Help!
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| other than training classes and letting him inside more often so it isn't a big deal to him, sounds like a sheepie to me. he's nipping probaly becasue he hasn't learned to wither use, or redirect his herding instincts. they don't make good outside dogs, although yes they were originally breed for an outside purpose. |
I think he needs to come inside......he is so excited to see the family he loves he cannot help himself. Sheepdogs are a herding breed and will nip. ALSO sheepdogs love to be with their people. A good suggestion would be to take him to a formal training where all the family is involved. and again let him inside. I worry about your boys coat if he is outside all the time Do you brush him?? He will develope matts if not and they pull and will hurt him. Also he can get sore spots where the hair pulls. He just wants to love you all  Good luck with him Would love to see a picture. Where are you located ?? |
| have you had a puppy before? He needs a obedience class or you need to spend time training. You cannot keep a dog outside and expect it to have social skills. Sorry for being blunt but if you want a social dog you need to be social with it; just doesn't happen. |
| This breed is very much a "Velcro" dog, they don't do well being left outside, they need to be involved in all aspects of being with the family, yes he needs to be allowed inside more often. TRAINING is a must and should of been done as soon as that little black and white baby pupper arrived. YES they turn into big shaggy dogs quickly that need to learn there boundaries right from the start.
Socialisation, training, being allowed in the house, learning manners with good obedience training is essential. They do with the right training from the start make wonderfull family dogs, my kids have grown up from babies with OES and never a problem also the dogs are part of the family and included in everything. Also they are the peter pan of dog breeds, they mature and settle late, you are at that teenage stage with him now and he needs training (which should of been done with him a lot earlier) to learn that he is a big dog still with playfull puppy brains that needs to learn his boundaries. If it is becoming too much then do seek an OES rescue to re-home the dog if you are unwilling to spend the time and effort turning him around. Also children under 5 should never be left unattended with any dog and always surpervised around a dog. He is just a normal playfull sheepie that does not realise his size yet.  |
| I hate to be redundant, but I have to echo everything said here already. Sheepies are social animals and NEED to be with their people. They are also gigantic puppies for a long time, so training and discipline are non negotiable. What others find cute in a teacup breed can get a jumbo breed in enough trouble they end up being put down.
We have an eight month old sheepie we're working with daily. He LOVES everyone so much he wants to sit on their heads and be their hats. So, we keep on working with him. Ultimatey his misbehaviours are our responsibility. We've just finished our second round of classes, and will be taking a break for a bit, but without question we'll continue. A dog of any size must learn to be a good citizen. A dog that can top out at over a hundred pounds MUST have good manners. I'd bring him in the house and start right at the start as if he were a puppy. Socialization, basic obedience, simple rules. Practice, practice, practice (and get the kids involved, too). Good luck to your pup. Ultimately if this isn't a path you choose, please look at rehoming him as soon as possible. The younger he is the better. Where are you located? Tracie P.S. I also wanted to mention that no matter how docile a sheepie becomes (our two older ones, Portage and ThePas were slow moving marshmallows), they can always knock over a small child, even without meaning to. In our household there's a no child on the stairs with a dog at the same time rule. It also applies to seniors, and to anyone who has mobility issues. I've carried up laundry and gotten an accidental nose in the back of the knee. That sent me flying. It's a danger with any dog, but especially with big ones. We've since trained them to sit at the landing and either wait and go second, or go on ahead when invited to do so. It's well worth it. |
| I guess by now you've discovered this breed, in fact all dogs, need to be trained from an early age. If not they resort to their "basic instinct" that is a small dog will be a constant yapper, a border collie will be so unbalanced without something to do they become very distructive, livestock guardians will constantly jump or dig under fences trying to find a job, and so on.
So first, get thee to a dog training class......or two or three. You have to take control. This dog needs guidance, strong but gentle leadership. Yelling, hitting don't make a reliable dog. This dog loves his family but needs to learn how to love and how to react with humans. Right now the kids are pack memebers and he's playing as if they are dogs, not children. Dogs don't train themselves. Getting a puppy is another baby in the house.......one who does not understand your language, you can't reason with them. They must be trained, gently but consistently by a person in charge. If this is not you, then please give this dog to your nearest OES Rescue and let them find a home that has the time and will power to train this out of control teenager before he gets into real trouble. Most of my rescues were 12-24 month old dogs who had never been trained and were out of control. Every one became calm, benefits to the breed after a little schooling. |
| Henry does go to the groomers & I try to keep up w/brushing him. During the summer months we he wears his hair short so it is easier to maintain when he is out chasing the farm animals.
We live in Illinois & with winter here I had already started to try & transition him into the house more than being outside (especially because we just had our first big snowfall) I see that everyone has the same feeling about bringing him in & will continue to work on this....I will have to invest in a swiffer. We have a professional trainer in our area & to this point I have not been able to afford so we tried to work with Henry on our own & he responds to simple command but we definately need a proffessional to step in at this point to help with his "manners". Question for any of you, what do you do with your sheepies when you go to work during the day? Henry is kennel trained & sleeps there at night but wouldn't it be cruel to kennel him all day too? Suggestions? Thanks for all the advice will take any more you have to offer. |
| I had the crating dilemma too, so we had to make a choice. We keep Hudson in his crate when we're not with him (for his safety - he chews/swallows everything, and has had many trips to the emergency room already). Since I couldn't stand the idea of eight hours at night in a box AND eight hours a day we decided to let him sleep "free."
