Want to get a puppy....Anyone from Canada have experience?
My girlfriend and I have been looking at getting an Old English Sheepdog for about a year now, and we are starting to get a little more serious in our quest for an OED! We've researched this dog a lot and I even played with one today. Unfortunatley, when I asked the owner where he got his OED he said it was from Peru, just like him! They arrived in town a few weeks ago. Now that you have a little background on the situation here are my questions... 
1) Does anyone know of a breeder in Ontario, Canada? We live between Ottawa & Toronto so anything close to one of those 2 cities would be great. I've found one located near Toronto but they didn't particularly think it was important to respond to their emails so I'm kind of soured on them. 2) How much should we expect to pay for an OED puppy? (Canadian funds of course). 3) What other things should we know, check for? Keep in mind we just want one as a pet, not to show him. 4) I've seen OED's on the web and some look different than others. We'd like one with the really long thick hair. Not so big on the ones with short curly hair...or is that all in the grooming? |
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Mr.Muggs wrote: Hey everyone, I'm new to the boards so forgive me if my questions seem a little odd... Welcome!Mr.Muggs wrote: My girlfriend and I have been looking at getting an Old English Sheepdog for about a year now, and we are starting to get a little more serious in our quest for an OED! We've researched this dog a lot and I even played with one today. Good that you're doing your homework! This is a special breed with special needs, and require lots of care, more on that in a bit.Mr.Muggs wrote: 1) Does anyone know of a breeder in Ontario, Canada? We have quite a few members here at the forum who live in Ontario, and are very familiar with the breeders in the area... so I'm sure some will chime in!We live between Ottawa & Toronto so anything close to one of those 2 cities would be great. I've found one located near Toronto but they didn't particularly think it was important to respond to their emails so I'm kind of soured on them. Mr.Muggs wrote: 2) How much should we expect to pay for an OED puppy? (Canadian funds of course). Same answer as above.Mr.Muggs wrote: 3) What other things should we know, check for? DittoKeep in mind we just want one as a pet, not to show him. Mr.Muggs wrote: 4) I've seen OED's on the web and some look different than others. We'd like one with the really long thick hair. Not so big on the ones with short curly hair...or is that all in the grooming? Yes, it's all in the grooming! Some have thicker coats than others, but all purebreds that I am familiar with have the ability to have a long full coat.
Remember I said "more on that in a bit" in answer to your comment? A sheepdog needs lots of exercise to be happy and to be trainable. Walking is great, so at least 2 good walks and preferably 3 walks per day to establish the bonds and roles between you and your dog. I was told when I got my fist sheepdog that each inch of hair adds about 1 hour per week of grooming. A sheepdog in full coat has about 12 inches. Now, some on here may tell you that I am out of my head (and they may be right), but that's my story, and I'm sticking with it. 
Again, Welcome to the forum, glad you're here! |
Welcome to the forum! 
Research is so very important before getting a high maintainence dog like an OES. It is best to learn before hand if this is the right breed for you in regards to grooming, activity level, training, temperment etc. (the shorter curly hair is a dog that has been clipped down, it may look curly is it hasn't been brushed properly or if it is wet) It takes hours of intensive grooming to maintain an OES in full coat. I do know of a few breeders here in Ontario that I would recommend, if you want to send me your email address by either pm, or email, (click the links at the bottom of my post) I can put you in touch with them. Also, you can contact the Old English Sheepdog & Owners Club of Canada http://www.oesocc.org/index.php?page=1 Good luck! |
| Also, it would be well worth your time to browse around the forum for a few hours (days?)!
There's lots of good stuff, and a handy search function if you can think of specific keywords you'd like to look for. |
| My reply wasn't very complete.... in response to your question on what else to check for, it should be the same whether for show or pet. You should make sure the dogs in the bloodline have health clearances at least on hips, and preferably on hips, thyroid, heart, eyes, and ears. Not many do all that yet though.
