New Sheepie
1) Sheepies are large dogs, do they tend to destroy things at home? Will training at a young age prevent that? 2) We live in NY and the breeder is in TX. I read great reviews about her, but should I just get the little pup based on the reviews? Please share your experience and opinion with me. Thank you! |
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| Hi! Have you spoken to any breeders in NY? If the breed is unfamiliar to you're really better off with a more local breeder who can help you as needed. I'd start with Madeline Erickson - her contact info is on the Old English Sheepdog Club of America's website: http://www.oldenglishsheepdogclubofamer ... ectory.php She also does rescue, so she's a particularly appropriate person to talk to about how big these dogs can get and how much damage they can do as youngsters and all that good stuff...not that you won't find plenty of evidence, eh, I mean information right here on the forum in the behavioral, antics, rescue..what sections am I missing?  Yes, they're like any other dog, they can be trained to not be destructive. Eventually.   Kristine |
| Yes they WILL destroy things is left unattended. Need to crate train for both the safety of your puppy and your home. I would call and talk to the breeder and see if you feel comfortable with her. Also, does she know other reputable breeders in the NY area that she is close to who can help you with raising your puppy on her behalf from close by when the TX breeder is not available? |
| Kristine and Joanna21, Thank you for the information! I thought about it a little more last night and reached out to the breeder in Texas to ask her some questions about the little pups. She suddenly started giving me a very nasty attitude and stated that she has many interests in the dog (so it's okay if I don't get the puppy from her). With that said, both my husband and I decided not to get those puppies simply because we can tell the breeder clearly is impatient and I am afraid the puppies would be the same.  We also decided to go to a reputable breeder nearby to look at the dogs. My husband never had a dog in his life before. He doesn't know how to properly train a dog and etc. It would be nice for him to see how a good dog behaves and he can ask the breeder questions. The forum is very informative! Thank God I read it yesterday or else I would've committed to the Tx Puppies  There is a strong sense of an OES community here heheAgain, thank you! Juanita  |
| Do yourself a big favor and don't 'settle' on one just because they're close. Research and find a good one. When we went looking for a puppy, we spoke to eight breeders in three states. We chose to focus on one who in the end didn't have a dog who was pregnant as the breeder had hoped. She then turned us to a friend and fellow breeder who was a perfect fit for us with regards to helping us with our first Sheepie puppy. Wanda has been great and we have Marilyn to thank for turning us to her. Both are textbook examples of how a professional breeder should behave. Make sure you have NO reservations about who you're dealing with; you will be continually communicating with them for a long while, even if it's on a social level. Wanda has become as much a friend as a breeder to us. Vance |
| Its been a really long time since we've had a sheepie pup--but I can't imagine they are any more destructive, bossy etc as a pup than Boxer puppies who are evil incarnate Just don't be in a hurry. A few threads back I asked if "I were being petty" about wanting male certain look etc. We passed on a perfectly wonderful female and it was the correct thing at the time. Turns out the problem wasn't male vs. female etc., as it was I/we just weren't ready to add to the group yet. We had also just put our oldster dog of 14+yrs down so in many ways the timing just didn't seem right. We are now patiently going to wait until next spring/summer knowing that waiting was the right decision. As Vance and others suggested be patient, check things out and at some point in time the right pup will show up. |
| be very, very careful about where you get your dog. We've had several southern New Mexico dogs (could be El Paso bred) and they have crappy hips (Jack), deafness (rescuer here has 2) and nasty tempers. Do your homework, get all the medical reports.........hip xray, hear test, eye tests on the breed line. I would stay closer to home for your pup, that way you have the support of the breeder. |
| Sheepies don't have to necessarily be destructive dogs. We have done, and still do, a ton of training with our two girls. And they destroy nothing. No counter surfing, no garbage can escapades, they don't even tear up their stuffed toys. We have the baby toys they came home from the breeder with 4 years ago, still in good shape. when they were younger one unstuffed a pillow, but the seam was already ripped with stuffing sticking out. I think she was just helping it along. |
| Be very careful with breeders. There is a lot of great advice on this forum. My sheepies never destroyed anything in my house. They may have stolen a sock or two, but never destroyed it or ate it. They do need need training as any pup does. We went right to puppy class to obedience. Lots of work every day but all worth it! If you husband has never had a dog before, please talk to a reputable, knowledgeable breeder. Best of luck! |
| didn't we all just meet Schubert who I think was from Madeline in NY. Do give Madeline a call she is great and she is central in location in NY. At least you might be able to go and meet the pups plus get great info on their temperament. She also does a lot of showing and is on the referral list for OES and runs the local branch of rescue. She helped me find my rescue Bella and was great with all my questions. |
