Sheepless Shel :)
I live in rural southern Ontario, Canada, near the town of Sunderland. I currently have a 13 month old smooth coat Saint named George (my avatar is a photo of the two of us). My experience with dogs has been limited to giants, an OES would be smaller, but much smarter, than what I am used to. Photos of my dogs, past and present, can be viewed on my website at http://bytheriver.ca/ Respectfully, Shel |
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Hello and welcome! I'm glad that you having had Newfoundlands (one of my favourites!) and Saints realize that the Sheepdog is at most, a medium size dog!  I can't tell you how many people when seeing my girls say things like "they're not dogs, they're horses!", "giants!" etc. My littlest is only 66lbs and I think she's just a little dog! |
| You sound like my type of person! I've not had a Dane, but I've had St. B, Newfie, and Great Pyrs as well as Sheepdogs since 1970. Yes, sheepies are "smarter" than the St.B and Newfie......but in a different way. Pyrs are unique that I really wonder if they are intelligent life from another planet.......anyway, getting a sheepdog is like adding a clown to the family. Always cute, loveable, mischievous, and just plain fun. Yeah, you are downsizing but gaining an energy filled dog. Just be careful from whom you get your dog. Like the big guys, sheepies have the hip issues as well as hearing and eye problems. Make sure your pup comes from certified stock, not just "vet examined." Canada does have an OES club, ahem and an officer comes on here from time to time. That would be a good place to start your search. |
Baba wrote: Hello and welcome! I'm glad that you having had Newfoundlands (one of my favourites!) and Saints realize that the Sheepdog is at most, a medium size dog! I can't tell you how many people when seeing my girls say things like "they're not dogs, they're horses!", "giants!" etc. My littlest is only 66lbs and I think she's just a little dog!David, thank you for the welcome. Your girls are adorable! Rupert (my Wolfhound) changed my perspective when it comes to the size of a dog - he made my Newf and Saint look little. Rupert with me  Rupert with Norm (Saint) and Sue (Newf)  |
SheepieBoss wrote: <snip> Yeah, you are downsizing but gaining an energy filled dog. </snip> This is one of my concerns. After living with mellow Saints for the last five years, I wonder if I'm up to the exercise needs of an OES. My daughter has a Corgi and his energy level exceeds what I could offer him. SheepieBoss wrote: <snip> Just be careful from whom you get your dog. Like the big guys, sheepies have the hip issues as well as hearing and eye problems. Make sure your pup comes from certified stock, not just "vet examined." Canada does have an OES club, ahem and an officer comes on here from time to time. That would be a good place to start your search. </snip> I have been reading both the Canadian and American OES club websites. Lots of great information. I haven't started researching breeders yet. I am still trying to determine if I would be the right kind of "mom" for an OES. |
| Can I come live at your house? I forgot to mention I also had an Irish, though she didn't get quite that big!!! She and the UPS man had a game. He's stop at the property line and she'd be on the other side of the fence. Suddenly they would race each other down the fence line. It was close most of the time! She was a fine girl and I still love that rough coat. Basil St. B lived with an OES and a Siberian, the girls loved to pick on him--he loved every minute. Abbott the Newf's best friend was Shane the Pyr--the two boys would chew face for hours until both were slimy messes. Now just have OES as a giant wouldn't be good with DH walking with a cane, one bump and I'd have to pick him up.......or vise versa, LOL That's not to say if a giant comes along, it won't have a home here. |
SheepieBoss wrote: Basil St. B lived with an OES and a Siberian, the girls loved to pick on him--he loved every minute. Abbott the Newf's best friend was Shane the Pyr--the two boys would chew face for hours until both were slimy messes. Susan, I have a question about Basil (love the name) and your OES. Did Basil's drool cause her coat to mat? My Newfies used to get crusty with Saint goob, but it brushed out easily. I've never touched an OES and wonder about the difference in coat. George is excessively drooly, even by Saint standards, I suspect if I get an OES it will always look like a model for Dippety-do. Thanks, Shel |
 Newfies have the oiler coat, but that's not the question......No, I don't remember a problem, but then I did wipe everyone's face after dinner, so maybe I got it then. But remember, it was the sheepie that had the saint on his back, chewing scruff off, so slobber for him was downward, She tended to groom him, not vise versa. He was the baby and the girls had to take care of him. Hey, Tanja, does Buster  turn Monty's hair into Dippity Doo strands?? |
I find that at least my sheepies, compared to a lot of other herding breeds, are really good at being couch potatoes inside. They have plenty of energy and love to be active and play, and I do sheep herding with them and lots of agility as well as dog parks etc. But inside they tend to be mellow. A lot of other herding breeds like Border Collies often have a harder time relaxing  |
| What cute pics. Your Irish makes it look like you have a "miniature" newfie and saint lol |
| OMG I love the picture of the three giant dogs, you need a full coated sheepdog at the end of that row of dogs. We have a newfy too and his drool does go on the back of Monty sometimes. I spent 40 minutes brushing Monty so was all clean and soft and fluffy and then Buster used Monty's fur as his own personal towel to mop up his slobbery chops. It brushed our once it was dry. I had the same concerns on the energy level and Monty definately has more energy than the newfy, but I have found that the OES is not active in the house if he gets off leash exercise during the day. So if you are able to take the OES outside and he has a chance to run around to burn off the energy, it will be fine. Monty when he is off leash will run circles burning off the energy and way ahead exploring so different from a newfy who sticks close or drags way behind. I have absolutely no regrets getting the OES. I even think and dream of him more than the Newfy when I am away from home as he is more interactive and fun and clownish. There is more work with brushing him, I do 40 mins 2 or 3 times a week compared to the newfy which is once a week. I am like you, I like large breed dogs and the OES does give the appearance of being a large breed dog when it is in full coat even though my dog only weighs 75 pounds, Tanja |
| Hi Shel You can also check out my youtube videos, I have a lot of Buster and Monty outside so you can see how the OES acts compared to the Newfy. It makes me smile when I watch Monty in the videos, he is just so happy and having fun. Tanja |
| Thank you, everyone, for the wonderfully warm welcome to the forum |
Welcome Shel from Texas |
Welcome to the forum!!! You do need a hairy ball of fluff to round out the picture!  Looking forward to following your search!! |
| Welcome! |
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