Looking for solid information!
This is my first post in this forum. I am doing my homework on OES, and want to have some general questions answered please! First, a little background on me. I am 25, single, a homeowner, and i work 5 mins away from my house. I have a decent sized backyard, and i have owned Airedale Terriers all my life. I currently have no dogs. I have been searching for a new breed, to branch out. And i have always been intrigued by Old English Sheepdogs, however that being said, I want to make the best decision for me, and the dog. Grooming/Maintenance of Coat: Since i am familiar with the Airedale, and the hand-striping of the Airedale's coat, how difficult is an OES coat to maintain? Because the coat is so dense, do they require regular bathing? General Questions: How much does a OES eat twice a day? While I know personality is subjective, how would you describe your OES? How do they play? I am looking for a steadfast companion, one whom I will be very close too. I am in the Pittsburgh, PA metro area, and have looked in vein for a AKC registered breeder. I would be open to getting a rescue or an older show dog from the breeder. Each of the 3 Airedales I grew up with were rescues (retired show dogs) from the breeder. I have visited the OES club of america website and it only lists a referral person? Has anyone used this service? If so, how were the results? I appreciate any help you may offer! Cheers!  |
|
|
mwg27 wrote: Grooming/Maintenance of Coat: Since i am familiar with the Airedale, and the hand-striping of the Airedale's coat, how difficult is an OES coat to maintain? Because the coat is so dense, do they require regular bathing? Keeping an OES in long coat is a lot of work to maintain with a steep learning curve. I made so many mistakes and needed a lot of help with my first sheepdog. Though somehow we've survived and she's never been shaved down, her coat is in much better shape now. My newest sheepdog, at 8 months, I have done so much better. Not just in the actual technique, but also in training her how to accept the grooming without being a princess.  It is obviously a lot easier to keep a sheepdog in shorter coat, but still requires regular brushing. Even with full coat and an active lifestyle, they don't need frequent bathing. Brushing them out does wonders in getting most of the dirt out. I do wash their bums/faces/feet as required.mwg27 wrote: General Questions: How much does a OES eat twice a day? While I know personality is subjective, how would you describe your OES? How do they play? I am looking for a steadfast companion, one whom I will be very close too. All three of my sheepdogs are grazers, food is left out almost 24 hours a day, they tend to eat more in the evening. All three of my sheepdogs are related (a mother, Virginia and two daughters, the older daughter, Mady, was our first sheepdog, we got the mother after she was retired by the breeder), they are excessively sweet and affectionate, they are at my or my wife's side 100% of the time (and they would prefer that we stay together) They have been pretty easy to train, very sociable and playful with each other and other dogs, but no false modesty, they are from an exceptional breeder.  I do sheep herding and agility with Mady, and are trying our hands at conformation with the youngest (Gracie). I hate being apart from them, I wish I had a job where they could be with me (like a shepherd!  )mwg27 wrote: I am in the Pittsburgh, PA metro area, and have looked in vein for a AKC registered breeder. I would be open to getting a rescue or an older show dog from the breeder. Each of the 3 Airedales I grew up with were rescues (retired show dogs) from the breeder. I have visited the OES club of america website and it only lists a referral person? Has anyone used this service? If so, how were the results? Here are a couple of links to posts you with some very detailed information on what you should research and investigate with ANY breeder, regardless of how or where they are referred from: viewtopic.php?f=14&t=37059&p=502778#p502778 viewtopic.php?f=15&t=36494&p=492127#p492127 As I mentioned, we got a retired show and breeding dog from a breeder at 6 years old. It can be a very good way to get an extremely reliable, trained, and well-behaved dog. We have a regular poster on these forums who has an Airedale and has had sheepdogs too, he might be able to compare directly with an Airedale. Good luck in your search! Sheepdogs are wonderful! |
| Grooming is different in the two breeds. Theres no hand stripping an oes coat! Puppy cuts are much easier. Grooming in full coat is time consuming. Lily hardly gets bathed. Every 3-5 months or so, its usually washing individual dirty parts like legs or beard. How much lily eats differs day to day. 3-6 cups food total daily. lily picks at her food all day. How to describe lily...needy, spoiled, smart, sweet, cuddly, manipulative, easily trained but stubborn at the same time, has no concept of personal space with ppl or dogs, shes a problem solver and a velcro dog. She loves everyone but wont take commands from anyone but me, she would do and learn anything for me. She is pure love, As all sheepies are. Never under estimate a sheepies abilities to train their owners. My fiance had no idea he was trained til i pointed it out. When hes eating something and lil wants it she sits in front of him and goes huff. If shes being really persistant she will put her paw on him. He will give her some of whatever he has! (No wonder her allergies act up so much) They will train you, herd you, and they will get what they want. Sheepies need a strong owner. ( they know their cute, they use that too!) Lily makes alot of noises when she plays, rolls around on her back, she does somersaults, uses her paws like a bear alot, she likes to squish other dogs when she plays (maybe someone can give you a picture example of a sheepie squish) she has no concept of anouther dog being agressive and continues to play bow/bounce around. If you are looking for a devoted companion to take everywhere and wants to go everywhere with you, oes are perfect. (you will never have alone time in the bathroom ever again) |
