Adopting
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| I have had 3 purebred Goldens and so far 1 OES puppy who is 9 mo. old. A puppy will be a puppy but my OES was much easier to train. I don't know why. I expected worse. Being yours is 3 I would expect some challenges of sorts but not the same as a puppy. I would expect less hair (shedding) but depending on the coat more bushing lottttts more brushing if you want a long coat. Personality wise - I find the OES to be more independent. Steel doesn't have to follow me to the bathroom EVERY time! It may take you a little longer to bond with a 3 yr old, I have absolutely no experience with that? I will tell you the OES, all of them if you have read on here wayyy more than any Golden will have you laughing in stitches sometimes just from walking across the room. They are goofy and silly. NOT to be mistaken with dumb, just do de do de do silly! It will brighten even your worst day! Loved my Goldens with all my heart. Love all my dogs with all my heart but none have the ability to make me laugh just from walking toward me! In my opinion, not quite as much a people pleaser in that it will take you a little longer to figure out how to motivate the dog training wise. Steel has selective hearing. Haha. I believe you will be just as happy but in different ways. Depends on what matters to you most. I get big sloppy kisses on my lips! When strangers come to my door - because OES are not a common thing here, they panic and say things like "what the he*l is that!" When friends come through my door - they get the most love ever received! When I sit down, he sits on my lap - I can't breathe but it's ok! It isn't dumb to ask strangers, it is smart to ask people who may have been there! I'm happy to think someone is about to see the differences as I have! You will love both breeds I think and appreciate their differences. |
| Thank you so much! |
I have had Goldens all my life both working with them and having them as pets. I absolutely love the breed, they are wonderful. I have a senior golden female now along with my two sheepies. I can only echo what Aleece said in her post. They are such lovable clowns and seem to do the goofiest things that make you smile. The difference I see between the two besides the grooming aspect is that Goldens are such people pleasers. Sheepies are a little more independent and can have a stubborn streak in them. You ask a Golden once and they respond with a wagging tail, you ask a sheepie once and they seem to think about it for a moment before deciding.....unless of course if there is a cookie involved!!  Both my boys are very affectionate and love attention. As I am typing this, one of them is resting his head on my knee waiting for his pets. They lay and watch over their flock (me and my sons) as we watch TV, eat dinner, play in the pool, cut the grass, anything.... and follow us from room to room. It is not because they are needy but they just love to be with their people all the time. I don't think you will be disappointed with a Sheepdog vs. a Golden....they are both very lovable breeds and similar in so many ways personality wise. Good luck to you and welcome to the board! |
| Thank you so much. She comes on March 21. Can't wait. |
| How much exercise do your guys get? |
I consider myself lucky in having 3 dogs and 3 young children! Others think I have lost my mind!  Exercise wise it works out GREAT! I don't really have to intentionally exercise anyone or anything! Haha! I have a large home with lots of stairs and the kids and dogs use them regularly. Now that it is freezing cold here we aren't going out much but in the warmer months everyone is out and getting much more. I am still careful with how much I do with Steel as he is young but he and the other dogs wrestle almost constantly and run through the house with the each other and the kids. I concentrate more on mental stimulation with him, he pushes the limits of bratty behavior if I don't. That's my fault just so you know. I have one son who is in charge of Steel's "tricks". If he doesn't do it, that son doesn't go to his personal trainer that week. My daughter has to brush him every day, she is 9 so she has to at least give it her best effort - if she doesn't she misses dance that day. My other son lets the dogs out all day, if he makes that ugh noise - I'm ripping his computers out of the wall. Of course it all falls apart on a regular basis! Hehe! But I think the exercise is probably similar to a golden also you will see up times and down times. Certainly their brains need to be stimulated or they will get into trouble. They are a herding breed, you will want to read up on that. If you look through here you will see many people have their dogs doing fabulous things! |
| two good responders for you to bounce questions off. Remember a retriever LIVES to follow human commands and needs to interact more. Sheepdogs were drovers, not so much herders.....meaning they "drove" the herd, not rounding them up by human command. Subtle difference but explains why the goldie will live in your lap if allowed needing frequent reinforcement and interaction while the sheepdog will sit to the side and watch. Goldies play more, after all they are retrievers and will return the sloppy wet tennis ball or whatever you are throwing until you end the game. Sheepies are not retrievers and may humor you with a couple of returns, after that you have to go get the ball yourself. None of mine have been lap dogs and resented my attempts to make them so. Once in awhile they'd jump up and flop on me, but generally they were/are content to be close. No, they don't follow from room to room, but need to know where you are.......I'll find Kdog in the hall outside the room I'm in. Grooming is far more intense than goldie