Do you cringe when other people tell you they want a sheepie
When people ask what kind of dog we have because they would like to have one, ..........Mr. Joah laughs because I get SO hesitant in telling them. I dodge around it and instead of telling them say, "wow, these are very high maintenance... labs are so much easier to have (with a big friendly smile)" ..........or just say it's a "Sheepie" (followed by the high maintenance speech). I can't help it. We live in TX for one, and I know many people would not keep/allow their dogs to be inside only. Knowing how many people get dogs without researching and continue to call the dog stupid when they're put in VERY LITTLE effort in changing the behavior ...kills me. Then there's people who think their dogs should stay outside and die there. Their interaction with their dog is twice a day during feeding times and that rare weekend they are outside for an hour bbq'ing. GROOMING. I've known people who let their dogs matt to a "Abusive" level and then say they can't take their dog to the groomers because they're embarrassed. ..........so the cycle continues of the dog staying in a horrible condition. Knowing if they move, their needs will come before ANY effort is given to find a place that allows their dog. I swear the list can go on and on, ....but I'm starving and need some dinner. I had to vent since this happens ...pretty much every other time someone says they like our dog. It's followed by "do you breed them" "where can I get one" "how much was she?" Uh, I don't know. I guess I should want all my neighbors to have one ....but I truly think most of them couldn't handle one. |
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| I agree...and, in my opinion, if they don't know what type of dog it is and have to ask you, then they shouldn't get one...(Not that people can't learn knew things and 'discover' sheepdogs and all that, but to me, most sheepdogs are fairly 'sheepdog' looking and if 'outsiders' can't recognize what breed they are then I don't think they should say they want one! (The main exception I take to this is if a sheepie has recently had a haircut, when sometimes I don't even recognize my own pup! |
| My opinion is be excited about your dog. Tell people how great they are when they ask. Tell them all the goofy things that they do.
But at the same time make sure you tell them about how big they will get, how much time it takes to groom them, how they are around kids, how they are around other dogs, how dirty your house is when they bring in all the leaves and snow from outside, etc. I have had both Wheaten's and Bouvier's at one point and time and I loved them both. But I made sure I told people when they asked that they were tough, stubborn little (or big)buggers who could potentially be a very difficult dog for someone if they had never owned a dog before. Most people ask what type of dogs we have because the only place they have seen them are in the movies or on TV. In most parts they are rare and facinating to watch bound down the sidewalk. Unlike a pug, or a lab or a Golden, who you can't spit these days without hitting one. Be loud and proud about your dog. |
| The "how much was he/she?" question does bug me though. My answer is always "he was a gift".
Ask them how much their engagement/wedding ring/car was. Might shut them up. |
| I agree with ElGato... it doesn't do our breed any service to run them down, however, it is very important to let people know the good and the bad, so that they don't run out and make an impulse buy.
We love this breed, for all the reasons they are so loveable, and some reasons of our own whatever they may be.... so no we don't want to see them end up in the wrong home, but it is wonderful to share that love and see it grow in a new oes owner too. |
| I would always answer those questions as honestly as I could, the good, the bad, the "dogs only as good as its owner trains it to be", the "you have to keep the bottom trimmed or you'll be in there with rubber gloves digging poopy off the bottom", etc......
But, no matter what you tell them their eyes are seeing something different. They are standing there watching a beautiful dog, well behaved on the end of a lead or proudly prancing through the yard boasting its "ME". At least until he/she runs into the fence. lol As long as people want something "cause someone else has one" or wants to proudly display they have something better than yours, there will always be people wanting and getting OES and other things that they really don't want or need. |
The people who ask more questions always get honest answers from me, and I definitely don't butter it up, but the majority do not come up wanting to know how to take care of one... just if they can get one from me or whoever I got mine from.  |
| WellI have a some what different start to this. When My husband and I were first married,(almost 30 yrs ago) we went to a state park. Someone there had a puppy at the park. We fell in love with him (Winston) did not know anything about the breed. We were driving home and my daughter ( from first marrige) saw a sign fee puppies. She wanted one so bad we stopped. The we got Rusty. He was a mix. But as he grew he was almost all Irish Setter. Looked like one and acted like one. In the back of our hearts we still remember that OES we saw. Rusty left us at age 12 1/2.
