Hello and advice please!
I have never been up close and personal with an OES, really don't know much about them apart from the fact they need brushing - lots and they are super cute. Henry loves other dogs - apart from labs and is always ready to play - for a bit anyway - then he'll go and lay down. He gets two 30 minute walks a day - even when it's -40 brrrr but refuses when it's raining - go figure  Henry is also free fed - i.e. a bowl fo food available at all times.
Now why am I here? There is a 2 year old OES girl looking for a new home near us, she's beautiful, she is spayed and chipped (as is Henry bear). I work PT, hubby full time and we have a 14 year old daughter who does one of the twice daily walks. Please can you give me advice on what too look for, questions to ask and what to expect from an OES so I can judge wether an OES will fit into our family - I'd hate to make a mistake. Henry is laid back and only wants to be fussed/played with when he wants to be fussed/played with. Any advice would be greatly appreciated, as yet we have not contacted the owners as I wanted to hear opintions - good or bad 1st. Thanks all |
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| Welcome to the forum!
First I'd find out why that 2 year old girl is in need of a new home. It might be something simple like her family is in a bad financial situation (lots of dogs being brought to shelters right now for that reason) or it could be something else. For example, you'd want to make sure she plays okay with other dogs and children. If this OES girl is in foster care; you might be able to arrange for you AND your Chow to meet her, and see for yourself if they get along. Other than that; you'll find OES tend to be very friendly, very playful dogs. At 2 years old she's still going to be burning off some puppy energy; that walk twice a day will be pretty helpful! My two OES girls will still have their dog park time, regardless of how cold it gets. of course we on;y got down to about 17 degrees last year, but we were all at the park in the cold. And my two girls free feed really well; but I've heard that that isn't typical of the breed. I hope this helps you; Allison |
| Hi Allison, thank you for the reply - in the add for Mollie it says she plays well with other dogs and children, they have to find her a new home for personal reasons - it looks as thought they have two OES from the photos, I'm sure we could take Henry along to see if they liked each other.
Thanks again. |
Welcome 
Most OES would be the opposite of laid-back Henry. They want to be right near you all the time. They would love attention all the time. Some people are bothered by this - if you are claustrophobic it may drive you nuts..... And it's not saying you couldn't train one to give you more space, it's just their natural preference. 
I see you posted a bit ago - did you go visit her? |
Quote: Most OES would be the opposite of laid-back Henry. They want to be right near you all the time. They would love attention all the time.
I was going to say the same thing. OES are simply not like most dogs. They need almost constant attention... more importantly, constant training. I've heard with other breeds, once they are trained, they are trained. I think with OES it's something that needs work all the time. These dogs are hard work, even past the grooming. Thank you for looking into your choice very carefully! Read as much as you can on here, because that will give you an honest idea of what it is like to be a sheepie owner. I hope you decide to get one, but only if you feel it's the right thing for your family  |
| Thank you so much for the replies - after lots of research and thought and consideration we have decided not to persue a OES at this time. It's funny that oes have been said to be not like other dogsas that is exactly what chow owners say about their furkids. It seems to be that chows are unique in their independance and OES are unique in their attendence and both types of furkids need constant training and brushing - I think a pair of chows or a pair of OES is the key here - maybe in the future it'll be a pair of OES or a pair of chows - who knows.
Thanks again folks for the much appreciated replies and carry on enjoying your bundles of fluff - I'm about to lint roller the matress cover as it's covered in Henry fluff We've just got back from a brief trip so Henry is at the kennels until I can collect him later - I'm missing him so much   |
| Just so you know; I have a pair of OES. They are litter mates. Its TWICE the needing attention, not half! Yes they do play with one another ALOT; but they always want myself or my boyfriend to play with the both of them as well.
And of course its twice the grooming.
