Can a sheepdog adapt if not used as a working dog???
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| Oh yes. My guys do tons, but Chewie's sister lives with my daughter and her family. She's a total Princess and happiest snuggling and soaking up attention. It really will depend on the individual dog. If you get a high drive pup, it will drive you all bonkers. This is where a reputable breeder will be worth their weight in gold - pairing you with the correct puppy. And not be afraid to tell you if no puppies in the litter are a good match. On the other hand - a byb or someone in it for the $$ will be happy to sell you one, or two...and happily pocket the money with no regard for what is best for that pup or your family. |
| Ours is not a working dog but we show her. Lots of people use them as pets but as long as you walk them it's fine and Dawn made some good points |
| Lily is a high energy sheepie and a pet. She runs circles around most dogs. Her brother is completely opposite. He doesn't have as much drive to herd. He has normal sheepie energy, not anything uncontrollable. Easy going. Happiest when his owners are around. Even within the same litter there will be such personality differences. You just have to find the sheepie to fit you. Lily is in a 2 bedroom house with 2 other dogs, a fairly large yard and does fine. When she is bored she does find her own things to do. Like learn to open the pantry, unlock the dog food bin, braking out of and into houses (b&e) unlocking her crate and letting the other dogs out of their crates. Keeping Lily well exercised and mentally stimulated is the key, otherwise she doesn't slow down. I don't think I ever want her too either. She's perfect for me. |
Charm is a pet. She is happiest lying on her tuffet or snuggling on the couch she was never allowed upon  But, we do walk her twice a day(2-3miles total) and she is perfectly fine. Dawn is so right about getting the dog most suited to you. Our breeder quizzed us on what we were prepared to do and what we would actually do with her. We had two dogs out of eight to choose from that day. We made a great choice  |
| Leonard is a pet who lives in a city with an average sized yard and a 4br house. He is only 9 months old at this age our other dog was tireless and we used to have to run him off leash an hour a day as he never stopped moving. Leonard compared to my lab mix Ru is low energy. On off leash walks he will start laying down around half an hour into it, mostly he is very calm inside the house. We walk him daily weather permitting and he runs and plays in the yard or the basement for around an hour a day. This is usually enough to keep him tuckered out. I think he is the first dog i have ever had who enjoys playing fetch and we play it in te basement if he seems restless (winter here is Disgustingly cold). He is happiest being where we are and his favourite activity is cuddling. We go to the dog park with a group of his 'friends' at least once a week and participate in obedience classes and training to keep him socialized. As long as he is with us he seems content, if we were farmers who worked him I am sure he would be happy to work ( we go visit my husbands parents on a farm and he enjoys romping around and visiting the cows and horses) but is just as thrilled to watch me cook/sew/clean the house/visit with friends or family/herd the cat. I dont think oes are as active as other herding breeds like the border collie, they are intelligent but highly social, ours thrives on visiting with the kids at my school and cuddling with anything that will sit still long enough. I agree with the comment about a reputable breeder, Leonard's activity level and disposition were picked for us knowing our plans to have him as a pet in the city. His breeder was amazing about telling us about the puppies and asking lots of questions to figure out which dog would be the best fit. He is currently passed out next to me with his head in my lap snoring. |
| We have 3 OES in a 1000 square foot house downtown Ottawa. The key is to make sure that they get exercise, both mental and physical. We are lucky enough to have a great off leash dog park a few blocks away, so they get the chance to run full speed and chase each other and other dogs, plus we do agility and herding for fun. It sounds like you are an active person, so just incorporate your dog into your life. And, like Dawn said, do your homework and find a good breeder and let him/her help you find the best fit for your life, home and family. Good luck, and post pictures when you get your puppy! |
| Monty is a house pet, we take an hour off leash walk a day (me and the Newfy walking, Monty running loops) and he is very happy and inactive in the house. I also take him to agility for an hour week for fun, but not for necessity. |
| Down to the owner and how you interact and train the dog. My boy is the most wonderful house pet, affectionate, patient. He gets regular walks several times a day come rain or shine - really likes cold windy days..................... Takes up less space than our two cats. I couldn't have found a more suitable animal. Note you will have a damp thigh! (where he rests his chin!) |
| Mats, our adopted sheepie, lives in suburbia. There is a park across the street. He thinks it's his pasture and all the kids on the playground are his flock. He and I walk a lot -- 2 or 3 or more 1 mile walks a day -- morning, lunch time, and dinner time usually. Mats is a Furry Friends Pet Therapy Assistant -- visits Stanford's Ronald McDonald House, is a "reading buddy", and has passed his "off leash" test to visit group homes and juvie. Today at the park, he was mobbed by about 10 4-year olds who played with his ears, lifted his fall to look in his eyes, rumpled his head, and patted his sides. He even let a couple of them look at the bottoms of his feet. Mats job as a "working dog" is to make friends with everyone (and every dog and a few cats) in his neighborhood. At the preschool, he presses against the fence so the kids can pet him. He goes to the dog park irregularly and romps. Sometimes he goes for walks with his good friend Little Bear, a Pomeranian, He loves our mailman and the park staff. During baseball season, he likes to visit games. Vince, the pet parent of Samantha, a 125 lb Black Russian Terrier and Mats' good friend, says, "Everbody knows Mats." Mats loves his jobs, gets lots of exercise, and gets along quite well without sheep or cattle. |
| All my oes have been pets - my first learned our boundaries and I left the door open, took him to the creek daily for an off the leash run, and he was happy for 14 years. My second had a fenced yard with 24 hour access, plus a couple of days a week, she got an off the leash run. She also "tricked" me into regular walks in the unfenced portion of the yard. My current one is happy with the fenced yard (but prefers to do business in the unfenced portion). She spends hours watching for people to go outside to play with. She is happy watching - everything (a real busybody). The 1st & 3rd, I need(ed) plenty of chew toys to keep them occupied on rainy days (the other day, from a clean floor, she tried 19 bones before she found the "right one", today, the 7th bone was OK). They are wonderful village pets, all love and loyalty, which makes them Velcro dogs, more appendage than pet. That said, they require a time investment from you, so be prepared. |
| Mats had a very busy Saturday on 18 March. It was Little League baseball opening day at the park across the street. There were a few hundred adults and players, a dozen doggies, and new fences and smells. Of course, Mats had to meet as many of the people and doggies as possible and sniff as many fence posts as possible. For Furry Friends, he had 2 events
In the afternoon, he went to the ZAP (Zeta Alpha Rho) house at Stanford. Dogs were visiting students to provide stress relief -- finals start Monday. Mats had a great time making new friends and getting loved, rumpled, and petted. He came home and slept outside on the deck for almost 3 hours -- awakened by the refrigerator opening and the gentle crinkling of the package of cheese slices. After letting me share my cheese, he went back to resting. |
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