Questions about rescues and sheepies
My family has some questions for you sheepie lovers. The time is approaching for a new furry member for our family and we're leaning heavily towards the sheepdog as our choice out of the two or three breeds we're contemplating. We're looking for some guidance to make sure it is a good match for us (above and beyond what all the "breed guides" can tell us, which look promising). We want to know more about a rescue dog to meet our needs. The details: Our 14 year old pup has about a year or less left on her according to the vet. However, we can't bring in anything new until she passes because she is and always has been very territorial and agressive towards other dogs. So we've got some time to think still. We have small children who love dogs, will be aged 3, 5 & 7 through the next year. Very active and energetic kids. Big fenced backyard, with doggie door access. Dry hot summers (100F @ less than 40% humidity), dry cold winters (15F @ humidity? what's that???). The dog will rarely be left alone more than a few hours any given day and will never be in a crate. Likely to be the only dog in the home through its life. Mildly active in the outdoors & mountains, but is only a small part of our life. Looking for a mild "watchdog", a pup that will let us know when persons come around and just enough to cause a no-gooder to think twice, but not so aggressive we ever have to worry about typical day to day traffic and friends coming and going. Fairly "low energy"; yes, playful but not a dog we're going to have to run 3 miles every day to keep them settled. As are most prospective sheepie owners, we're concerned about the grooming - will probably keep it clipped except in the deep of winter. We're losing a double-coated shed-o-rama and previously swore to ourselves that our next dog would be hairless (oh, the irony!) Target size 60-70 lbs. It'd be nice to not have to worry about the dog eating every other dog on walks (see above regarding our current dog). Regarding rescue dogs: We don't care about pedigree/papers and not interested in laying out large amounts of cash to obtain the dog (of course, everything needed for proper maintenance and care will be available). Not concerned about gender, want a fixed dog either way. We like the idea of rescue/shelter dogs. We have to be ABSOLUTELY certain not to adopt any "project" dogs or dogs with emotional baggage because of the small children. Our target age is adolescent; through much of the puppy phases, but still young enough to be maleable - maybe about 1 year old? We would be pretty hesitant to adopt cross country without meeting the dog first without a really really really strong guarantee and triple warm fuzzies on the nature of the dog (have a friend stung by this on a rescue dog). How long should we expect it take to find a match through a rescue in the mountain west (N. Utah/ S. Idaho) area? Anyway, thanks for your thoughts. CD |
|
|
chowderdawg wrote: Fairly "low energy"; yes, playful but not a dog we're going to have to run 3 miles every day to keep them settled.
We have to be ABSOLUTELY certain not to adopt any "project" dogs or dogs with emotional baggage because of the small children. Our target age is adolescent; through much of the puppy phases, but still young enough to be maleable - maybe about 1 year old? CD Hi, CD. Thanks for considering rescue and also for taking your time and doing your research. Just wanted to mention that a couple of your "this would be ideal" paramaters may be just a teeny bit incompatible: The odds of finding a roughly year old rescue OES who is low energy (  - not likely if it's healthy ) and doesn't at least come with the baggage of the previous owners not having bothered to train it are slim.
Frankly, throw in your ideal size and your ideal OES is a thoroughly temperament tested and much beloved rescue OES who was successfully raised with children already and who is probably in the 3-5 year old range and female - though there are some very nice smaller males now and again and a neutered male may be easier to live with (more willing to please, easier to train). Just to put that a little bit in perspective. Others will have lots of other advice to add, I'm sure. From a training perspective, I see no difference in the ability to mold a one, three, five or seven year old. It's not true that you can't teach and old(er) dog new tricks, so you really don't have to push for younger is better to preserve that. Except that at a year old, I believe most OES are still in their temporarily mentally retarded stage. Mine included It passes, but there will still be a bit of a wait for the brain to catch up with the body in terms of maturity...
If you doubt the energy issue, swing by the behavior section.... 
