What would you say about your dog's shedding?
I am so conflicted. If you knew me *laughing* ....I like all that is unique. However, I am also a NEAT FREAK. I rescued my kitty, despite her being a shedder ....and wouldn't have it any other way. Granted, she gets shaved, but if you looked at my pillows, there is hair everywhere (but it surprisingly doesn't bother me). Maybe love outweighs it. Remember, you're talking to someone who was raised by a mother who HATES dogs b/c they shed (also part of her culture to believe they are only for outside). This is not how my dad was raised nor anything I believe. Just sharing. The other breeds we are looking at DO NOT shed, but... there are SO many things about the OES personality wise that I keep going back to. Every time I say no, the pit of my stomach feels horrible and goes back to searching for breeders. We are thinking about a: 1. Havanese [img:####]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v291/chr1stiangal/ideas/ha.jpg[/img:####] [img:####]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v291/chr1stiangal/ideas/Havanese.gif[/img:####] 2. Labradoodle or Goldendoodle [img:####]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v291/chr1stiangal/la.jpg[/img:####] [img:####]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v291/chr1stiangal/la2.jpg[/img:####] 3. OES I think you know what they look like 
Would you say your house (with carpet since I think having hardwood floors is an advantage -- but something we don't have YET) to a NON DOG OWNER would be uncomfortable? I know many owners who have dogs that shed think they're house isn't bad, but then those who do not like dogs (unfortunately) ....think otherwise. So if you were to put yourself in their shoes and realistically .....vacuumed only once a week. And do you really think an OES could get along with my dog if they were always supervised? I'm so worried about an OES stepping on her. lol ....but then again, maybe a better match than a goldendoodle who tend to be more hyper (NOT hyper dogs...just more hyper). My Dog and Cat: [img:####]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v291/chr1stiangal/ideas/6.jpg[/img:####] [img:####]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v291/chr1stiangal/ideas/4.jpg[/img:####] Thanks. I'm just a concerned parent and take this seriously. |
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| I do not think an oes is for you. OES will adapt, but it takes years. For the first 3 years of an oes's life they struggle to be the dominating "people" they were meant to be and the dog their owners want them to be. It is best if the expectation isn't too big a leap.
They are individuals and no one can promise whether they will like your little doggie or despise him. Depends a lot on how the people of the house treat the oes vs the other dog. All dogs like a bit of dirt from time to time, and when oes get into it they will bring in more than just a little bit, even if it is just on their feet. They are big hairy boisterous dominant proud DOGS. They are very empathetic, and will get moody if they feel life isn't fair. They are intelligent and have pride. They are not decorative house dogs. They are a working class and need to be handled with respect and no concern over what anyone else thinks. NO person who does not own a 70-120 lb dog will care for your OES when they visit. They will want to pet it and have you put it away. OES don't like to be "put away". They are one of you, dominant proud partners and members of the families they own. They get dirty and smell when they go out and have a bit of fun. And they feel you should enjoy the smelly good ole dirt too, so they jump up and slaver you with their love. MY fully tiled house is OES friendly. It is cluttered, disorganized, and a mess because I hate housework and am always behind in everything I do. It has nothing to do with my dog who grooms herself every chance she gets. It does not smell doggie. Besides the water bowl, a rug, and a couple of stuffed animals, and Abbi herself ---you wouldn't know she is there. She is 6 years old and utterly despises our new dog, Root Beer (a 78 lb Chesapeake Bay Retriever, who could care less what Abbi thinks). If you are going to worry about housekeeping and little details, you don't want an OES. You would just drive yourself and the dog nuts. Check out a King Charlse Cavalier or some other house dog. Don't torture yourself and any poor oes. You just aren't a good match. |
that's great info. 
I will take that into consideration. My dog and those that get trained at my home *Back yard* wear dog booties. I even make the 100lb Mastiff put them on when it's muddy.
They come into the house with dry feet. http://store.worldpetstore.com/reddogbola.html |
| I can just see you putting booties on an OES! It is done all the time, especially in the colder climes, but I don't think it is always too easy. An OES pup might enjoy teething on them though.