| I agree with everyone's thoughts but might add, the OES is a large breed that is a person dog. Loves to be around their humans and won't be happy being alone for extendeded periods or outside alone. They think they are lap dogs so beware! To me there is no other breed dog but you need to be aware of their personality. I think the airdale is a bit more stand-offis and independent? The OES is the complete opposite, but are so loving and fun and devoted. You are so smart to research and ask questions. Perhaps there is someone on the forum in your area and you can go over and visit to see first hand what the dog is like once grown. |
| Hi mwg27, How's this for the best of both worlds:  I clip my 'dale, so it's real easy maintenance. Just brush him out every few weeks; sometimes not for 8 weeks. Never been a problem for me. I like to keep the sheepie in a puppy cut. Last time I had him groomed, the groomer used a blade that was 2 lengths longer than a #4 blade. I think he looks great in a puppy cut and the maintenance is SUPER easy. Just brush 'em out every so often. In terms of personalities, I find the 2 breeds to be very similar. Both are clowns, both are very friendly & over exuberant. My 'dale is a velcro dog and follows me around wherever I go (at least in the house). My sheepie is a little dopier; probably just him, but it is charming. My 'dale is VERY smart. Probably too smart. But you know that already. Both are goofy dogs. And you know how a 'dale can be off lead. Sheepies seem to do a little better. Bottom line, if you like the personality of an Airedale and can handle one, then a sheepdog will be no problem for you. I feed both dogs the same amount of food. 1.5 cups of food twice daily. Good luck and we expect pics when you get yours. PS: Some of us like pics of 'dales, too. |
CamVal1 wrote: Bottom line, if you like the personality of an Airedale and can handle one, then a sheepdog will be no problem for you. i am so jealous of you, both look like amazing dogs! How fun! Thanks so much for the information! I have been looking for a dog similar to an Airedale, and that is exactly what i needed to hear. Do you find your OES, requiring more exercise or about the same? My Airedales were always on an Invisible fence system, how would a OES fare on the invisible fence? I will gather up some photos of my 'dales to post! Both are sweet, and exactly as you describe. Intelligent, and very much velco...Mandy has selective hearing for my Mom, however, she listens to me, and I love pointing this out to my mom! What health issues do you see in an Sheepdog? |
| Zeke, the sheepie, is funny. He goes light speed right off the bat and burns out quickly. Brick, the 'dale, knows how to pace himself and can go and go and go...... I prefer a real fence, but my guess is a sheepdog would be better with an invisible fence than a 'dale would be. I've read many accounts where a 'dale will run right thru an invisible fence due to their high pain tolerance. Then they won't come back in because they don't want to get shocked. As far as health issues, hip dysplasia is big. Cancer can rear it's ugly head. There are some other issues in a sheepdog that I'll let more experienced owners talk about. |
Here's a few more of me and the boys:  all the way to the right  |
| Im not sure an invisible fence with some sheepies? I doubt it would even phase lily. She cant be left outside by herself because she will come looking for me. She will find her way out of any containment. Shes jumped our fence, shes unlocked the gate and let herself out, she pulled down my moms fence(this one i was just on the other side of it) cant leave windows cracked shes figured those out too. However, she will not run off if im on the property where she can easily get to me. All sheepies are different. Boys tend to be a little more dopier but they are sweeter. Girls tend to be smarter but moodier. (Alot of people said that and i didnt think it was true til i fostered lilys brother) Also lily can play ALL day with no stopping her. She has energy to burn. When 2 sheepies were in the house it seemed to mellow her out a bit but now shes the only oes and shes back to the crazy energetic ball obsessed sheepie. |
CamVal1 wrote: All sheepies are different. Boys tend to be a little more dopier but they are sweeter. Girls tend to be smarter but moodier. (Alot of people said that and i didnt think it was true til i fostered lilys brother) Good to know, about the difference between personalities. And as far as the fence goes, I guess it will be a learn basis, we have had much bigger dogs on the fence, a German Shepherd whom hates squirrels and he never once left the yard, all it took for our 'dales to learn is that one time they wandered too far, then they didn't want to go near that boundary again. how are OES in cold weather climates, i would have to put mine out, to go to the bathroom, but would let them in asap. If they are like my Airedales, then i can expect fur covered in snowballs? how much do they shed? They say Airedales do not shed, but its a dog, and I can attest that there are in fact "tumbleweeds" that roll across the floor when the air conditioning kicks on! How hard is it to learn to Puppy Clip a OES? Genuinely, i love hearing about your dogs and their personalities. Please share more stories! Again your help has been extremely valuable, and i so appreciate you taking time to answer questions! What a great group of people you all are! |
| Lily thinks snow is the greatest thing in the world. Everytime it snows i have to pull her inside, she doesnt like to come in but yes you will have to thaw out your sheepie. Fur covered in snowballs. As for clippping your oes, its a learning experiance but their coat is pretty forgiving and there is room for learning. Even if you do mess up their hair grows pretty fast, before you know it they have 5" of hair again. About the shedding thing. Lily has allergies so when shes having an allergic reaction she will tear out her hair and shed. It covers my house. When she she is healthy, you might find a couple of "dust bunnies" a day but nothing more. Regular brushing tends to take care of the extra hair. |