We moved into a house (rented) any they said we could have a dog. I kept looking at the adds. The puppies OES were so much money. Then we saw a add for a OES rescue. That was in 1995. We called and found Madeline Ericson. What a great person. We went to her home to meet her. Fell in love with her 6 OES. She came to our home and liked us too. One week later she called with the news of a girl in Ohio. She had been beaten and they were going to put her to sleep. NOOOOOOO we said let us try. She was 4 then. We got her the next week. Not a freindly dog at that point. We were determinded to change her and that we did. It took 2 yrs to make her a sweet wonderfull baby girl. She loved her daddy. Even tough she dislocated his shoulder when she saw a rabbit. Took him right off her his feet. He and I were there to the end. 2004 March we laid on the floor of the vet office and cuddled her she went to sleep. She was 12. It took us a year to even think of a new one but we rescued Cinderella this past March. She also is a daddies girl. I have bad with Kassie. I had to learn all the thing to do for her. Nails, brushing, their needs. Now we have Fergie. A puppy. So much to learn about this breed. She is so different than a rescue. Thanks for letting me tell this story. Deana I am not going back to check my spelling LOL so please forgive mistakes. Just thinking of Kassie has me with tears in my eyes. |
| let me add Cinde has become a lovein sweet dog since we got her too. She is not a active dog. Never learned to play or have fun. We are working on that. Her eyes will melt you. They look so sad. She does not not know toys are for. Can not get her to play at all. At least she cared for and I hope happy. |
| A sheepie is a rare sighting for most people. I answer the same questions over and over. Talking to Mary today, doesn't mean Joe will know the answers tomorrow. I am more than happy to carry on about them. It gives me a chance to educate people about the good and the work that is involved. Our first one crossed the bridge almost 20 years ago. I have wanted another all this time, but was not in a position to take on the responsability until now. A lot of people have said they want one, but it doesn't mean they are going to run out and get one. Sometimes they just wish out loud.
P.S. Quote: They are standing there watching a beautiful dog, well behaved on the end of a lead or proudly prancing through the yard boasting its "ME". At least until he/she runs into the fence. lol
Mouthypf, I just about sprayed my coffee all over the screen as I was reading that. Sooooo true |
A. Yager wrote: .......P.S.
Quote: They are standing there watching a beautiful dog, well behaved on the end of a lead or proudly prancing through the yard boasting its "ME". At least until he/she runs into the fence. lol Mouthypf, I just about sprayed my coffee all over the screen as I was reading that. Sooooo true Sure glad you were able to contain yourself.  My Samson had been used to running the backyard with me at his side until we were able to get the fence up. Although he'd been out to wee wee while the guys were putting it up, when we let him out to enjoy his new freedom he ran as fast as he could, and ran right into that fence and left his body "print" in it. Still there today after all these years. Felt bad about it, but he'd been out and seen what they were doing, just that Sheepie excitement got the best of him. Oh, and he was fine. Gotta love em! I seen two at the station the other day, made me want another one oh, so bad!!  |
| Yes i had people ask about bobby where can they get one Ect. I used to tell them how long it take to get him looking the way he did and how much love and attention he needed . And they would say oh they didnt realise how much they needed and walk away . What do people think that they just feed themselves look after themselves and groom themselves. People dont realise how much work and love goes into raising a well adjusted oes or any other breed of dog . they all need love and attention . |
| All of your posts are interesting to me because I have had quite different experiences with Callie. When we take her out places, people definitely are attracted to her. They all stop and stare and want to pet her and everything. But the questions we get aren't about where to get one. People always say things like, "Wow, she's beautiful, but I bet she requires a lot of work." Or they ask how long it takes to bathe / groom / etc. I answer them honestly and tell them that is a lot of work but that she is the sweetest little girl. I have never had to convince anyone that they don't need one.
On a related note, do people ever comment to you all about how "huge" your dog is? That is generally the first thing people say when they see Callie - and she is not even that big - only 72 lbs! I don't understand that because she's not any bigger than all the labs and retrievers that are everywhere. Maybe it's just the fluffy hair. Or maybe it's just that tiny toy dogs are very popular now... I don't know, I was just wondering if you all get that response too. P.S. - I agree that it is rude when people ask how much you paid for your dog. And weird! I would never ask someone that! I usually just say "a lot" and change the subject. |
| Our experiences have been the same as yours, Callie's Mom. The first thing people say about Annie is "she's so big" and then "how big will Fozzie get?" I've had people ask where they came from but never where they can get one.