Kristine |
| Just to confirm, sheepies are very high energy dogs who need LOTS of exercise. They are gentle and loveable too and my experience has been that despite the fact that they have alot of energy they are not "excitable".
My sheepie is on the upper end of the size range and his normal weight is 97lbs, he has lost weight now that he is a geriatric but he is still a BIG dog. Sheepies are great with kids and wonderful family companions, but they require alot of of grooming consistent training and oodles of exercise. |
| Keep in mind also, many rescues will not adopt out to families with children at all-- because of the very reasons that you mentioned. A young OES is boisterous and energetic. They tend to herd kids and knock them over and are sometimes nippers. It's one of the main reasons OES wind up in rescue. The herding instinct in them is something that you have to get under control early in order for them to be a good member of the family. |
| I would talk to your local rescue and see how often they get young dogs in that they would be ok with adopting to homes with small children. Every rescue works differently, so you may be pleasantly surprised or you may have to change your game plan. One thing you might want to do is open yourself up to the possibility of an older dog. With an older dog you know what you're getting size/behavior wise and they will need less exercise than a crazy pup!
Good luck!! |
Quote: I believe most OES are still in their temporarily mentally retarded stage. Mine included Laughing It passes, but there will still be a bit of a wait for the brain to catch up with the body in terms of maturity...
LOL I TOTALLY agree!! I am probably not the best person to give advise on this. (you will get tons of great advice here, everyone is always willing to help) What I have heard and personal experience (I love my puppy!:yay: ) Sheepdogs are really adaptable to different environments, but be ready for some high ENERGY times, my guy is kind of like a quarter horse he goes full tilt for 30 mins and sleeps for 2 hours. Sheepdogs are great dogs but they are not very low maintenance dogs and are not without some issues. Also they want to be the center of attention alot wherever you're at they want to be in eyesight if not right on top of you. |
| Thanks for the first round of input and advice. It's being absorbed...
Nippy is bad for sure, but boisterous and occasional knockdowns with the kids isn't too worrisome. Our kids are pretty rough 'n tumble and are used to a hefty dog with an excitable club otherwise known as a tail. Not quite sure what I think about the idea of herding the kids yet. Age is negotiable if everything else lines up. The reports of energetic seem to contradict much of the breed guides...but that is such a subjective term to each and every owner. Like I said, we don't mind playful and, maybe more more clearly stated, having energy and needing exercise is fine, but we don't want anything near the German Shorthair my friend used to have or a dog like that. Romping in the backyard, a walk a day is great, even romping in the house, just don't want to have to take up jogging!!! I kind of gathered from the behavior section that much of the "energy" issues there are dealing a lot with bored (intellectually) dogs and I think we are able to address that aspect, especially where the dog will not be left alone much. Center of attention is good for us! As far as local rescues, I don't think we have much available. I sent an email to that Staci listed in the rescue area a few days ago, haven't had any response. We do have the Best Friends Sanctuary about 6 hours away... Dunno where else to try. |
| I have 3 OES and all three are pretty laid back. Of course they love the dog park and all the running there, playing fetch, which usually turns into keep away from me and lots of attention. But mostly my dogs are road blocks. I always have at least one in front of me at all times while trying to maneuver through the house. I was raised with OES and have 3 younger sisters (always a baby around) and our family could not have lived without our sheepie, Flowers!!!! Of course you want the perfect dog for your family, but in my opinion OES are the perfect family pet. With that said, all the advice given here is good and comes from experience. Good luck on your quest for your new family member. |
Chowderdog - you sound like you are really doing your homework. 
