Is a sheepdog for me? Help!
 I have spent months researching them on line and my husband tells me wonderful stories about the sheepdog his mom rescued when he was a kid. I have 3 kids ages 4, 6, and 8. We live in a wonderful suburban neighborhood with a good size back yard and many, many children. Just on my short little cul-de-sac street there are 14 kids age 8 and under, plus many over the age of 8. We currently have a schnauzer who has been difficult for us lately because of his barking and his intolerance of neighborhood children. He has nipped (sometimes drawn blood) from neighborhood kids when they have been involved in friendly wrestling and/or chasing with my kids. I believe he is trying to protect my kids, but I'm afraid this is coming/will come between me and my neighbors.
I thought OESs would be great with all the kids but after reading your stories, I'm not so sure. Would you recommend I go with another breed? Whatever dog I get, I plan to invest heavily in obedience training. I'm home full time so I can give it lots of love and attention. Do you think it would be safer to adopt a rescue dog who has already been screened and is great with kids? Or would it be a better bet to purchase a puppy and train and socialize him/her well at an early age? I'd welcome any advice you have. I was so excited about these dogs until I came upon all your postings! Help! |
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| Don't get discouraged yet! My mom is also a full-time home mom and that helps bunches and bunches! It's hard to understand the true meaning of "velcro-dog" until you've had an OES because Nelson just follows her around all day long.
Nelson has nipped both my little sister and I but only out of love and training is absolute must, must, MUST! It's great that you can give it so much time. Another thing is-especially in populated neighborhoods make sure you have a fenced in yard (either electrice or other) because I know Nelson has a tendency to run out into the street. Nelson is my first ever OES (my mom's second) and I couldn't imagine life without him. I love to have him greet me in the afternoons and sloppy kisses on my face in the mornings. My one BIG piece of advice- make sure you start enforcing the "NO JUMP" rule RIGHT away! For us, this is an absolute must and I'm sure for you too with small kids. I can honestly with all my heart say I have not had one moment of regret after getting Nelson. Sure there's been the poop in the house and the pee on the rug- but I couldn't have imagined a better dog for my family and I. Even my dad (an oriental rug collector and never once has been an animal lover) lets Nelson cuddle up on the bed at night- watching movies and snoozing away. I'll try and get my mom to type something here too- I know she can assure that she hasn't been lonely one second after Nelson arrived! OH and another thing- recently I went on a 2 week trip to Italy and I just couldn't wait to get home to Nelson and the rest of the family. He truly is our 'baby' now. |
| I have a 6 year old OES and have found that as he gets older he becomes more protective of the family. I would caution you with any dog that allowing children around the age of 8 (especially agressive boys) wrestle with a dog, can and will end with a child nipped. I would also caution you that an OES is a large dog and will knock younger smaller kids over. Having said this I would not have any other dog (I had a lab when I was younger), and I have 2 children ages 8 and 12. |
| Hi,
I also feel in love with the sheepie and had never even seen one other than pictures. The first year was trying as we got Bam-Bam at 8 weeks old. I found I had to watch his every move around children and older visitors as his excessive friendliness, hyper ways, and his powerful large bone frame could be dangerous. Their energy level is high and hard for them to contain, I don't care how much obiedence training they get, it is just born in their nature and if surpressed to much, makes them an unhappy soul. Nothing is more sad than an OES whose spirit has been broken from to much training. Their feelings are so on the surface. With that many children in the picture maybe a goldern retriever or a labrador might be more suitable. Good Luck what ever you decide............ |
| Is a sheepie for you?
I can say absolutely, positively.... maybe. I work closely with New England Old English Sheepdog Rescue, and there are a number of OES surrendered to Rescue because of small children. MANY breed rescue groups will not adopt out dogs to families with children under 10. From my personal viewpoint and experience, the issue arises because sheepies are a herding breed, it's in their genes. Part of their success in herding is that they are bossy, pushy, nippy, barky, resource protective, intelligent and act independently when working their flock. Some of their natural herding instinct can translate poorly into family life -- imagine a yard full of children running, playing soccer/tag/etc., and an 80 lb dog going chasing, nipping, barking, pushing. Their resource protectiveness can translate into food guarding, toy guarding, family guarding, etc. They are a very physical active breed. An active family needs to make time for an OES, training, exercize and grooming (and don't minimize the effort of keeping a sheepie groomed). Families that want or expect a super tidy house -- forget it -- sheepies drink water and leave a trail (unless they can find a human or sofa to wipe their face on), their hair holds an amazing amount of mud, leaves, snow, rain, etc. Having said all of that, if I personally had small children I would get an OES puppy to raise with them. These may all be obvious issues to you but: I would select the breeder very carefully, and would ask to meet the puppies' parents. I would ask what socialization had been done by the breeder. I would interview other people who had puppies from earlier litters and ask questions related to disposition and tempermant. I would make sure to take the puppy to puppy class, beginner and intermediate obedience, and would aim for it passing the AKC Canine Good Citizenship Test. I would teach my children the appropriate way to interact with dogs; I would NEVER allow a dog to get away with growling/nipping a child; I would NEVER allow a child to discipline a dog. If you choose an OES, I hope you get to expereince their charm, sweetness an humor. They are SILLY dogs. They are loving and will stick to you and your family like velcro. They expect and want to be where ever you are, not relegated to the yard or a dog house. They will "help" you with many aspects of housework, childcare and more. In the past 25 years, I have lived with 6 Rescued OES, and have fostered several more. I currently have 1 9y/o male, 1 4y/o deaf female and a visiting 3 y/o male visitor who is a terror. I wouldn't have traded any of them for another breed. Best of luck |
| I have a 5 yr old & a 9 yr old and we got Truman when he was 10 weeks old. He was 1 in April & we love him & he loves us. He is very affectionate & protective with the kids & w/me (I am the mom). We did some training with him, but basically just slowly integrated him into our family. He is very social & would not like being left alone all day. Some one is usually here. We do not board him if we can't take him when we go away, we pay someone to come & stay with him at home. If you've never had a dog, a big one like an oes takes some adjusting to, but they are WONDERFUL pets. This is my first dog & I can't imagin not having one. He is not a barker unless someone he doesn't know approaches the house or the kids, but if they tried to do anything he'd probably lick them to death. He is a herder for sure, I say, "Truman, take the kids to bed." and he ushers them upstairs. He looks dopey but he's pretty smart I say got for it and get one. They are the cutest puppies in the world!! |
| We got our OES when I was only 7 and my brother only 9 and he was raised with us and was the sweetest thing. He never hurt anyone and you could wrestle with him all day and the most he would do is lick you to death. It all depends on how you raise them and socialize them. Our dog loved everyone that we welcomed into the house and would only become aggressive if the tried to hurt us ie trying to hit or even making the shape of a gun with his hands, but he would never do anything unless we were actually hurt (he was completly anti-viloence. He was a protector, a brother and my baby all at the same time and I would HIGHLY recommend an OES with children so they could experience how wonderful a childhood can be with an OES around. |
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