grooming.......you'll have to learn line grooming, not topical brushing. Good explanations in the forums archives here. Clowns......yeah, like goldies they have a fine sense of humor, maybe more so. Yes, we laugh frequently at their antics. I think the two breeds have far more in common so don't think you'll have any trouble with the big grey shaggy thing. Nearly all of my sheepdogs and Great Pyrs have been rescues. For me it just works out better than going thru puppyhood. I find I can work faster with an adult. With a rescue, though, they take at least a year to "unpack their luggage" meaning there might be some hidden quirk that takes time to show up. Be patient with them, you don't know their history. Kensie showed me one the other night after, what, 8 months together. Surprised both of us and I let her know immediately she was not to do that again......and I made a mental note not to push her there. |
| Thank you again. My biggest challenge will be house training. Poor girl has never had a home so this is going to be work! Our last golden was 6 when we rescued her and it took several months for her to get it. Line grooming? I imagine you mean sectioning like our hairdressers do? |
| Well, they are not retrievers that will drive you crazy wanting to chase and return whatever you throw their way. In addition to my senior Golden (the couch potato) and 2 Sheepies, I also have a yellow lab that will drive you insane in this respect. He is always walking around with his slobbery tennis ball dropping it at your feet until you finally give up and throw it for him to go get...he would do this until he dropped from exhaustion if you let him. I doubt you would ever see this type of retrieval intent from a sheepdog. The sheepdogs humor me sometimes and retrieve the ball two or three times but I have found that their main interest is chasing (or herding) the lab as he chases the ball...poor guy has to dart and avoid them making his way back to me so I can throw it again for him. Sheepdogs do need their exercise both physically and mentally. Any dog that is not given the opportunity for exercise can become very frustrated and resort to destructive behavior as an outlet but I am sure you know that already. My guys go for a daily walk and have play sessions in the yard after which they come inside and plop down and seem quite intent. But like us humans, each dog has his own energy level. I guess with time you will find out what works with your new addition....he may turn out to be a couch potato. My older sheepdog is 3 and I noticed he has settled down quite a bit from his puppy days. My younger sheepdog is only 8 months old and is a pistol, always wanting to play, play, play. You must be so excited waiting for March 21st. How long of a flight is that from Asia? And please don't forget to post pictures!!! |
| Oh poor baby! What is her history that she never had a forever home? She is a very lucky girl that she has someone like you willing to take her in and show her the finer things in life. I can bet she will repay you a thousand times over with her love and devotion. I imagine the beginning will be an adjustment period for both of you as you learn about her and she begins to understand what her role is and learns to trust a special human. As you more than likely know from your 6 year old rescue Golden that time, patience, repetition, positive praise, love and plenty of treats usually help to get them where you want and need them to be. There is great information under the Board Index titled Grooming. One of them is on Line Grooming and is very helpful. Lots of other helpful info available about the grooming needs of a sheepdogs. I love to keep my in coat but many opt to keep them in a puppy cut if they have time constraints and they do not have the time to groom out correctly. Either way their personalities are what shine the most. |
| We have have had both Sheepies And Goldens for the last 25 years. They have always gotten along great. Both breeds love their people and want to please. Our Goldens have been slightly easier to train, but the Sheepies are puppies forever. We will always have both. |
| Thank you. We can't wait to meet her. If any of you are in central Ca maybe we can have a play day. |
| My last 4 dogs were rescues. 3 being sheepdogs and 1 golden retriever. I am also a volunteer for a couple rescues. One of my OES's was 3 when I adopted her. She had been in a very bad situation. Thank goodness for her fairy dog mother. She wasn't housebroken and was a resource guarder. Both she and my golden, Abbey, had met prior to the adoption and really liked each other. The night I picked Gracie up, she was a little nervous and was ok with Abbey. Grace wanted to sleep n her crate the first night. The next day was Christmas Eve and all of a sudden, Gracie was my little Velcro girl, with lots of kisses for me and Abbey. I treated Grace as though she was a new puppy, starting from scratch. Housebreaking was a little easier because I sent her out with Abbey and I would use the term 'outside potty' and she caught on. Resource guarding disappeared quickly because she had her own food and water bowls and there was no threat from Abbey. They loved one another. It isn't always easy but is very rewarding adopting a rescue animal. Lots of patience and love can do wonders. There will be ups and downs but the pay off is great. I firmly believe rescues KNOW they are getting another chance. They try harder and love even more fiercely. Lucky pup and lucky you.  After a length of time, you might even want to go to 'school' for training and enjoy the extra bonding and the fun of learning together.  CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!    and be sure to post lots of pictures. |
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