| Sheepies, like Airedales, don't shed per se. They will lose their hair and you will get tumbleweeds, but you'll never find their fur on your clothes or furniture like you would with a retriever or husky. Sheepies love cold weather and snow. Many videos have been posted here of sheepies enjoing the snow. And like 'dales, they will get snowballs. I still wouldn't leave them out for extended periods of time in the cold weather, though. |
| They LOVE the snow!!! Here's Mady in a blizzard: |
| My guys think winter is the best season!! We also dog sled. Here is Chewie teaching some Samoyeds how it's done!  |
got sheep wrote: My guys think winter is the best season!! Wow! my Aunt has two sammies, however they have never trained them for a sled! And, talk about dogs that shed! Haha, she has given up on the color black! Baba wrote: They LOVE the snow!!! Here's Mady in a blizzard: Oh my! that is awesome of her in the snow! Well at least, i know they can tolerate our cold winter season. I have read that OES are protective of their owners and have a distinctive bark. Are they barkers? And how protective are they? I ask because I live next door to a family with 9, yes 9 kids, and I wouldn't want to have a dog whom is territorial if a ball is tossed into the yard. Many years ago, when getting our first Airedale, we read how they are fearless dogs, and how Lewis and Clark took them on their travels to fend off bears. We, after about a week with Patsy, we realized she would allow anyone into our house! Let alone a thunderstorm, where she would tuck her tail and hide behind my Mom. I have never owned a dog from the working group. How task oriented are they? And if they are how do you keep them occupied and happy? I love the information you all have been providing, this has been much more productive than any of my previous "Google" searches! Thanks again folks, i appreciate the help! |
| My puppy Eevee is a barker, but I let her bark at things because I like the warning. I can get her to stop though. As for the protectiveness, Eevee is, like I said, a barker, and she is very wary of anything and anyone she isn't used to seeing, this may not be the same with all OES, but I would be sure to introduce the puppy to your neighbors kids just to be sure. It might be a good idea to be sure they understand that it's not okay to chase the puppy around or tug on its ears, things like that. I have heard a few sad stories about people having to rehome their dog because of small children not knowing how to act with the puppy and turning the puppy aggressive. All of my dogs in the last 10 years have been herding dogs, and they are my favourite kind of dog. Our border collie was the most herding oriented, always chased small animals around, particularly the chickens. Eevee hasn't really done much of that, aside from chasing the cat. You can tell she likes all the people in the house to be in the same room, though. She's pretty active, she likes to play a lot. We have another dog for her to play with, so that takes up most of her energy. |
| The Bark will split concrete, especially if you ignore them and they bark right next to your ear. If they bark in a room with a piano it will resonate... Mine hardly ever barks when outside, only normally as an alarm when inside, ooooh the POSTMAN cometh! Mine is everyone's friend, even the cats (they don't agree), even when bitten or snapped at by other dogs Archie thinks it's only a game. OES were bred for rain more than snow, the coat is like a thatched roof, Archie will often have to be woken up when sleeping outside in the rain oblivious! They do like mud! They can be immensely powerful dogs, especially when they have seen a puddytatt! VELCRO - be prepared for a permanently damp thigh (known as the sheepie chin rest!) Amazing Bladder control Baths - mine hates them........... luckily the coat repels dirt (attracts everything else) when dirt dries the dust drops off and you have a magic white coat again! I think a lot of shown or pampered Sheepies probably suffer allergies due to over bathing (possibly leaving soap on skin)! Grooming is a serious commitment put aside an hour a day - great bonding or a day a week. Wonderful companions. Do however be prepared to go nowhere fast, strangers will want to talk to you and tell you how they had one when growing up as a child and what marvellous animals they are. Loves going out in the car. Put aside a decent budget for grooming tools chews bones raggy toys stuffies etc Must have National Geographic channel so they can watch the Dog Whisperer! Will go walkies any time of day or night (I work shifts) When at home we leave PlanetRock on the radio I would definitely visit some OES owners |
mwg27 wrote: I have read that OES are protective of their owners and have a distinctive bark. Are they barkers? And how protective are they? I ask because I live next door to a family with 9, yes 9 kids, and I wouldn't want to have a dog whom is territorial if a ball is tossed into the yard. I have never owned a dog from the working group. How task oriented are they? And if they are how do you keep them occupied and happy? My girls, especially the 2 younger ones, Mady and Gracie have a protective guard instinct. But it's NOT like a Doberman or Rottweiler who has been trained to guard. Their first instinct when someone comes to the door or comes up to them outside is to wiggle their bums off, they think everyone was put on Earth to be their friends, they love children (and my girls were born into a household with little children). But like I said, they are protective, our backyard is their responsibility to protect (usually from squirrels), at night, their guard instinct is elevated, and they will bark and even growl when they hear or sense something is not right. Interestingly, one night when Mady just about