I also thought it was rude when a woman in our neighborhood asked how much I paid for Fozzie. However, I had to consider the source as she is just plain rude anyway. She let's her small dog pee on our bushes right in front of me and doesn't even try to get him to go somewhere else. I can understand if it were right next to the sidewalk, but she let's him walk across our front lawn to the bushes next to our front door RUDE! FYI - I almost hit her and her husband twice now when I pull out of the driveway in the morning. They go for a morning walk. Really I didn't mean it!  |
| When people ask me if he was expensive, I just say "Very". That usually stops them from asking questions. If it doesn't, when I tell them that we had him flown in from North Dakota, that does! lol |
JakobandBrandonsmom wrote: When people ask me if he was expensive, I just say "Very". That usually stops them from asking questions. If it doesn't, when I tell them that we had him flown in from North Dakota, that does! lol
I was talking to some people last week and they knew I have 3 OES, kept asking me (stupid) questions, finally said "so, how much did your dogs cost?" I couldn't help myself, I said $10,000 each  |
| When people ask me about my dogs. I tell them that I rescued both of them and explain how so many of these dogs end up in rescue or shelters.
I also tell how if someone is looking to own one, that grooming requires a lot of time and has to be done. I explain to them the condition of Rags do to the people not knowing how to properly brush her. Then I usually get asked about keeping them short. I tell them that I do it myself. If they were to go to the groomer I would have to shell out a lot of money. Usually that's the end of it |
When we fostered the girls we had a LOT of similar questions. EVERYone thought they were tooooo cute and well-behaved and good around kids, but they didn't take the time to stop and consider how much work went into them, OR how different two well-trained seniors are to a rambunctious puppy! The majority of the people we ran into wanted to "get one" while the minority seemed concerned about the breed's specific requirements. Whatever group the people fell into, though, we were proud to tell them that OES are magnificent animals in the correct environment! Hopefully we were able to do a bit of educating.  |
| For me, I was just setting out to adopt a dog from the Humane society. For six months I researched all different kinds of breeds, what diseases and physical ailments they were prone to, activity level, and temperment. When I finally got into our house, it was time to go and look at dogs.
My husband wanted a small dog, something that would 'always fit our lifestyle'. I was okay with this at first, but after going to the Humane society I found that they really only have big dogs. My previous dog had been 35 lbs, pretty medium sized, and I never had a problem with him. When I finally found a small dog I tried to take him home but my husband told me no because it wasn't 'my' dog. He said I didn't get all excited over him, I didn't anything that I normally did when I found that perfect animal that would totally fit our lives. (Compared to when we adopted our cats, so he knew.) Finally I was looking at a different sort of shelter in Phoenix and a picture of Duke came up and that was it, I was in love. Since he was clipped I had to read the breed to know what he was, but then I did all the research I could from the computer and started reading this website. I must have sat up for two days straight reading through the Grooming, Behavior, and Medical/Nutrition threads as far back as I could. When we could finally get out there, we were approved for his adoption and really, he's made life all the better. I was happy to get the big dog I'd always wanted (and almost felt obligated to have since I have such a big yard, all fenced in and everything) and I felt as though I'd made an educated decision. Of course I haven't had to groom him yet, not in a full coat, but I'm preparing myself for it, putting money away for a grooming table and everything. The best part (and my husband agrees) is that it's not a dog that everyone else has. Everyone around us has Labs or Chows or Chiuhauhaus. I'm proud to have a Sheepdog and I love his personality.  |
| Just wanted to say I still cringe when people ask. Yuki has become the unofficial mascot of my husband's workplace. I am sure I won't even see her until the end of the day ...with the company picnic coming up. The soldiers are ALL over her and say they have changed their mind on the kind of dog they want and now want a yuki. Ughhhhhhhhhhhhhh... I laugh and smile but always follow it with a... you have no idea how hard it is to maintain one of these nerds ...and besides, who will watch your dog while you're in iraq? thankfully...that makes them say "oh yeah.. guess so" |
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