This took a complete cleaning and reorganizing of our bedroom, but only two nights for him to figure things out. I am a light sleeper, so I can hear his nonsense as soon as it starts. It cost us a set of blinds, but otherwise things are going well. He wouldn't leave the hamper alone, so it's locked out in the hall and we're all locked in the room. He has gnawed on the furniture but it turns out that he HATES the smell of VICKS so I put a little wherever he chewed and that stopped that. I have come to accept that it will be a LONG time before he's trustworthy, which is hard. When we had two responsible adult sheepies, all doors were open and they could sleep wherever they wanted in the house, which was still generally within ten feet of our bed. |
| My hound has free reign in the Kitchen and utility room while we are at work.
So far he seems to behave himself admirably, he has a couple of cats for company, when them deem fit not to wind him up, they have monopolised his crate, which is permenantly open. He is very welcoming and bouncy when we come home, and within a short period he is then treated to a walk. It isn't to bad in my case as I work shifts, so only one week in three when he is on his own during the day. He follows us everywhere he can in the house when we allow him to, normally settling right near your feet (ie right in the way!  )
It's difficult to advise as everyones case is different, but I would say just involve him in your routine as much as you can around the home, both now and the warmer months, along with some classes where he'll soon look forward to the treat that they'll become. |
| Laika has the whole house I have an outdoor kennel off the house with a dog door so she can go out when she wants. Usually in the winter I have to drag her in. But I usually bring her to work there is an kennel out back so I take her for a 45 minute walk at lunch. Leaving a dog outside also isn't the same as walking either. They need that structure of a walk. You will see a huge improvement if you walked everyday too.
I bet you will see a huge improvement just doing some of the things people said her. Also around 3 years they calm down some |
| we have four -big and bigger - dogs and they are house dogs. when we work the "puppy" is in a crate (just had to order the giant one - boy is that big!!); Marley (OES) is in te Master bath; Morgan (OES) is in the breakfast room; and Cedric is in the Master bedroom (on the bed all day I think).
Puppy also sleeps in a crate (different one) and so does our female - by choice. dogs don't think of a crate as pubishment sounds like he gets plenty of chance for exercise. |
| hi I also have a Henry who is turning 1 next week, he sometimes nips to initiate play and tries to herd us on walks but that is part of the magical sheepie personality.......your dog wants to be part of your family, not stuck in the yard. Do you take your Henry for a long walk to burn off some energy before you let him in to interact with the children? has he had any training? sounds like he is lonely. |
| Hi, welcome from another Illinoisian! If you have a Petsmart any where close to you, they have very good (reasonably priced) training classes. Thats where both of our sheepies went. Even though our dogs aren't pups anymore, we crate them when we are at work, otherwise they tend to get each other in trouble. I've come home to chewed up red soda bottles on the white living room carpet and even worse. So we made the decision to crate them. They don't seem to mind. Good luck with Henry. Just remember he is a gentle giant, who loves you and your family to pieces! |
| I agree that Henry is lonely...we are a busy family & I have protected my girls from him even though he is not aggressive my older daughter gets really scared when he nips & thinkgs he is going to bite her. So out of habit I remove him from the girls.
Henry has been inside w/us the last two nights & aside from him constantly being right under my feet (hopefully this will subside after awhile) it has gone pretty good. He is counter cruising....got to go. |
HenryOhHenry wrote: He is counter cruising....got to go.
Augh, another very typical sheepie trait... Sounds like you are making progress, that's terrific! We agonized over the crating at night, and while we were at work, but realized better safe than sorry. Oliver wasn't big on his crate, but it was safer for HIM to be in there, then chewing on who knows what while we were away. He's since graduated from being in a crate, but he is still confined to certain areas of the house while we are at work. |
| moon ray is now 18 month and he also does the same thing when peole come in what i do is tell him to get on his couch then pet him till he rolls over and calms him self. lots of good boy and then treat then hes fine. I think being higher up letting poeple say hello works for him. and he will do this everytime even to the little boys next door but they know he won't bite i tell them he just wants to hold your hand and follow him a few steps and he stops. it's all in good fun and don't pull the kids away cause then he proplly thinks they are toys he can't have. alway under my feet o. he also has the run of the front room addition and kitchen when i'm not home I also live in il and the snow has gotten him crazy. I live in Marseilles around ottawa call me if yuor close and I could bring moon ray around a show u or help u. It's not to late to redirect his thinking. I have to change all the time with my guy he is always doing something different and starts up new stuff all the time,Debbie 708-519-0543 I work 7-330 m-f |
I have 4 kids and 4 dogs ...I always thought that as well as training puppies you have to train kids on how to behave around a dog too  If kids squeal and flap around it only excites the dog more .
Good Luck but I do think you're doing the right thing by bringing Henry indoors ........I only have a Sheepie X but he's always right by my feet and I wouldn't have it any other way , i'm just careful when we have small kids visiting and the elderly . Julie x |
| How are things going?? |
HenryOhHenry wrote: ...I have protected my girls from him even though he is not aggressive my older daughter gets really scared when he nips & thinkgs he is going to bite her. So out of habit I remove him from the girls.... Perhaps if your daughter is involved with his training she'd gain more trust. She'd see that 'he' will obey 'her' in a calm, controlled situation. Could be simple commands such as 'sit, down and no.' Make sure that 'everyone' uses the SAME word/s for each command. [/quote]........aside from him constantly being right under my feet (hopefully this will subside after awhile)......[/quote] Will never happen and if it did, you'd miss it!!! 
(Careful backing away from the kitchen sink!) |
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