My kids grew up with many dogs, our 1st OES was 10 yrs ago when the kids were a bit older - 13, 13 and 10. However, we have a large extended family with tons of younger cousins that were always around. Our OES Ollie was probably a medium active dog and occasionally in enthusiasm or clumsiness knocked kids over. Then licked them! He was a great watchdog, but we never, ever had to worry he was going to bite anyone. We live on a farm, and weren't showing him. We clipped him 2-3 times a year. The longest he usually got was 3" long hair. Very manageable. I definitely recommend obedience training - but I do that with every dog! Ollie was yard patrol, official greeter, sheep herder, therapy dog and a putzing around the yard/farm partner for my husband. It was a very sad day at our house when he died. My mailman and UPS driver still comment (2 yrs later) how they miss him! Chewie is 19 months, and never a hyper dog. Even as a pup he was calm and well behaved (OK, except for loving swimming in our yard pond!). My daughter got her OES as a 6 yr old, and he is perfect at their house. He is a naturally calm dog, and her daughter is 5 yrs old and a baby on the way. They live in town, have a small fenced yard. Clay is perfectly happy. He went to obedience classes, is a therapy dog and super easy to be around. And, we have never had an OES with a nipping problem. OES are a herding breed, so the potential is there. We never let that habit start. It does help that I grew up training dogs, am a trainer, and all my kids trained dogs as soon as they were able to hold a leash practically. I also have a rescue basset I adopted as a 6 yr old, and he is the most loving, easy to integrate dog I ever had. So, don't rule out the "mature" dogs. They really love having a family and are eager to adapt.  |
| we rescued our first sheepie at 3 years and he was with us for 10. He was still a puppy and had a great time playing with our then one year old Eskie. He was pretty much a couch potato all his life, although he enjoyed a nice walk. I have two 2 year olds now, one finds it bothersome to walk more than a couple of miles and the other one prefers a 5 mile run - daily - to keep her energy levels in check. there is great variation in the breed. The smallest on is 65 pounds and the runner. |
| Lots of good advice here. I'll add my 2 cents as a new (4 months) sheepie owner. We got Ralph (4 yrs old) from Minn. OES Rescue and Nancy did a great job of finding the right dog for us. She really listened to us and understood what the dog needed to be like. I've always wanted an OES, and Ralph is a dream come true.
At 4 he's still playful, but not super energetic. He gets a mile walk most mornings, several other smaller walks in the day and at least 1 trip to the dog park - where he mostly sits and herds the squirrels. That seems to work well for him. We try to be sure that a couple times of week he gets a good run along the fence at the park - but that has much to do with timing and each dog's interest in the game. He's very good with most of the dogs (sizes too) at the park. There are a couple that he just doesn't like and usually ignores. He's mostly good with the little kids that are there; although if he's on a run, look out. They don't always understand the barking and herding so sometimes get scared. A kiss usually ends that. I'm his primary human and he goes where ever I go. Roadblock is a good term. Grooming - we got him shaved in early August. He's just now reaching the stage of shaggy. We'll probably keep him here for winter. He does have ear problems, which is something to be aware of. We can't imagine life without him now. Good luck. Ann |
chowderdawg wrote: I kind of gathered from the behavior section that much of the "energy" issues there are dealing a lot with bored (intellectually) dogs...
Very, very astute. I can take my guys for a one hour run at the dog park (and I do mean they run non-stop) and it barely takes the edge off any of them, except my ten year old. Took two of them to agility class last night - only a fraction as physical, but lots of thinking (they're still very green) and we had a very peaceful night. I was just thinking about that, in fact. We always say that a tired dog is a good dog, and that's very true. But with many of these guys, that has to mean mentally tired. If you don't stimulate their minds, they'll come up with their own "challenges" , and most of the time these are not real userfriendly
Kristine |
chowderdawg wrote: The reports of energetic seem to contradict much of the breed guides...but that is such a subjective term to each and every owner.
I know. Most of the descriptions insist on medium level in terms of exercise. Compared to your average Border Collie, sure. But like Infoseeker suggests, most do have an off switch. Or at least develop one eventually.
