, sucking her thumb and looking at a book, winding down from a hard half day at school. He loved playing with all of the kids. My oldest and his friends used to play soccer with him all the time. An OES can easily carry a full sized fully inflated adult soccer ball around in their mouths. Easily. Just so you have an idea of size and the need to train them well. OES are big and energetic, and they do best if they have a lot of regular exercise: walks on leashes are an excellent way to work of some steam, and to help you puppy learn manners. OES will always think they are lap puppies. Even when they are almost 8 years old and weigh 100 lbs. Or more. OES are not tidy dogs. When they take drinks of water, they love to drip the water all over the floor and then kiss someone, preferably someone who is dressed for work in their last clean outfit. They enjoy giving affection as much as they do receiving it. There will be licking. Oh, and that beautiful coat can carry in a lot of leaves in the fall. Speaking of carrying in, that beautiful beard can hide a multitude of dietary sins. I have removed the dessicated carcass of more than one dead bird or bat from my dogs mouths. OES do require a lot of grooming--ie brushing. I don't show my dogs, so I find a really good brushing once a week, with some maintenance in between is plenty. A lot of people keep their dogs in a 'puppy cut' but I keep mine in long coat. Some people even shave theirs down. It's more important that you do what you can live with. Most OES are not vain about such things. OES really need to be with their people. A lot of people refer to them as velcro dogs, a term I hadn't heard until I found this forum. It fits. They love to be with people. It is fine to set boundaries. I don't sleep with my dogs, but they wish I did. A lot of people do. Expect to be followed around your house and yard. OES, like all dogs, require basic obedience. Most of mine have been fairly mellow dogs, but some can be domineering, and any dog will fill in the leader vaccuum if it exists. At 80-100+ lbs full grown, it is imperative that your OES be well trained and well mannered, as a matter of safety and liveability. Some people are freaked out by big dogs, even ones that look like Muppets. Some people are stunned by their beauty and you can expect to be stopped many times on your walks together. Even mine who aren't in show coat, but just regular fluffy and relatively clean and mat free. We loved Merlin so much that when he was 7 we got Archie, another OES. After Merlin passed away, we decided to get TWO OES puppies. Sophie and Sherman are littermates and polar opposites in size and personality. Raising a puppy with an older dog is relatively easy. The older dog teaches the younger one quite a bit. Raising littermates, even with an older dog, is a much bigger challenge than I anticipated. I don't recommend this, no matter how much the children beg or how cute the puppies. |
DarinsMom wrote: I don't want to rush into this b/c I know that owning a dog is a lifelong commitment. Perhaps I should rescue a sheepie?
Hello & Welcome! If you are leaning towards rescuing a dog there are various rescue groups listed through OES.org which I'm sure will help you find the perfect dog to fit your family. Although a lot of rescue groups won't place a dog in a house with young children because they don't want to worry about rehoming it again. http://www.oes.org/html/oes_rescue.shtml |
Tasker's Mom wrote: I'll hold her down Ron, you clip away!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ooops, I think we are hijacking this thread www knock down sheepie owners wrestling on pay per view. Only $19.99. Order it now ! 
you 3 are toooo funny ......
Oh and Ginny , tasker look so fantastic. Give that beautiful nekkid sheppie a kiss for me.. 
Antoinette |
| gee thanks!! Not bad for an old man!!!! |
| Hi and Welcome!
I'll pipe up with my experience as I live in a household of three dogs, Blue, Merlin, Panda , 6 cats (2 were foster cats whom I have had since Aug and were finally adopted this week) 1 bunny and a guinea pig. They all get along! Merlin drove the cats a little crazy as a pup, but baby gates where the cats could get some quiet time helped a lot. ( Wilbert's Mama that's for you) I also think one of the cats (the evil one ) bugged him a lot when he was small and now it's payback time. Otherwise he leaves them alone and all three will share a snooze together with their feline buddies.
Merlin and Panda are my fourth OES, (Blue is also a herding breed - Heeler X) and I always had cats, kids and an assortment of various animals in my household. That's what attracted me to OES is their gentleness with other creatures. Yes, they sometimes want to herd them but growing up with them will resolve most of the problems. You may have some problems getting a rescue with a three year old in the home. That's sometimes hard to understand but they do it for good reasons, as Ron mentioned as they are exhuberant and will unknowingly knock little ones down. You probably know what it's like however having a boxer in the house but remember two dogs in a household makes for some rough housing around the living room furniture some days. Still their antics make you smile and if you're not fussy about having a super tidy house than a sheepie may be for you. Good Luck! Marianne and the boys Panda is a rescue and as far as I know was never around cats previous to living with me and yet he willingly accepted not only my cats but the foster cats. He also is trustworthy around the bunny and GP too. |
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