First time sheepie owner feeling overwhelmed and frustrated
With all that said, I am just having a hard time figuring out if this is teen/puppy behaviors that will eventually be resolved with time, growth, and persistent training or if it is a personality issue with Charlie. It has gotten so bad that I have had to consider re-homing him in the past because he is getting too hard to handle. I really do not want to do this because I love him and he is my first dog, but any advice on whether these behaviors will get better will be appreciated! Thanks!!! Megan |
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| Sounds like some out of control behaviors for sure. If I may ask - where in Iowa are you located? I'm in southern MN near Mankato. I'm also a dog trainer. And next Monday morning I will be driving through Iowa to get to the OES National Specialty in St Louis, at Purina. Maybe we can work something out.  |
| We are in Oskaloosa which is about 1 hr SE of Des Moines. I am trying to get Monday morning off work because we are going out of town this weekend and I need to pick Charlie up from the kennel Monday morning. I would love to meet up and get any kind of help I can get!! |
| We, too, had many, many of these same issues with our sheepdog as a youngster. We found a couple of things that helped. First, we worked out a pretty strict routine that included exercise, training and regular NAPS. (We found her behavior better after a nap.) It sounds like you are doing all of that. The second thing was that we enrolled her in doggy day care; I would take her for a 1/2 day (which was 6 hours) for 3-4 times a week. We found that day care really socialized her, and improved her behavior at home. Thankfully when she got about 18 months old a "light bulb" went off and she became much better behaved. Now she is 5 and we look back on her very trying "formative" time and wonder at her improvement! She can still be stubborn at times, but she mostly is a sweet, loving and loyal companion! Hang in there. |
IowaSheepie wrote: We are in Oskaloosa which is about 1 hr SE of Des Moines. I am trying to get Monday morning off work because we are going out of town this weekend and I need to pick Charlie up from the kennel Monday morning. I would love to meet up and get any kind of help I can get!! I checked a map, it shows it's a different route, but not really that much further than the way I normally go to St Louis. Barring major road construction, it says Oskaloosa is a tad over 4 hours from me. I hope to leave by 8am (would love to earlier, but I'm being realistic  ), so that would put me in Oskaloosa just a bit after noon. That would actually be a good time for me to stop, Chewie and Bond (my OES) will need to get out and potty and stretch their legs too. Me too.  I'd be game to go that way - if it would work for you. |
| megan u need to make sure u see dawn if she can't help no body can |
| ^^^^^^^^^ I whole heartedly agree!!!! Dawn is one of the best of the best!!!!!! If at all possible, try to see her, I am sure she will be able to help..Good Luck!! |
| If I had the opportunity to have her work with me and my sheepie, I would jump on the chance in a second! (Also, we need need pictures of this rascal) |
| Dawn, I would appreciate it SO MUCH if you would stop by and help us out! We are desperate and the local trainer just doesn't know much about sheepdog behaviors and I am really interested in what you will have to say! I have asked to take Monday off work so I should be able to have the whole day off. Please call or text me anytime before and we can arrange to meet up! 641-670-1042 can't wait to hear from you Megan |
IowaSheepie wrote: Dawn, I would appreciate it SO MUCH if you would stop by and help us out! We are desperate and the local trainer just doesn't know much about sheepdog behaviors and I am really interested in what you will have to say! I have asked to take Monday off work so I should be able to have the whole day off. Please call or text me anytime before and we can arrange to meet up! 641-670-1042 can't wait to hear from you Megan OK, I'll check in with you later. My goal is to be all packed as much as possible tomorrow (Thursday) and Friday, as I have these days off work. I work Saturday and Sunday 12 hour shifts - I'm also an RN. I get off work Sunday eve at 7pm, so I want to just be able to load the vehicle and do last minute packing. That way I can do chores here - we are a small farm and have animals - in the morning Monday and then get on the road. Looking at the map, looks like I'll be coming down I35 to Des Moines, then over through Pella to Oskaloosa. Does that sound about right? |