Please do not buy an unregistered dog, or one from a pet store, as in most cases that is asking for trouble. If you look through the forum and see how many incidences of health and temperment problems that can arise, you will see why. A known, proven healthy bloodline at least gives you some assurance that you will have a healthy family member for many years to come, not a heart breaking money pit. |
| Hello,
My name is Tarja Peters and I am the Breeder Refarral for the Old English Sheepdog Club of America. Please feel free to contact me for help. My e-mail is: oescrazy2@yahoo.com Regards, Tarja |
| Mr. Muggs,
Ah hah, someone who had the Ontario Grade One Mr. Muggs reader!! However Mr. Muggs had a tail but was nonetheless an OES. I once thought it was a Beardie because of that but if you look at the overall structure of the dog it is definetely modelled on an OES. (Probably didn't want to upset kids by docking the main character!) Welcome to the forum and the world of joys only a Bobtail wigglebutt can provide!! 
Anyway, there are a number of very good breeders in Ontario, the vast majority of them in the Toronto area. If you visit http://www.dogs-in-canada.com/breeds/index.html and look under "O" you will find OES and can then click on that link to see many of the Canadian breeders - many but by no means all. As Willowsprite also mentioned http://www.oesocc.org/ is the Canadian national club and is very informative. (Also a very inexpensive membership - gentle nudge ) If you want to PM me I'd be happy to offer a few personal recommendations.
If you are in the Ottawa area and want to meet our boys we'd be glad to host you for a visit. Again PM if you want to make arrangements. Thanks and Cheers Carl |
Party at Carl and Michele's!!! 
(Carl is thinking, Ruuuuuunnnnn!) LOL  |
| I have had 3 OES. Some responses will illustrate the demands required for this unique breed, read them carefully, then read them again. They can not be overemphasized enough. This is not a breed for everyone, understandably. To say that puppies are a challenged is an understatement, feeding them good stuff is expensive (I pay almost $100 bag for Orijen Puppy Large breed with no soya or grains with this one even though my last 2 did fine with Purina and latest with IAMS) So feeding is expensive this time although you can get away with a regular premium dog food, remember NO SOYA, and preferably /ideally no grains but that gets more expensive, absolutely no soya for an OES though, read the ingredients) Grooming? ha... you need the supplies, a good quality shear as I have yet to own one that I didn't have to be shaved after the 3rd or 4 year. A nightmare would be watching her romp through a burr bush after just grooming, it has happened. Keep their bums clean is a must which is a rare chore, and lastly and contrary to least they need MEGA EXERCISE for a happy healthy dog. Cycle walking is a better way to get their runs in there. Lots of open running without a leash is what I do in the field behind my house or I'd have to go to a high school track or other large open spaces to let her run and run. I o not think walking alone is enough unless you use a bicycle, they have more energy than you ever will. They are a lot of maintenance, a huge amount, huge, I can not overemphasize this. My puppy now needs 15 to 20 minutes every 3 or 4 days, I am even going on 5 days nut after a few years they will need at least 10-15 minutes a day to keep them matt free, this is the largest chore. expect accident and picking up poo for the first several months too, not all break in too quickly. If you are dedicated to this breed as much as a very few people like myself are, they are exponentially worth every penny and every hour, and last bit of energy. You will not fin a more adorable animal. If you are not familiar with the breed I would suggest any other, a collie, lab, anything but if you committed and determined enough to own one of these babies there is no better dog in the world. Energetic, affectionate, loving, gentle, protective, great with kids this is why they call them the nanny dog, they don't shed much even with all that hair, and even those will allergies to dogs are Ok with them, obedient, if you are firm and consistent and know what you are doing as this is critical with this stubborn breed that requires patience and persistence and constant human presence. Females will require neutering so add around 500 bucks to the cost of buying one at around 2 grand, so they are not cheap[ relative to other dogs and should be around for at least a decade. Lots to consider, maybe too much. So its either, there is no substitute or walk, don't run from this breed. Never get a dog to later give it up later, be sure the first go round. They needs lots of love attention, grooming, human presence and tons of exercise. To me they are the best dog in the world, to others they might be a nightmare. All I can say is research, research, research to be absolutely certain beyond all odds that you truly want one before you jump in. Good luck! |
| Another 10 year old thread resurrected! Jeesh! |
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