| I don't think of sheepdogs as destructive, although during the teething stage, mine have left teeth marks on chair rungs, much to my dismay and even worse, teeth marks on shoes and when my daughter was young, her barbies were not left unscathed. But this is something that I see as puppy behavior: the drive to gnaw on things is overwhelming during a certain window of time and you must be vigilante to protect your puppy and to protect your belongings. This is true of all puppies, not just OES. What I do think is true of OES is that they are very people oriented: they are not the kind of dogs you leave alone for 8-10 hrs a day on a routine basis. I know some become destructive, which I think is a bigger problem with some other breeds but almost all would become unhappy. OES like being with their people. Especially when you are trying to read, cook, sew, EAT, garden, go to the bathroom: that sort of thing. Aside from the need for exercise and training and grooming, this is an important need to consider. If you don't want a 60-100 pound dog who thinks s/he's a lap puppy at age 7 or 11, then this is not the breed for you. Also, do not take lightly the importance of getting your puppy from a reputable breeder. You will avoid many health and behavior problems by taking care in your selection of breeder. That said, mine have the family routine down pretty well. I am gone long hours but my husband and usually at least one of the kids (college age) is in and out of the house, but usually the house is empty in the afternoons until about 3-3:30. Our two OES take this as their down time and really just nap on a nice couch or under the dining room table. On my days off (usually one or two during the week as I work weekends) they pretty much ignore me until it is walk time at about 3:30 or so. I also tend to leave for work before daylight about 6 months of the year, and they pretty much ignore me when I get up and wait another hour or so for my hubby to get up. Not always: if one of them wants to go out at 6 a.m., I know they need to go out NOW. Not frequent, but it does happen. |
| I had a lot of research on breeders and Vance and I happened to happen upon the same litter! Sadly, I didn't get one out of that litter for reasons out of anyones control but Wanda seemed great. I ended up finding another breeder through the OESCA website and Wanda's recommendations. In the end, you really can't be certain until you get the pup and the papers. As you guys know, Kenny had problems with worms and yeast and we're treating accordingly along with the whole recessed testicle which she is not going to offer any reimbursement for. I also hate to add on but how do you know if the papers are legit? I mean, I guess you could go legal on them if they lied but I was wondering this as it could just be a print off and forged, right? |
| If you have papers, I'd check to see if in fact the dam and sire are listed with the AKC and then contact the owners to see if they bred the two. Seems like quite the detective job, but it would bring some piece of mind and help prove one way or the other. Vance |
| My piece of advise: once you begin talking with reputable breeders, be persistent. Many don't respond very quickly to e-mails, but they do appreciate phone conversations. The more you show your willingness to learn about the breed and do things "right", the more information you will learn from these people who have made it their life goal to continue the breed. When we began looking for a breeder I called . . . and called . . . and called . . . and eventually got ahold of someone who was able to put me in touch with a reputable breeder close enough for me to go meet and talk with. If they're reputable they'll make sure you're a good home before they place a pup . . .and they'll be doing the right medical screenings on their side for you, too. Your pup will be as healthy as they can predict, anyway!! The calling is worth it . . . my pup exemplifies Old English behavior, Old English "look", and true Old English health . . . he's the dog I wanted since I was young. I'm so glad I found this forum before we purchased a puppy. It's made everything easier!! Good luck!!!! PM me if you need help with anything! |
| MY advice is pretty much the same as Mop Lover. I emailed a couple of breeders on the OESCA list and was urged to CALL..A reputable breeder will be honest with you and if they do not have puppies or not planning a breeding soon, they WILL refer you to someone who has or is waiting for a litter. Before the referral, I was asked many, many questions by the breeder. I was asked to send pictures of my house, my yard and my other dogs. I was told about what to expect for the first year, I was told that 'we' , the breeder and I would be like a married couple...since SHE brought the litter into the world, SHE was as responsible to make sure her pup had a fUrever home until the end. I had a list of questions...a LONG list which the breeder answered, patiently and in detail. We had many, many conversations before Heart flew to me~~~and afterward, when Heart was in her comfy crate, with wayyy to many toys, I would call the breeder about anything..and I mean anything that I was concerned about, worried about,,,,and couldn't wait to call her when Heart did something wonderful, like pee on command in the back yard, or began sitting, laying etc on command. Like everyone has stated ~~~they ARE puppies and some chew, destroy, nip, have accidents in the house...HEART????? HER passion (((fettish))) was any type of paper...especially toilet paper..... and digging in the dirt, mud with her FACE.....most times right after her bath!!!!!     You will have a great, wonderful, adventure with a sheepie!!!!!!!!! but you have to have a great sense a humor growing up with an OES !!!!! PLEASE KEEP US POSTED!!!!!!  |
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