They do come in different "speeds". But you usually have to survive those first two years first to figure out who's who. I actually have a one year old rescue visiting who has a really nice off switch. When she's on - good grief! But if I settle down and stay on one place, so does she. So it can happen. And the fact that someone will be home all most of the time. They love that, in case you hadn't guessed. Even if you don't have a rescue close to you, find the closest ones, let yourself be known, and many will place out of state if there at least is a trusted sheepdog person close by to do a home check. And don't take it personally. For the sake of the dogs they are dealing with, they have to be careful. Kristine |
| Hi Chowderdawg,
Sounds like we are neighbors! We have lived in Utah a little over two years and our Sheepies love the life. We shear them down to a slick smooth coat in April and keep it that way until September when they start growing their winter warm coat. I start stripping the undercoat as the hair grows making it easier to maintain (once a week, couple of hours for brushing) a longer winter coat. I feed them a good quality holistic food with a little flax seed oil. That keeps the lack of humidity from drying their skin. My gang fits your description of the "average Sheepdog". We have one nice long walk per day, a couple zooms around the yard, following me wherever I go, inside and outside, and of course the evening Sheepie 500 through the house. Otherwise, they are large, hairy speed bumps. Both of my boys were raised by a Sheepdog. The boys knew they would be rounded up gentley it they wandered to close to the woods or street. Nipping was not allowed and never a problem (for dog or child)
I lost my Ollie boy last year. In my quest for a new Sheepie addition to our home, I found the Utah valley did not have a rescue group. You will have to look to Colorado or the Southwest rescue, both involve travel but not that extensive. Good luck with your search, I hope you decide to add a Sheepie to your home. They are rare in this area, however, I have located 7 in the valley so far and working on finding more. I'm determined to have a Salt Lake Valley "Sheepierama" in the next year. |
| Welcome!
You're doing an awesome thing researching this breed. I have worked with rescue to a small extent and I encourage you to talk with the OES rescue organizations around you, as someone else suggested, to see what their guidelines are. We generally did not adopt out to families with young children, but that wasn't always the case - it depended on the family for sure! Energy - wow. Depending on age, depending on the individual dog, depending on type of exercise... I don't think this is an answerable question without seeing a specific dog. However, I would confidently urge to guess TONS of energy. We have a very laid-back OES at the moment, and he still gets walked all the time in addition to at least a half-hour a day of straight run-time when he chases balls and frisbees and us!! And he's a laid-back OES. OES were bred to work in the fields all day long - they are made to be able to (as you said earlier) mentally handle a long day of stimulation. Without this - it could be disastrous! I love the breed. I absolutely adore Bingley's herding instincts with us and the cats, I love the fact he bumps into things (especially us), I enjoy the intense energy he needs to burn when we play with him, I love his extreme intelligence that he so easily can put aside , and I think most of all I love how he always wants to be near his people. Sheepdogs are true velcro dogs - always happiest when they are with their people.
All this being said, I wouldn't recommend the breed to just anyone. I would only recommend it to someone who knew the potential challenges and was excited about working through them. Oh - and a great thing (depending on how you look at it) about OES is that they never, ever, seem to "grow up". Even old sheepies have the young playful demeanor that all puppies seem to have. They just go about it in a slower way. |
| I'm not sure that I would use the phrase "high energy" to describe an OES. I think they can exhibit the signs but nothing like some of the little dogs I've seen.
Some of the comments in this thread about people's dogs being really laid back kind of hints on where I am on the subject. I think the OES are capable of being really laid back (Phoebe does a great impression of a rug several times a day) and they are also capable of being boisterous. I really think it depends on the dog and depends on the environment they live in. I really loved the comment about being bored because I think that's where a lot of the energy comes from. They're a working dog and without work to do, some of them seem to get edgy and that's never a good thing. A lot of the replies talked about long walks etc. In my opinion, that's the best way around the boredom. If they have to take their people for a walk, they have a job to do (and I seriously don't think they subscribe to the belief that we take them for a walk). Even though I wouldn't use the phrase "high energy" to describe an OES in general, I would suggest that any potential family should have a thorough understanding of the commitment involved. Having said all this, I still believe that an OES is a marvelous addition to a family. |
Didn't find exactly what you're looking for? Search again here:
Custom Search
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|