| Dawn, yes that is right. I heard from my boss and I have all day off Monday so we will be here when you stop by thanks again I'm looking forward to our visit! |
Dawn, you are such an angel   I KNOW that Dawn will be able to give you a sound evaluation and pointed advice. Good luck with your training session, you will get to see two amazing sheepdogs too. And Charlie, you big stinker, you've met your match  |
| So,how did the visit go? or am I on the wrong week. I have followed the brilliant advice from Dawn for Sprocket and he is a very good boy now-always an ongoing job but the problems I had have gone. Thank you Dawn.x |
| Yes Dawn was extremely helpful! Charlie has his moments and it has not been very long since her visit, but it has defintley helped with his behaviors. I need to figure out how to post some pics we took with Chewie and Bond on here! |
| I've NEVER considered rehomeing Simon, but dang that first year was HARD. My advice is to hang in there. It does get better. |
| reading this makes me so happy to have found this forum. I love wonderful everyone on here is. I think sheepie people are the best! |
| Wow you got a private lesson with dawn! She is the best! You have alot going against you...first time dog owner AND first time sheepie owner AND another dog in the picture. 9 months is a tough age and hate to tell you it doesn't get any better for a while. Sounds like you are doing all the right things...obedience classes, meeting Dawn, coming to this forum. I am sure dawn gave you some great pointers. Hang in there. But I would suggest more obedience classes and a great book to read is Dog Training for Dummies by Wendy and Jack Volhard. They are friends of mine and have written numberous books and this one is a great aid. The "long down" exercise they recommend has worked wonders for us. Keep us posted... |
| I was thinking the same thing. "a private lesson with Dawn"...Also, to meet Chewie and Bond. Now, that's a treat. If only I wasn't in Nova Scotia. |
| So glad you were able to get together with Dawn. She's the best trainer and she knows OES through and through. Hang in there. You are doing a lot of things right. He'll come around. Some are easier than others. This is a smart breed, which makes them all the more challenging. But once you get past the "teenage" I-think-everything-should-be-done-the-way-I-want stage, you'll have a wonderful companion. BTW, my vet has always told me no running (at least not as much as you are doing) with a dog under a year old. That way their joints & tendons are fully developed and can withstand the stress of repetitive motion. Linda Zimmerman |
| My Sprocket is 8 months old today. She has similar issues, please share anything Dawn taught that was helpful. Anything would be appreciated! |
| We had a good visit - and Charlie is a sweetie. I have pictures to come! |
| I've hit this crazy puppy stage with Fred too. 8 months old and you'd think some days she'd never had an obedience class in her life. Other days she's an angel. I sure hope the angel wins out in the long run. Lol Last night she pinned me down on the sofa with my arms at my side and licked my entire head til I was soaked. Next thing you know she spent a quiet hour by my side chewing her toys. My main issue is constantly and I mean constantly getting her down off the counters and taking contraband out of her mouth. She is good about giving up her treasures but will find something else 30 seconds later. I have grades due this week and I'm falling behind. Hahaha |
| I only just found this thread. I do feel for you a lot. We got Bailey at 12 weeks and he was a mischeif for sure over the first year. Nipping and peeing everywhere and not doing what he was told! It was a very difficult time. He ate the washing machine and the caravan! Yes he did drive me to insanity! But now he is 14 months old he is just wonderful and I do think OES dogs are a bit on the slow side at learning some things. They do need persistance and bounderies! NO has to mean NO not maybe and I will give in if you whine some? It does get better! Oes - hang in there it will be worth it in the end! |
| So encouraging to read this thread as our almost one year old Ollie exhibits so many of the objectionable behaviors mentioned. Good to know he's not crazy, he's just an OES -- far from typical but still an OES.... Ollie is our 5th OES over the years and far and away the most challenging and difficult one we've ever had. Quite encouraging to read that he will get better over time! Thanks to all of you! |
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