new to owning old english, advice on grooming please
as the title says we are new to owning an old english sheep dog and would love some grooming advice please, particually anything to do with the face and around the eyes, Max is 6 months old and is literally a ball of fluff! hes brsuhed nearly everyday but his hair still goes in his eyes He is a family pet and not for breeding or showing Thanks for any advice Sharon |
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| Welcome! I wish Ihad some good advice to give you. My max hates to be brushed, so for me its a wrestling match. I try to keep him in a puppy coat due to this reason. When I pull the brush out, he thinks we are playing a game! I do have Max's eye hair trimmed byt the groomer every few months, so that works for me. I tried to cut it myself once and it looked aweful!! |
Welcome to the forum! 
If you use the search tool in the forum you will find many posts related to grooming, and if you narrow your search even further you will find lots of tips in regards to hair over the eyes. Some members trim the hair near their eyes, some put it in a little topknot (in an elastic or barrette) and some just leave it. |
Sharon, 
Hi and welcome to the forum! When my sheepies were 6 months old, they both had different hair styles, Annie didn't have as much growth as Jack. With Jack I would sometimes put up and sometimes leave down. For the most part, until they were about 15 months old I left it, I didn't feel it was too much that they couldn't see through it, UNLESS we were at a dog park or Petsmart and then it is best for the dog to be able to have clear vision to be able to see the other dogs and people. I use all sorts of things to put the hair up, but the best thing I have found are tiny clips with four teeth. I picked them up in walmart, where the hair accesories are kept. They are simple to put in, just get as much or as little hair as you want pinch the clip and put it around the hair and let go, it stays longer and bothers the dogs less than a ponytail or barrette, at least in Jack and Annabelle's case. Stormi and co. Also, I love when they clip just the hair between the eyes and under the eyes, it looks so cute that way. I can't wait to here more about Max! |
| Hi SharonS,
The Sheepie "hairstyle" is definately a matter of personal preference. All the styles are adorable in their own way. Have you thought of clipping his bangs? Or having them thinned with a thinning shears? |
| Hello Sharon:
Welcome! I have had 3 sheepies amd have a puppy now. I also am a groomer. I don't show my dogs, they are just pets. I always keep them in full coat though. I like my dogs to be able to see well and I love to see their eyes so I clip a small area near the base of the nose and the space between the eyes. This lets the bangs part and the hair fall gently over the face.
May |
| I'm new at being an oes owner. I can't imagine trying to keep more than one of them groomed !! It's an awful time trying to get him to let me brush him. How do you do it? |
DuncanJones wrote: I'm new at being an oes owner. I can't imagine trying to keep more than one of them groomed !! It's an awful time trying to get him to let me brush him. How do you do it?
With Louie (he's now 12 weeks) i had to start with very short sessions just letting him get used to the brush and the feeling. Then i found that if he had something to chew on he would let me brush him for longer periods of time. We've now worked up to about 15 minutes at a time. But then again he is still very energetic and isn't in one place for long periods anyway  |
| Hi everyone- welcome to you new guys. Since this is a general post on OES grooming- particularily grooming a puppy and getting off to a good start- I just want to offer this - be patient.
Chelsea is 15 months now and has HATED her grooming since day1 (my last OES if you will recall was a gem- just sat there) Chelsea is/has been a real pistol, but the consistency is starting to pay off, there do not need to be as many time outs and treats given, she is 'living through it' without as much biting and all in all she is getting used to the whole process. Make sure you and the dog are comfortable, take potty breaks if necessary, start with LOTS of treats and love so grooming is associated, at least partially, with something good, don't try to rule the world in one day, work on one area at a time, cut out some of those more stubborn matts out and don't even try to comb them, and above all don't take any OES crap! When she gets nippy now I just lay on the guilt - I say in my most dissapointed tone "Oh Chelsea" and I emote sadness, it really calms her right down and she goes back to cooperating. These dogs are so good at reading our emotions you really need to use it to your advantage! Good Luck- also - get lots of tools! A well armed OES momma is more effective! Also - there are some really good previous posts comparing grooming gear and techniques. Up. |
stormi wrote: Sharon, Hi and welcome to the forum! When my sheepies were 6 months old, they both had different hair styles, Annie didn't have as much growth as Jack. With Jack I would sometimes put up and sometimes leave down. For the most part, until they were about 15 months old I left it, I didn't feel it was too much that they couldn't see through it, UNLESS we were at a dog park or Petsmart and then it is best for the dog to be able to have clear vision to be able to see the other dogs and people. I use all sorts of things to put the hair up, but the best thing I have found are tiny clips with four teeth. I picked them up in walmart, where the hair accesories are kept. They are simple to put in, just get as much or as little hair as you want pinch the clip and put it around the hair and let go, it stays longer and bothers the dogs less than a ponytail or barrette, at least in Jack and Annabelle's case. Stormi and co. Also, I love when they clip just the hair between the eyes and under the eyes, it looks so cute that way. I can't wait to here more about Max! |
| I have always cut the hair from the eyes. Unless youa re considering the pup for show. If you want to see pictures of Roger cut this way look up my differnt posts. You will hear also this is bad for the eyes etc. I have talked to many vets that don't agree with that position. So until proven I say cut the hair from the eyes.
Blue Stars Mom, Would you mind explaining your technique a little more? |
Although it kind of fell over in my avatar, I usually put Clyde's hair up in a mini mohawk with some spray wax and a blow dryer. It stays out of his eyes and doesn't get all stiff either. I just clip it back for a second, hit it with the wax, then a warm blow dryer, then a cool dryer for a few seconds to get it to stay. He hates clips and elastics and I don't want him to eat them so this is much safer. Plus, he looks like a rock star.  |
We do different styles. Sometimes we cut and more often put hair in a topknot. Daisy and Beau are good on the table. Luke is HORRIBLE. He'll get on the table and then tuck his legs under him so you can't touch them and has the best groomed back of anyone(not such good legs) Rosco emulates Luke who is his hero. If Luke does it it must be cool  . Rosco is smaller so it's easier to manage him. All 4 are better with my husband or a real groomer than with me. |
| Lisa Gow, did you want to ask a particular question? Anything we can help with? |
| With Remy, I was keeping the top of the nose...between the eyes trimmed short and cutting a short bang. I am growing that out now, but it keeps the hair away from the eyes.
I don't like her face all wet, so I keep her chin short too. The great thing is if you don't like it, you can grow it out and try something else. |
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