Your mastiff is only 100lbs? Didn't see his pics.  |
| Hi Aging,
I think you did a great accurate description of everyday with an OES. They are one and a million and not everyone wants to put up with them. Although, I have to disagree, they are very decorative. When company comes over and says, oh what a decorative rug,*oops* then they realize it can move. LOL I must say I envy you and your tile. We put new carpet in last year. We keep it clean, but we chose a very light tan, so you can imagine how much we work at keeping it clean. The dogs and cats certainly don't help, but the two kids are probably the worse on the carpet than the animals. I also have (or should say had) a white couch. Again, I blame children....LOL I would like to add on the OES that sometimes ours get wound up and it isn't excercize that they need...it is mental stimulation. They want to use their brains. Ours can get destructive by chewing and such if they don't get stimulated. Stormi and co. |
| Well, you do have me thinking a lot. The more I sleep on it, the more things will become clearer. There were a lot of things I hated about a cat, and I swore it would never be for me, and took this booger in b/c it was just an instant connection. The first yr was very hard on me b/c I couldn't believe this cat was jumping on my furniture and knocking everything off my shelves, but now nothing she does bothers me.
When she brings to me an empty bag of treats from the trashcan, I just smile .....and go back to the kitchen to find the whole trashcan on the floor. Funny to me b/c I know she was just trying to ask me for a goodie and/or to open the bag for her. Anyways, thanks again for the info. I am going to pass it along to my FI. Like I said, we still have until June before we even start thinking about putting down deposits. |
| I think it is great you are researching like you are. It might not be until June, but by then you will know so much more. I am still learning more on a daily basis.
Ooh, Ron a new slogan...."everything I ever needed to know about sheepdogs, I have learned on oes.org. LOL I have learned a lot here. You showed a lot of websites. Have you checked on http://www.oldenglishsheepdogclubofamerica.org There is a few articles there about sheepies as well. Have you registered yet on the forum yet? If so, if I stumble on any info I can pass it on through PM. As you can see the kids are asleep as my life suddenly turns to the dogs and cats. LOL Good luck on your research. You came to the right place, we love to talk about our sheepies. There are a few posts that we talked about them a little too much.  LOL
Stormi and co. |
| Great, thanks! Yeah. This is the name I am registered with. I wish I knew which users here had small dogs WITH their OES. I did read a thread about a Yorkie and OES getting along just fine and that's the size of my dog.
I swear that even though I am making a big hoop-la about shedding, it's only because I'm just obsessive-compulsive like that.
With time, my FI and I will know what's best for my furkids, the possible soon-to-be furkid, and us. |
| Remy isn't a big shedder.....mind you the up keep to have her coat stay beautiful is a long process.
Whatever you do consider laminate, hardwood or tile....carpet will be dirty. We blame our two kids more than the dog too but the fact is she gets dirty. Go for a walk in the snow you get snow balls, they melt in your house. Go for a walk in the woods you get branches, rose thistles, leaves stuck to them. Go for a walk in spring, rainy days, the mud and water is bad. We have our kitchen gated, and we have a door to the back yard.....if she is very dirty she must wait until dry in the kitchen. During this time she gets a favorite chew bone, something that keeps her happy and we are in the next room. I never want to shave her down, the coat is so precious to me and I love the time it takes to groom. I enjoy it, I get alot of pleasure and pride when people say I have a gorgeous dog. We are replacing all the carpet on the upper level to laminate, then life will be easier. As for small dogs, she doesn't like them as much as the big ones. They don't play the same, and are bluntyl boring for her. We fostered a small terrier, they didn't get along. They didn't scrap they just had personal boundries. He's gone now so she is queen bee once again. |
| Ah, you forgot the leaves. Right now the big shaggies come inside and shake and a bushel load of leaves come flying out! Nothing like rolling in leaves and then bringing them inside! |
| I am laughing my head off here!!! Sometimes we hear crunch Oreo tastes the leaves. He might be a neat freak, no that ain't him. We spent yesterday at some's home and they have a little dog, there is nothing like my sheepie. We had the sand season when my kids were young it was an every day occurance vacuuming up the sand in the summer. Loving an OES is a necessity for us and who cares about mud when it dries we use the hand held vacuum. |
| I have off white carpets through out, and I have pretty much given up on keeping them white. When I think Max is dry he comes running in and leaves foot prints on it! They scrub out, but its seems to happen alot. I plan on putting in wood floors when I can get the funds and the help. Max will hate it, because he will slide all over it. My house really only smells like dogs if I have a friends dog over. Max is not a smeller, but he is if he gets dirtly. He is inside most of the time too. |
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