went berserk, barking, howling, growling, the 24h corner store 3 houses down was being robbed. And though they assume everyone's purpose is to be their best friend, I'd be wary of their reaction if someone actually attacked my wife or something. If you have nine (9!!!) kids next door, you'd want to introduce them to your sheepie right away, and a well-bred and socialized sheepdog, after being introduced to those kids, would probably be excited and over the moon if they hit a ball into your yard and came over to visit. I find dog's memory to be excellent. Anyone who has met Mady once, she remembers, regardless of how infrequently she sees them again, and if they were all happy to meet Mady the first time, Mady remains thrilled when seeing them again. Mady has so many best friends Herding dogs love to work, but one thing I love about our sheepdogs, they work hard, play hard, rest hard, they can be couch potatoes when it's called for, they're not neurotic like an under-stimulated Border Collie. But my girls do get a lot of exercise and activity, as I mentioned Mady does sheep herding and agility, and they all get regular dog park play. |
| I personally think OES are more of a herd Guarding dog (ie laying in a field with the flock in wait) than herding dog, they have a natural talent for sitting in a field observing what is going on visually, aurally and olfactorily, I think the herding is a secondary talent, the guarding could give you the impression that they are asleep |
| This will be the best informed new OES owner on the face of the planet! Good on you for wanting to learn. So many just jump in head first based solely on the cute puppy factor. And in two to three months have an epic buyer's remorse issue. Which is why we have so many younger Sheepies in rescues. I have to agree with everything said above except on one point; None of our three Sheepies followed us into the bathroom too much. It just wasn't their thing. I'll also agree that they're very protective. Our first was an awesome guard dog. I never worried about leaving Jen home alone with him. He was also the most Velcro of the three. One warning... if you choose to go visit someone who has a Sheepie, you're done. You will never yearn to have something as bad as you will yearn to own a Sheepie after just one visit. They have that profound effect on you as that. You'll lose sleep over, so be prepared for that. And with that all said, I'll welcome you to the Sheepie Owners Club right now as it seems like you'll be a card carrying member in short order. Vance in Ohio |
Archies Slave wrote: I personally think OES are more of a herd Guarding dog (ie laying in a field with the flock in wait) than herding dog, they have a natural talent for sitting in a field observing what is going on visually, aurally and olfactorily, I think the herding is a secondary talent, the guarding could give you the impression that they are asleep RE: Sam the Sheepdog  |
mwg27 wrote: I am in the Pittsburgh, PA metro area, and have looked in vein for a AKC registered breeder. I would be open to getting a rescue or an older show dog from the breeder. Each of the 3 Airedales I grew up with were rescues (retired show dogs) from the breeder. I have visited the OES club of america website and it only lists a referral person? Has anyone used this service? If so, how were the results? I appreciate any help you may offer! Cheers! Hi! And welcome! The AKC doesn't register breeders - breeders register their dogs with the AKC You have a great resource right in your back yard so to speak: suggest you contact Chris Gaburri - k9brusher@gmail.com - if you haven't already. She's an OESCA (Old English Sheepdog Club of America - the national club) breeder in your area, and even if she doesn't have a litter planned she may know someone in your general area who does. Don't expect you'll get in touch with her over the weekend though as I'm pretty sure she's planning on attending the Wisconsin OES specialty (dog show). She's extremely knowlegable and she'll tell it to you like it is. She's also a professional groomer by trade. Perhaps you may be able to arrange to meet some of her dog so you can experience the breed more up close and personal. If you go to the OESCA site (and you must have since you reference Tarja), scroll down a bit further and you will find a listing of OES breeders (click on your area of the country for starters) That's another way to get started talking to breeders. You may also want to check out this article if you haven't already: http://www.oldenglishsheepdogclubofamer ... owning.php Health problems. The breed has its share, not all of which can be tested for at this time (see the Canine Health Information Center - CHIC - for breed testing regquirements/recommendations: http://www.caninehealthinfo.org/brdreqs.html?breed=SD) If you're getting a puppy from a breeder the puppy's parents should at a minimum be tested for evidence of hip dysplasia, hypothyroidism and eye disease. Deafness is also fairly prevalent in the breed - ideally parents should be cleared of this as well. If you're interested in a rescue (NOT a retired show dog <g>) go to http://www.oldenglishsheepdogclubofamer ... /index.php and scroll down to directory for contacts. It is a fun breed. Labor intensive and demanding, but worth it. Kristine |
| Kristine, thanks for mentioning Chris!!! I for some reason didn't even think of her. Chris is by far one of the most helpful people I've EVER met; defiantly in the top three of my favorite people!!! She saved my arm in Columbus last fall, literally!!! Chris should be able to help. Vance |
