Exersize needs
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| Well.... the answer to your questions is, for the most part, "it depends!" Each OES has their own personality, to a certain extent. But it is excellent that you are asking these questions BEFORE making the committment to this particular breed of dog.
I would highly recommend that you take a look at the following documents on the NEOESR.org website. Go to http://www.neoesr.org/rinc_doc.htm There is a wealth of information here, and on this board as well. Read carefully the first document about considering an OES puppy. And I highly recommend reading about rescue dogs as well - I knew absolutely nothing about this aspect until just recently, and I have been "owned by" sheepies since 1984. They are indeed addicting, as Guinevere is our third in 18 years. But they are not the breed for everyone. A lot of exercise, a fenced yard or on-leash training, at least weekly grooming and brushing, and a whole lot of love are requirements for this breed in my humble opinion. As for children, read carefully about the reactions OES has to children. One of the most common reason people give up OES is because of problems with children. Again it does depend on the individual dog, and I do not speak from experience (not having any 2 legged children in the house), but some people have reported that OES do fine with kids and others have had to give up their dogs because of their behavior with children. I know that they are the most cuddly looking beasts you could ever imagine, but they do require a great deal of work, but the rewards will come back to you 100 fold. (Again, just my biased opinion.) But please, please, please - read these articles as well as any others you may find on various rescue sites to know what you are getting into before you make this committment. So happy you visited the message board with these questions and hope this helped in some smalll way. Keep us posted, no matter what decision you make! Cheers! Guinevere's Dad, Kevin Z. |
| I Have two two- legged kids (young), a JRT, a Newf/Chow and Bentley, my OES. He is wonderful with the kids and the other four-legged kids. The only complaint all the kids have is his herding instinct. If he feels they are running out of his boundry-lines he will herd them back! Our Bentley loves running with me, and his big ambling stride is perfect for me when I run (5 miles and more) We live in Colorado and during the winter we still get out and exercise, even in the snow. But on the occasion that we don't get out like Bentley likes to, I notice that pent-up energy is played out in mad dashes with the other kids around, and yes, over furniture as OES are extremely athletic. Once Bentley has been worked, he then is the couch (yes, couch) potato that older OES are famous for being. I love my Bentley, he is my 80lb lap dog, and the protector of our family, he is not without some hyper-active moments, but I wouldn't trade him for the world. Oh yea, he's also very vocal. He's been trying to talk since he was a baby. We bought him as a 6 week old puppy, and having several puppies I didn't find him any more challenging than any other puppy. His size does make him more challenging as any larger breed dog can be. I urge anyone adopting/buying a fur-kid to carefully consider the comittment. Most puppies are abandoned/given up inside the first year and a half. It's wrong and unfair especially to the OES a loyal, and wonderful breed, that really makes you his family for life. I know this sounds gushy, but no OES deserves(nor any other dog) to be abandoned or forsaken because a human was mistaken. |
| Kendraeq,
We have three dogs,a mixed rescue, a sheepie rescue and a 4 mo. old sheepie. I don't think anything you said was " gushy" ..... it was great advice and well understood. |
| Buckles,
Thanks. I can sometimes get carried away, but I worry about people getting mad at the kids when destructive behavior(like from being in too long) becomes the reason people give a good dog away--cause they're all good really  Four months is my favorite puppyhood stage  |
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