Of course I adore them both and wouldn't have it any other way. |
| Darth - what would worry me with a OES and a chow, is that the OES would annoy the heck out of a chow - not a good idea methinks! |
| I think you are right on target there |
| Hi everyone! Once again we are looking at getting Henry a buddy lol. It looks like it was 2009 when we looked into the OES before - must have been the last time we went to the Calgary Stampede and saw the superdogs lol. OH has decided he wants Henry's friend to be an OES so here I am researching again and figuring out why we decided no before. We ended up not getting Henry a buddy at all before for various reasons. The reason we are looking now is because we have moved to an acreage and Henry is lonely - even though I'm not working right now. He was used to sitting outside and watching people go past and meeting people and pups on his walks, now it's just squirrels and the odd deer or moose. Henry is now 7 years old so we would be looking for a companion of about the same age, I will show OH the previous replies. I personally think another chow would be more suitable but I am open to an OES as long as she wasn't too boingy lol. I just want to make sure we'll get a furkid that's right for us as well as Henry bear. |
| I think most people say, "there's nothing like xxxx breed dog" about the breed of dog they own. And that might be true to some degree, but not in the big picture. I have an Airedale Terrier and I had an OES at the same time. My sheepdog requested less of me than my Airedale does. He'd want to be within eyesight of me, but not right at my feet. That might be because the Airedale would chase him off. But that's the bigger point right there. Barring any real personality clashes, dogs will figure each other out and settle into their spot/place/roll in the family. Now if Henry doesn't like over exuberant puppies, then stay away from a younger dog. An older OES would make a wonderful addition to your family. And there are many older sheepies looking for good homes. Good luck. |
| Do you want two? They don't look like they weight 160 and 130 lbs but if they do I say they need a diet. http://animalrescueandoutreach.com/adopt/ |
| Thanks guys, I just want to say how lovely and positive you all are, i belong to a chow forum too and had I been asking about chows being added to a family with an oes the answers would not have been anywhere near as positive and friendly. |
Guest wrote: Thanks guys, I just want to say how lovely and positive you all are, i belong to a chow forum too and had I been asking about chows being added to a family with an oes the answers would not have been anywhere near as positive and friendly. OES are highly adaptable and most (with exceptions but there are exceptions to every rule) love other dogs, kids, people and animals. Here is the catch 22, not all dogs love OES. In the usa most don't have a tail, they do not have hackles, in coat they don't seem to have eyes and they are rude in doggy language, usually greeting face to face and other rude doggy stuff. I've found other fluffy dogs seem to tolerate OES better or dogs that were raised around fluffy dogs. That being said, my oes was raised with 2 older brothers. a wolf hybrid and a hound. They had two separate personalities and they reacted two different ways to her. Our hound tolerated her. He was like a old grumpy grandpa that only talked to you when you were out of line but when you least expected gave you a hug. Our wolf hybrid is an instigator. Like an older brother that talked you into things to get you into trouble. Her intelligent, loving, silly and kind of obsessive personality fit right in with those two. With my hound she was obsessive and playful enough to break through his intolerance but smart enough when to know he had enough. With our hybrid, well those two were instant partners in crime as pups and he allows her to herd him. She has learned to manage and manipulate him. As he got older we found out it's essential for him to get along with a new dog that the other dog has that control or she has to be there. (He isn't the same way with humans. He has never met a stranger) OES are essentially fun loving, loving, sweet, smart, velcro dogs but each individual one has their own personality. Its all about finding the right sheepie for you and your family. |
| We are a multi-dog and multi-breed family. My current OES (2 of them - a 7 yr old and a 20 month old) live with: lab, bluetick coonhound, bassets, rat terrier, and a min pin. Having personalities that mesh are more important than what breeds the dogs are. That said - in generalities, most OES are in your face friendly to other dogs (no "bubble") and are just sure that all dogs should be their friend. They can be a bit much for some dogs. But truly - those that want more space can let them know...back off! A bit of dog to dog education, and they work things out. There are plenty of adult dogs looking for homes - I've fostered, and adopted dogs as adults - a GREAT way to go! |
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