Baba wrote: If you have nine (9!!!) kids next door, you'd want to introduce them to your sheepie right away, and a well-bred and socialized sheepdog, after being introduced to those kids, would probably be excited and over the moon if they hit a ball into your yard and came over to visit. That's a relief, and it is my main concern, getting attached to a dog, and then having a problem, i will not allow this to happen, as it would break my heart! Archies Slave wrote: personally think OES are more of a herd Guarding dog (ie laying in a field with the flock in wait) than herding dog, they have a natural talent for sitting in a field observing what is going on visually, aurally and olfactorily, I think the herding is a secondary talent, the guarding could give you the impression that they are asleep Interesting observation, I have never heard one described as such! Archies Slave wrote: Baths - mine hates them........... Has anyone had luck on their OES swimming? I imagine with all that fur on a summer day a pool would be nice. I am not saying that i would allow my OES to swim, but just wondering if anyone has had luck with them enjoying a pool on a hot day, or is it much more excited to run through a sprinkler! What are some of the more common, maintenance and health issues you have experienced? I have seen several people state that their sheepies have skin allergies? is there any other conditions that you have recognized? What a great resource you have all been. I have been getting much better information that i would have imagined! Vance wrote: This will be the best informed new OES owner on the face of the planet! Good on you for wanting to learn. So many just jump in head first based solely on the cute puppy factor. And in two to three months have an epic buyer's remorse issue. Which is why we have so many younger Sheepies in rescues. This is my goal, i want to know as much as possible, and i would never jump into anything as serious without having as much information up front as possible. Everyone Thank you so much! |
mwg27 wrote: Has anyone had luck on their OES swimming? I imagine with all that fur on a summer day a pool would be nice. I am not saying that i would allow my OES to swim, but just wondering if anyone has had luck with them enjoying a pool on a hot day, or is it much more excited to run through a sprinkler! Here's a video of Mady swimming for the first time: However, swimming for a full-coated sheepdog is hard work, you can see how hard Mady is working, all that fur when wet is heavy. So much so, if you plan on having your sheepdog in water a lot, it's best to have a sort coat. Also, a soaking wet full-coated sheepdog takes forever and a day to dry, and should be dried with heavy-duty purpose-built grooming driers (which still takes forever and a day! I hate drying my sheepies after a bath, it feels interminable, and I have a $300 grooming drier). Basically, getting your sheepdog wet increases the grooming work required. A few people on the board have really active water sheepies who love swimming. But they're not labs, unless you make a point of trying to get your sheepie to swim, I think most would be happy to stay indifferent to water. |
Baba wrote: So much so, if you plan on having your sheepdog in water a lot, it's best to have a sort coat. Also, a soaking wet full-coated sheepdog takes forever and a day to dry, and should be dried with heavy-duty purpose-built grooming driers (which still takes forever and a day! I hate drying my sheepies after a bath, it feels interminable, and I have a $300 grooming drier). Basically, getting your sheepdog wet increases the grooming work required. I would have never thought of drying! Great point, it seems the short coat is the idea coat for a beginner OES owner. I will defiantly buy some books on grooming an OES. I have been told that "with Old English Sheepdogs, they are like a puppy until one day they slow down and for about a month they turn old and then pass away" Would you crate train, or let them have the run of the house? |
Mine didn't bark until I moved to town. My female barks usually at trucks going by, we did live way off a road so she saw no cars drive by before. Now I am on a road that has a house (and now one being built, hence the trucks) just past me so the cars are rare enough that she thinks she needs to bark. My boy doesn't bark. He lays in bed while she runs off to the window like a crazy. They don't bark at the neighbour kids at all, just watch and wiggle their bums  I come to realize a lot depends on the actual dog. My male is laid back, female not so much. Both their coats are different too. |
mwg27 wrote: I would have never thought of drying! Great point, it seems the short coat is the idea coat for a beginner OES owner. I will defiantly buy some books on grooming an OES. I have been told that "with Old English Sheepdogs, they are like a puppy until one day they slow down and for about a month they turn old and then pass away" Would you crate train, or let them have the run of the house? Our first, Mady, was also our first dog, and we managed to avoid having to shave her down, like I mentioned, it was a very steep learning curve on grooming, but it can be done. I was stubborn, I really wanted my sheepdog to have a full coat. So it's really a personal choice, if you can find a mentor, it would really help, just saying yes you can keep your first sheepdog in full coat if you put the time and effort in. We crate trained both our puppies, we actually kept Mady in the crate when home alone until she was 2 years old, and I almost regret that now, we could have let her have the run of the house much much earlier, more like 1 year old. Mady never complained about the crate, she would go in without complaint, but it still makes me sad. With 8 month old Gracie, she is still in the crate when we're not at home, and I'm aiming for 1 year old to no longer crate her. For the first few months we did crate them at night, definitely helps with house-training. It was Mady who decided when she wanted to stop being crated at night, probably around 6 months, Gracie was even younger, we stopped crating her at night not much after 4 months. Both our girls were super easy to house train, and compared to three boy puppies in our town we know personally from the same breeder,the girls are easier to housetrain than the boys (which probably surprises no one ) |
