Walking your OES... and other advice...
As some of you know we are getting our first OES the 1st week of March (SO SO SO SO SO EXCITED!!!  )  So I wanted suggestions about a walking collar and leash for her. She's already a year old, so I'm not sure if the normal collar and leash with be fine, or if there is something better for Sheepies, because of their hair? I don't want it to get matted because of her collar while we go out and about on our walks. We currently use the harness style for our Zoe, which is a chihuahua mix...with zero hair compare to a sheepie. Also... have any of you heard of giving your dogs omega 3's? It's something that we've done with our other dog, and aren't sure if the OES breed would really benefit from it? Any opinions or info about this? When it comes to a kennel for your OES, do you find that one large kennel (4ft x 6ft x 6ft tall) would be better for two dogs... or each having their separate kennels in appropriate sizes for each? Also... I read somewhere that sheepies should have a raised food bowl so they don't have neck pain from eating, is this true... I'd like to know prior to purchasing one, just so I make sure I get her the right thing. Thanks all! I really enjoy this site... have meet some really helpful people! |
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| I use a variety of collars depending on the reason, prongs for training opportunities, nylon chokes for various events, e collars for the radio fence and I do have martingale collars for some walks. The only one that will cause matts is the martingale - and only if left on for more than a walk. My dogs are naked in the house. A number of people use omega 3 tablets, I use fish oil becasue the omega 3 is more accessible (so I have been told). I understande the most recent research is against elevated bowls because it contributes to bloat, a very real issue in OES> My guys will actually lay down to eat at times so I assume the sore neck issue is being addressedin some way on thier own. Welcome. |
| I generally use a simple chain choke collar when walking my dogs. But it will depend on how well trained for walking your dog is. If you find yourself constantly "hauling back" on your dog & it is "hacking" from it you may want to go to a prong collar for awhile. In anycase, I always recommend taking the collar off after the walk or excursions. My dogs wear NO collars when at home. I give 1 omega 3-6-9 capsule in with food daily to my oldest boy. I did this with my girl too as she aged. I think I started around age 9 or 10. It helped with keeping their skin more pliable. I use elevated bowls but they are on a stand where I can adjust the height. I raise them just slightly from the ground. When traveling my dogs eat from a bowl at ground level. As for kenneling....I always suggest individual kennels when they are without supervision (you are at work or gone for the evening). I have 2 that are attached like velcro to each other & love to be kenneled together but they only get to do that when I am home & need some time out to clean the house etc. I always think each dog needs their own space most of the time. As for kennels & the size you mentioned......mine are custom built by my handyman huband.  . There are some chain link "kennels" you can purchase where you put 4 pieces together to get the size you want. Very sturdy. But one thing I would caution about is making sure that at the top were 1 piece comes up againt the next (90 degree angle) that it is smack up against each other. One of my dogs in a show home was in the kind that the frame where the chain link was attached created a "V" (although it was a smoothly rounded "V") at the top of each section. She tried to climb out of her kennel, even with a tarp covering the top, & on the way down got her leg caught in the "V". I won't even go into the damage that was done to her leg  but I will say that when the owner got home form work, found her & called me I rushed right over & I had to call 911 to cut the kennel sections apart to free her. We were lucky in that no hip or joint damage was sustained. She passed her OFA with flying colors. But she did rip her leg open pretty good in that she required 2 surgeries & over 5 weeks of healing. If you are looking at something like that I would suggest possibly making a room "puppy proof" & maybe dividing it with an ex-pen or indivually crating the dogs in larger crates. |
| I just use slip leads for walking. Nobody pulls so it's an easy one step. Clyde uses a harness sometimes for his reverse pulling but since he's been losing weight, he's mostly back to a slip lead again. No collars in the house ever. |
| No collars here either and slip leads for walking.... lots more control with a slip lead if it's positioned properly, even for a dog that's had no training and is a puller. None of mine pull but my parents dog does and putting a slip lead on him helped too. |
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