Considering getting an OES, but i'm concerned about the fur
I've been browsing through the different kinds of dogs looking for a breed that suits my lifestyle and the OES seems a good fit! I'm active, enjoy hiking, skiing (i live in Norway) and so forth, but it should also be able to relax and take it easy, not so active. My ex-girlfriend had a labrador which was really active, fun and enjoyable - but it has a tad too much energy for me. How would you owners compare the two? Anyways, i'm somewhat concerned for all the fur. Does it shed a lot? I'm not getting a dog for showing off, but of course i want it to look good. I've heard there are some shortcuts to take with the fur (removing with clippers at springtime) to make fur-care more easy, is this recommended or is it bad for the animal? Of course i'm not saying i will completely neglect the fur, i know it's important - but i'd very much appreciate an owners point of view so i can comprehend exactly what i'm facing here. Thanks in advance for all replies! It's great to see a forum that's so alive! |
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| Hei!
Where in Norway? I'm from Stavanger, but I live in the US now. Anyway, short version: energy-wise, an OES is much easier to live with than a lab (the OES tends to have more of an off switch). And, by the way, like poodles and such, they don't have fur, they have hair. So they don't shed like a lab. But there is still a fair amount of hair and a lot (!!) more grooming. Especially when hiking in muddy areas with lots of burrs. Those days I honestly wish I had a wash-and-wear dog (bald would be good...) On the positive side, they tend to LOVE snow and the cold never bothers them - they actually are good dogs to go skiing with, if they are fit. I didn't have one growing up -- I don't know that the rainy southwest coast is the ideal place for them. Their coats are pretty weather resistant, they don't come in soaked to the skin, but if they are in full coat (with undercoat and so on) the dampness tends to make their hair matt fairly easily = more work. They are slow to mature like Goldens and labs - puppy-like for years - so fun, but demanding that way. And being a herding breed, they have some additional interesting traits like a tendancy to want to herd your cat, your children, your neighbors, YOU - pretty much anything that moves. I wouldn't live without one, but I don't know that they are the best fit for a very active, busy outdoors person who doesn't want to spend hours and hours on grooming, unless you shave them down. Which sort of defeats the purpose of having a big, fluffy dog. I'm sure others have more to add. Kristine |
| On the up side they appear to be very very happy to be shaved down.
Both of mine have much more energy and such when they are in a puppy clip - and the maintenance is minimal when they are. Of course I love the fluffy dog look, but the coat doesn't make the breed and they are wonderful dogs to hike with, althoguh like anything else some like to go longer than others, my male is usaually looking for a ride back to the car while the female can go on much longer. Their fur (I never get this hair vs fur conversation thread, all dogs have fur don't they?) is very forgiving in that no matter how dirty they get, once they are dry most of it falls on the floor  Seeds and burrs are another issue but we learn to avoid those. |
kerry wrote: Their fur (I never get this hair vs fur conversation thread, all dogs have fur don't they?)
Here's how to remember the difference: fur only grows to a genetically pre-determined length (think labs and goldens, among many others), while hair just keeps growing (Poodles, OES, Beardies, shih tzu etc) And, yes, the dirt does nicely drop out of their coat as they dry (to some extent). I learned this with my first OES who would come home from a long winter walk (lots of sand, to combat snowy roads) fall asleep, and then when she later stood up, there would be this outline of sand around her body, sort of like a crime scene... 
Kristine  |
| One thing to note is that except for blowing out their puppy coat, OES don't have a regular shedding season.
Since they have lots of hair you may still find some (or a lot) around the house just like I find Joan's hair in my food and she finds my hair around the house.  But there is no big "pulling out clumps of hair season".
My understanding is that the terms hair and fur are synonymous and may be used interchangeably. |
| Thanks for all the replies! I live in Oslo, quite far from Stavanger Kristine
Well, the labrador i recently parted with had a huge shedding problem until we gave it some Omega-3 in it's food - specially designed for dogs. If you haven't tried it i suggest you do, it's extremely healthy for the dog and the shedding improves drastically. The lab got a nice shine in it's fur as well (and no, i don't work for an omega-3 company  )
What i'm wondering though is, is it ok to brush the dog once a week or so? The more i read about these animals the more i am assured that this one is for me! Just have to find a good one |
Ron wrote: My understanding is that the terms hair and fur are synonymous and may be used interchangeably.
That's true in so far as the chemical makeup is concerned. But I have always found I need that disctinction to explain to people how, when my boss' lab was still alive, he and my OES, Belle, could both spend the day in the office together and yet, when Belle left at the end of the day, almost all of her hair left with her, and with Buster, not so much...