| Swimming - many do and love it. You do have the hair to deal with afterwards. Many who swim often keep shorter haircuts. It's just more practical. Here we were last summer - Chewie "outfetching" our lab Biscuit -  A good OES should be happy and friendly. Some do tend to be quite wild and rambunctious...either coming by it naturally, or many times from lack of guidance from their owner. I like mine to play, but they know when it's allowed, and when it's just not appropriate. Jumping on people...never allowed. I do a lot with therapy dogs, and if they ever did that, they could seriously rip skin or knock someone down. My dogs (all of them, not just OES, and my fosters and rescues too - all learn "4 on the floor" is the way we work!)a Mine love kids....  small to big ones!  Mine only really bark when they play rowdy with other dogs, or if there is some legitimate reason to bark. NOT like Samoyeds!!  |
| my girl is 5 months old now and she is my first sheep dog. I had all the same questions when I was looking to get a OES and I'm still working through so many more as an owner. t his forum has really helped. my girl is goofy,sweet and very engergetic. Luckily she has another puppy to play with. she learns very quickly and definetly wants to please. Since she is a puppy she gets into everything. right now it is like taking a teddy bear outside. she is constantly picking up stuff in her hair. this was something I was not used to, since I have only had short coat dogs. this may seem frustrating at fist but, everything will come out very easily with a quick brushing. Now the things that get stuck to her just makes me laugh. Plus this has helped her get used to being brushed very quickly. it seemed like in only took a couple of weeks for her to go from totally hating being brushed to sitting down next to me and enjoying it. Bathing has been pretty easy so far, but I definitely recommend having 2 people. I think it would be hard doing it alone. the first time she barked a lot and was always trying to get out of the tub. Last week was the third time we gave her a bath and she didn't make a sound or really try to move while I held her in the tub. The blow dryer she still does not like so much. I honestly expected it to be more more difficult than it has been. My girlfriend liked the OES because they are supposed to be protective and have a loud bark. I can tell you, even as a puppy, she has a very loud bark. Sound like I have a pet bear, not a 40 pound puppy. The bark will get anyones attention. She will definitely bark when something gets her attention, but she is not obsessive. She will usually bark a couple of times and will stop and come when I call her. So far, I am not so sure about the protective part. I see what everyone is saying about being a velcro puppy. she hardly leaves my side when i am at home. She walks so close to me. when I first brought her home, I tripped over her everytime I turned around. she stays close, but seems more of a scaredy cat than a protector. If we are out in the backyard and the other dog starts barking, my OES usually runs the other way. it is pretty funny to see. this little one has definitely been a joy to have, and as she grows up and learns more, she becomes even more fun. |
| They stay puppy like for a long time. It seemed like Pooh Bear just turned old in one day. They don't seem to age like other dogs since you don't see the grey around their mouths like other dogs...they always look young. Except when they get old and you can see it in their eyes. I tried crate training Pooh Bear when he was a puppy and boy that didn't work at all!!!! He fought that! I read somewhere if you isolated them in one room, they would consider that their den. I worked part time at the time he was a pup and I would put him into our bedroom with the door shut and he rarely did anything in there. The first time I left it open to let him have the run of the house while I was gone, he was very confused! With Angus, we got him from an owner surrender at 1 year old, so he had his crate training earlier, but had the run of the house with his previous owner and he still does with us. He's a sleepy head when we are at work and just sleeps on our bed all day. What a life! |
Baba wrote: RE: Sam the Sheepdog They don't always guard you against wolves....In fact sometimes they make them their best friend!! A real sam sheepdog and her wolf (hybrid) Lily was 8 weeks old and ritz was 7 months (them again) http://forum.oes.org/viewtopic.php?f=16&t=32331&hilit=sam+sheepdog+and+ralph+wolf All grown up (Ritz continued to grow after this...)  |
| Lily doesn't swim. She wont wade in a kiddy pool, she wont run through a sprinkler. She will swim in a lake if our wolf is or if there are kids out there. She will play (not swim) in a river and ocean. Lily doesn't have skin allergies. She has plain old allergies. Seasonal, chicken (but not to eggs  ), ingredients in poor quality food, some household supplies, (probably her own fur) etc. (testing her is really expesive and trial and error is a long process) It does tend to come out in hives which if i don't catch them turn into hotspots and skin infections. (She has no other medical issues besides this) Look in http://forum.oes.org/viewforum.php?f=9 medical and nutrition portion of the forum. It will give you an idea of medical issues that some sheepies have on the forum. All my dogs are crate trained but I don't really use it anymore. |
mwg27 wrote: Would you crate train, or let them have the run of the house? I did not crate train with any of my dogs. I just don't like it. If you're going to be out of the house for many hours at a time, you might want to crate train. I was home all the time, so we just made sure to let her out very often, praise a lot when she went, and bring her back in. During the night time, while we slept, we shut her in the bedroom with us and our other dog, and it's so small it's kind of like being in a crate, without feeling quite so locked up. She would come lick my toes in the middle of the night, that was how I usually knew she was up and I should take her out. She usually slept during most of the night, but she'd wake up for the potty break, then go back to sleep. It worked really well for us. Letting her go around the whole house did make lots of spots on the carpet, so if you've got the option, keep her in an area without carpeting. |
