thinking of adopting a sheepdog mix
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| sheepies need a good amount of exercise. They really should be walked at least 2x a day (for about 1/2 an hour each time). But they can always have one walk and at least a 1/2 an hour of good playtime, too.
They also really need to be the center of attention. My sheepie is great with our 3-year old and also very gentle with our cat (the cat doesn't like her, though, so they tend to stay away from each other- but don't worry, it's all in the cat- she doesn't like any other animals at all!) The only problem we have with our sheepie & our son, is that she likes to jump, so she could easily knock him over- so we always have to be right there when they're around each other. Sheepdogs are great with children, and they were called "nannies" by nickname in the past, but since they have herding instincts, you really have to be careful with them around children- they can try to "herd" them (by pushing them away from something they think is dangerous) and end up knocking the child over since they're large dogs. It's really hard to tell if the dog is "just right" for you, unless you meet the dog first. Could the current owners/foster parents of this dog bring him to your home on a few occasions (at different times of the day) to see how he reacts with your family- how he is during high-activity times & how he is during "downtime". Pay attention to how he reacts to your children crying- our sheepie is always concerned when our son is upset and she acts like she wants to "save" him. How would he react to a kid who threw something at him or accidentally tripped over him, etc. In all, sheepdogs are very sensitive & emotional (almost needy!) dogs who love their people and really want to be involoved in every activity. Our girl loves to be right there with us for everything- they become another part of the family! (Beware- once you get a sheepie- you'll never want any other type of dog! And you'll probably end up with more than one of them, too!) |
| I agree. The dog needs to be in your home at different times. I'm worried about the dog's reaction to the baby throwing things or being poked by the baby.
Also deaf dogs need their human for commands, they need to see you, but will you be too busy with the baby to see the dog and give commands? |
| I do have two OES, and I don't walk them everyday - they exercise some days only in the backyard. is it Ideal? no - but it is real life.
My concern is OES really need to be with dog savy people - they are super smart and sometimes use that in odd ways. Now can a person who has never had a dog be dog savy? I think maybe. can a person who has never had an OES make a great OES owner? - yes. can that person handle an deaf dog and a baby - maybe? You really need to work with the foster family to ensure you can handle this dog and that you are a good fit for him. And find some good dog books to read - anything by Suzanne Clothier, Leslie McDevitt, Jean Donaldson or Turrid Rugaas would help you beter understand the relationship and the dog. You can continue to watch Mr. Milan to see how not to handle a dog    |
| Thanks for all the advice... Never having a dog myself I know that I need to do a lot of homework - that's why this whole process has taken so long. We want to make the right decision and do what is best for whatever dog we do adopt. That said, I should let people know that my husband is a very experienced dog owner so hopefully that should help. As for the Dog Whisperer, I'm not some groupie or anything! But, I do think he makes a good point about making a good fit between breed, personality of dog and family. I'll definitely check out some of those resources - Both of our cats are disabled (neurological disorders) so we thought we might be the right type of people willing to take on a deaf dog. We are totally willing to make whatever accomodations we need to. As much as I'd like to walk the dog everyday, I know the reality of life wouldn't allow for that - we do go to the mountains a lot on weekends and other outdoor activities that a dog would enjoy. I just want to ensure that would be enough for him. I plan on asking the foster home if we can plan some visits to see how he does - great idea! I can't think they wouldn't think that was a good idea too. |
| Welcome to OES.ORG!
I think it is fabulous that you are doing your homework BEFORE you get a dog! Definately the best thing to do to ensure a good fit, for both you and the dog. I also think it is GREAT you are looking at rescuing a dog. Your family must have big hearts. Oliver was my first dog, and I couldn't love him more. His little quirks, typical sheepie personality, and fun loving attitude is perfect for our family. Each one of us at some point was a first time OES owner, so don't let that scare you way from this wonderful breed. They are a large breed, so Oliver has knocked his fair share of children over (one even went rolling down a hill ) and they tend to be very clinging to their owners. So, if you are looking for a large lap dog to cuddle on the couch with you, an OES would be perfect! Or, if you are afraid to go the bathroom by yourself, and OES would be perfect!
Good Luck, and keep us updated! |
| One thing I would do is start an additional thread to capture more input from those who have or are raising deaf sheepdogs. I haven't done so. But from what little I know, I think I'd be a bit concerned about an infant (who will presumably one day in the not too distant future start crawling and so on, one presumes, having never raised one of those EITHER ) and the dog's startle response. Say he's asleep and given that he can't hear someone approach, how will he react to a young child essentially "sneaking up on him" and suddenly grabbing him?
The other thing I've noticed is that there seems to have been a preference to place deaf dogs in homes with other (hearing) dogs since they often appear to take their cues from the hearing dog. I wonder if that is no longer thought to be the case? Some of the people on the forum who have deaf dog experience could probably answer those and other questions. Just a thought. Kristine |
| We met the dog we were thinking about yesterday and they've recently discovered that he is partially blind as well. Previously, the adoption agency thought he would be fine with a child but they now do not think so. We agreed, he was a lovely dog and we would take him in a heartbeat if it were not for our infant son. His startle response is too much of a worry. I hope he finds a good home soon, he's been up for adoption forever. On a side note, I've been rummaging through this site and would definitely consider a sheepdog now... Our family will keep looking until we find a dog that is a good fit. Thanks for all the input! |
| Deaf and partially blind, the poor baby. I hope they find a good home. |
| My question is, where is this OES and would it be one that Velcro would be interested in adopting? |
| I live in Salt Lake City... I'd love to help find him a home, he really is a sweetheart. Like I said, if it were just me and my husband I'd take him in a heartbeat. Here's his link on petfinder, they haven't updated it to reflect his blindness:
http://www.petfinder.com/petnote/displa ... d=10583338 I don't know what it is but this dog has really touched my heart. Like I said before though I don't know what kind of sheep dog he is mixed with so I hope it's ok if he might not be oes and some other kind of sheep dog. |
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