I love the fact that our guys do not have seasonal shedding (I know some claim their vacuum cleaners still work a bit harder spring & fall, but I see no differences here.) The only exception might be some increased undercoat loss following a season for an intact bitch. Either way, I like not wearing my dogs... Kristine |
Harald wrote: Thanks for all the replies! I live in Oslo, quite far from Stavanger Kristine
Yes and no - a short, boring flight or a long, beautiful train ride  Certainly a much better part of the country to own an OES!I'm sure you've checked out the Norwegian OES clubs web site - http://www.oes.no/ - looks like you have some big shows coming up within reasonable traveling distance of you. Might be a good idea to talk to some breeders/exhibitors to make sure that things are as we claim they are with this breed. But, yes, they truly are wonderful dogs. Well, the labrador i recently parted with had a huge shedding problem until we gave it some Omega-3 in it's food - specially designed for dogs. If you haven't tried it i suggest you do, it's extremely healthy for the dog and the shedding improves drastically. The lab got a nice shine in it's fur as well (and no, i don't work for an omega-3 company ) Good advice. I give my guys salmon oil, not just for the skin & coat, but also because it is supposed to have immune supportive/anti-inflammatory properties. I have this peculiar notion that giving my dogs fish and fish products must somehow be good for them that I think was either genetically or socially programmed into me. What i'm wondering though is, is it ok to brush the dog once a week or so? The more i read about these animals the more i am assured that this one is for me! Just have to find a good one I typically only brush mine once a week, even the hairy ones. Some times you have to do some burr plucking in between brushing. It's not too bad until you decide you need a half a dozen of them. Sheepdogs, not burrs...
Kristine |
| We have had several of both labs and OES, so I can make a good comparison. The shedding does not compare - as already mentioned.
The OES are just as happy clipped as they are with long hair, so you really have options - whatever fits you the best. Activity wise - both are happy energetic dogs. I have had the extremes in both breeds. At the moment I have a 14 year old lab that was nearly a perfect dog her whole life, and a 8 yr old lab that is the most hyper dog we have ever had. Chewie the OES is sooo calm and no trouble ever at 19 months - and has been since we got him. He is one of Kristine (Mad Dog's) puppies - and I know he not the norm activity-wise for his family! |
| Hi Harald, at the risk of being strung up by other sheepies, I would never recommend cutting an OES coat as it is there to protect the dog from the heat as well as the cold, if you buy from a good breeder they should give you tips about grooming and the equipment you need. The OES is a dog who is happy if you are happy and will follow you everywhere, hiking, sking or whatever you want to do, they just want to be with you.
Hugs from the Tikki-ti-boo bobtails.  |
| Hey Harald!
I`m from Halden, you can send me a PM. We are some oes owners that have a "undergruppe" of the Norwgian oes klub, called "Solkysten". www.oes.no is the homepage to the Norwegian oes klub. Lene |
leneoes wrote: www.oes.no is the homepage to the Norwegian oes klub. Shouldn't that be www.oes.yes? |
Ron wrote:
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| I always feel the need to throw my comments in when discussing hair and the OES. The breed is not supposed to shed, and most will tell you they don't. But.......... mine does, LOTS all year round. I suspect that it has to do with breeding (or lack of) since when I got Tasker I was not as educated about the breed. But be warned that they CAN shed and when they do it's a lot of hair. I keep Tasker clipped short because if I don't I have to vacuume every day. |
| I'm sitting here with a small grocery-sized bag of fur from combing out Bailey today. It's break time, but I still have to comb out Riley before I go to bed.
I don't mind the hair. We run the vaccum every 1-2 days, mostly do to my allergies. I love the combing out time spent with the furries and they love it. I get almost as much hair off of my longhaired Golden Retriever when I comb him out. These are wonderful dogs and well worth the effort involved in dealing with the hair. |
| I'm heading into my 12th year of owning OES - two full time and three fosters. I've not yet encountered one that sheds to the point of finding hair (fur) anywhere in the house. They shed, but the hair comes out in the comb/brush. Of the two I have now, I only get a good amount of hair out when I brush - the other hardly has any undercoat at all comparatively.
I brush mine about every 10-14 days. But I do keep them relatively short year-round. Shaved down in the summer/fall when it's hot and then growing the rest of the year. In the summer I fake-brush them. I am not really brushing to brush, but to just keep them used to being brushed. Actually, today was the first "real" brushing since about May. |
| Hei Harald.
You could also wisit the Norwegian forum about oes. http://oesinorden.org/index.php |
| All mammals shed - people do too. Whether we think our dogs shed excessively or not is a matter of personal thresolds IMHO |
| I think if you brush him and shave him there will be less fur -allie |
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