| Ava and Lacy have deafening barks. Lacy only barks when she wants your attention, same with Ava. Or when they're playing fairly rough. You will never regret the day you become a Sheepie owner. We just recently rescued Lacy, and I have to say, having two is even better than I thought. (well, ok, I never sleep anymore, but hey, who needs sleep right? They'll grow up eventually). The best thing that ever happened to me was finding this forum, and these people. It's awesome. |
SamHeinous wrote: The best thing that ever happened to me was finding this forum, and these people. It's awesome. I agree 100%! When you guys who have your poochie in a puppy cut, how often do you have to clip to maintain the look?  i am not worthy of the attention you all are giving me. You all are giving me pearls of wisdom here!Sheepie owners are definitely a different breed! And I have always said, a dog tell you more about that person than you realize! Thanks again for the info, i really appreciate it...i am really learning so much, I could have a PHD in sheepie school! You all should charge by the credit hour! |
mwg27 wrote: Sheepie owners are definitely a different breed! And I have always said, a dog tell you more about that person than you realize! Probably because Sheepies have such BIG HEARTS some of it is bound to rub off!  |
| You can't beat a sheepie.We couldn't even think of having a different type of dog. Sprocket is our 4th and this is my first month or so on the forum but it is amazing how I feel like I know the people even though I don't. This is a great place to find out anything and I have learnt some interesting things about food and general sheepie "stuff".x |
| RE crate training, only needed for the first month in our instance at night until we were sure he was dry and not eating everything (only one drawer knob munched on) He uses his crate, as do the cats!  |
| Zoey's crate is her 'safe place'. She goes in there when she needs a break from Caitlyn or just a place she knows she can nap without being moved. We still use both crates for feeding and this works out great because when they're outside and i need them to come in and eat, I put their food out in the crate, open the back door and yell KENNEL! at which point the both come running, or sometime sauntering in and go straight into their crate to eat. It's great. Vance |
| So if you have your dog in a puppy cut, how long does it take before you need to clip again. And how much hair do you typically clip? I have tried finding pictures on Google, of OES in a puppy clip, unfortunately, more puppies come up than anything! And i came across a terrible link in my search, which made me sick to my stomach.....sheepie lover beware, this is not to be taken lightly http://news.asiantown.net/r/20682/emergency-haircut-for-sheepdog-floyd-sees-him-lose-two-stone-of-matted-hair |
I just shaved lily down. Her hair grows an average of 3/4" a month. Sometimes more sometimes less. So to keep in a puppy cut probably every 6-8 weeks if you wanted to keep the same length of hair. some examples of puppy cuts http://forum.oes.org/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=38345&hilit=puppy+cut+pictures http://forum.oes.org/viewtopic.php?f=16&t=37573&hilit=puppy+cut+pictures http://forum.oes.org/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=37212&hilit=puppy+cut+pictures |
| Hi and welcome! Did you say you are from PGH? I am in the East Hills. I am not an expert as my guy is just reaching the 4 mth mark, but I can tell you a little bit of my experience. Beauford loves mud! I have never had a dog who has loved it so much. Luckily he loves water too so I just fill up my kids' old plastic pool and he will go play in it and rinse most of the mud right off. The brush gets what is left behind once he dries. Right now I'm outside looking at completely black dog from the mud left from yesterday's rain. I don't know how he finds it but he does. He is my first herding dog and I am absolutely amazed at how he just automatically knows what to do. Have you ever been to the Highland games or seen border collies in an exhibition? Beauford does di many of those moves. I just love to sit and watch him "herd" my son when they are playing in the backyard. Honestly, poetry in motion. Then there are times where he just sits on the hill and surveys the town below and he just looks like the looney tunes Sam. You know how hot it's been here? He despises the heat so he doesn't get as much excercise some days as others but he easily adapts. My friend is an Airedale woman who also uses the electric fence. All of her dogs have gotten loose oodles of times. In fact everyone I know with electric fences have had that problem regardless of breed so u just don't trust them. I do see lots of similarities between the breeds but there is just something about the oes that wins my heart. I crate him at night but other than that he normally has full reign unless he gets overly rambunctious and has a time out in the kitchen. He is extremely smart and learns things very quick. Amazing because he doesn't have a very high food drive and can take or leave most treats. even the puppy nipping is coming under control. I've grown up with mostly hunting dogs and pretty much love all breeds. Each one has their quirks and Beauffy has his own but they are so worth it. Now off to fill up that pool and clean this mud hound! |
| Re: Crate training....both my dogs were crate trained and to this day, my female, now 4 years old, will run into her crate to sleep or during a thunderstorm. we keep both crates, and they are large, in our gbedroom with the door open so they can go in and out at their will. But as pups, we did crate train and it worked great. RE: Barking....mine don't really bark alot but if they are chasing each other they bark and jump around. Guard dogs? Well, I tell people I have attack dogs..."lick" attack! However, the size alone usually scares people away. RE: Kids...I don't have small children but I cautioned my neighbors kids about just jumping the fence to get a ball or whatever. Why? Because an OES can be large and can easily knock over a small child - especially one holding a ball and running! And, Mark, love your pix of the Airdale and Sheepie! |
| I will be going to visit an Adult Male in the next few weeks, any advice? on how i should prepare? |
| Our new puppy came almost house broken, he has had a couple accidents but only because I fell asleep on the couch or was cooking and not paying attention close enough. Baby gates are really handy so you can keep puppy from wandering and having accidents. He does sleep in a crate next to my bed. We had OES growing up and since our puppy came home my family has found lots of extra reasons to visit, they seem to be in love with him. I ended up wanting an OES again last year when I took my dog to the dog park and a large, playful young fellow came bouncing {literally} out of the forrest, he was beautiful and a perfect match for the energy level of my laid back yet high energy rescue mutt. It was one of those moments where you know what is going to happen next and you know you have no choice.... I started researching breeders as soon as I got home and spent the next months convincing my husband this was the best idea I had ever had. My husband had never met and OES but had had large working dogs on his farm as a child. I found the perfect breeder, handed the information to my husband and crossed my fingers {oh and maybe mentioned it every day, sent him pictures and videos and took him to the dog park hoping he would meet one in person}. A couple months later he came home and announced that he had put a deposit on a pup.... Then the agonizing but exciting wait began. A few weeks ago we picked him up and he is perfect; he LOVES kids, he loves men, he loves women, he LOVES the cat {not a mutual love}, he loves being brushed, he loves other dogs and he loves car rides. Ok, he loves everything, even the broom... which he chases ferociously while I clean. He has been a velcro dog and a great companion from the first day he arrived. When you met the adult male be prepared to: -Fall in love...instantly -Become obsessed with finding out all that you can about sheepdogs, begin telling your friends, family and vet about how awesome they are. -Begin researching grooming {I did this for fun before I got my dog, I am lucky that my Mum was the sole groomer of all our dogs and kept them in a perpetually perfect state so she has been able to prepare me for the work ahead... she also showed me the best way to brush out my puppy's coat without waking him up} -Get super excited every time you meet one randomly in real life; I am sure the sheepie owners at thepark know me as the chick who tries (sometimes unsuccessfully) not to squeal with delight every time she sees their dogs. I am not super experienced with the breed (but the folks on here are super friendly and patiently answered a lot of my questions). My family had them when we were kids and they are the ULTIMATE kid dog. (We have a picture of our OES Hailey happily wearing a party hat and hanging out at one of my brothers birthday parties). Our puppy loves my nephew and loves my neighbours kids. He will likely come to school with me in September (I teach elementary school). I did a lot of research before getting an OES because they are a big time commitment; although I could not find anybody with a Sheepdog who saw this as a bad thing. I started training from day one and I now have a ten week old puppy who happily sits on command and comes when called. After meeting my puppy my Mum is already trying NOT to dream of another OES, she considers them the "ultimate dog". You may not be able to help feeling this way when you meet one... so be prepared! |
| I have had sheepies for years. I have had show dogs and rescues and the one I have now is from a backyard breeder. When I did not have one I was the person stopping my car to get out and talk to anyone I saw with a Sheepie. I have had many other dogs as well but if it isn't a Sheepie it is just a dog. Carley is 5 and she is my shadow. We keep her in a puppy cut all summer and let her hair grow in the winter. She loves to climb up on the grooming table. Parts of her she loves to have groomed and she gives me kisses. Her front paws she tries to hind under her. When I get the paw out I only have so long before she tries to hide it again. She is not spoiled but she will only eat popcorn when i TOSS IT IN THE AIR. She won't eat it from a bowl. My husband had Scotties and a St Bernard before we got married but now he adores Carley. We also had a Westie who was the light of our lives before we got Carley. She died of nose cancer at age 14. We always have a couple of cats and Carley gets along well with them. When people walk by our house and see her they just fall in love. ( even the ones who don't like dogs) She has also won over several repairmen over the years. If you want unconditional love and a constant shadow Sheepies are perfect. Carley still hops and jumps like a puppy and she is 5. This group is wonderful to answer any questions you have. Good luck. When you see the adult male you will probably fall in love right away.  Bonnie/Carley's Mom |
| A BIG Thank You to everyone who has posted on here, I really appreciate the sound advice you have provided. You all are a wonderful resource of information, and have helped me out tremendously. From your pictures and stories, to behavior and training, i think we have touched on basically anything one would need to know about an OES....... Thank you all again! |
| You may have overlooked one of the most important facts... You get US! (OK, we might even be willing to talk/help if you get a different breed, but don't tell anyone.) |
Didn't find exactly what you're looking for? Search again here:
Custom Search
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|