Considering an OES Puppy
We have 2 little boys (5 and 3) and it is IMPERATIVE that we find a dog that will be good with them. Several people have recommended an Old English Sheepdog for our family. I think they are beautiful and the temperment that is advertised seems wonderful.... but I have a couple of questions 1. How awful is the shedding? We can restrict him to the main and most of the lower level if it is too terrible, but would prefer to give the dog free reign. 2. Is this breed REALLY good with kids? My boys are active and will want to play with the pup non stop. 3. We will have 3-4 hours a day during weekdays where there will be nobody at home with the dog. Would this be awful? Thanks! |
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| 1. They don't shed. Their hair breaks off like a humans does, but not in clumps like an average dog.
2. I have 5 year old and 3 year old sons also. Jasper is good with them now (at nearly 2), but it hasn't always been that way. When we first got him, as all puppies do, he nipped and liked to herd them. He bit my youngest son in the face, and Brandon had a small area that needed liquid stitches and he still has a scar. It wasn't life threatening or anything, and it was an accident, but still...you have to be careful of their teeth the first few weeks. I think the breed is what you make of it - they're hard-headed at times, strong-willed, and VERY energetic. They need a lot of attention and time focused on them. Jasper stays right by my side all day long, and if I leave the room, he follows me. So..be prepared for a 3rd shadow, if your boys are anything like mine.  Even now at 2, he is really great around the boys, but he tends to get rambonxious (sp?) and knocks them over sometimes. They laugh it off, but I just wanted to throw that in there too.
3) I have no idea...I'm an at home mom, so I'm here nearly all the time. Someone else will probably have the answer though.
Good luck with your decision. They really are a charming breed, full of love and personality! |
| Welcome to the forum!
To try to answer your questions... a healthy OES does not really shed, that's what allows their coats to grow so long. Many keep them clipped in a short coat instead of all the grooming required for that beautiful full coat. As far as kids go... in my opinion, no child should be left alone with any dog, of any age, of any breed, because first and foremost they are dogs, and you just never know. An OES puppy is a clown, and can be rambunctious for the first couple or three years, which means that young children can get hurt unintentionally if the dog bumps into them, knocks them over etc. Kids have to be taught how to behave properly with a dog too. Just because a dog may put up with a small child pulling it's fur or poking it in the eyes or ears doesn't mean it should. One of the main reasons OES are given up is because of families who get one thinking it will be great for the kids and then it doesn't work out. That said, I do find they are excellent with my children, my kids have always had an oes around for their whole lives. I'm pretty strict though, if the kids get running around the house with the dogs, it's the kids who get in trouble, not the dogs. As for the dog being alone sometimes, many dog owners also work and it works out if a lot of consideration and planning go into it. I really would recommend taking a couple of weeks off work if possible to housetrain and acclimate a new puppy, but 3 or 4 hours wouldn't be too much of an issue anyway I don't think. OES are not the breed for everyone... it's definitely something to think about carefully before making a decision, and I'm glad to see you're doing your research first! |
| Their coats don't typically shed, mine doesn't, it is hair and it keeps growing. When you do groom them you will have a pile of hair. They are not like labs, boxers, german shepherds etc....
I have a 5 yr old boy who was 3ish when we got her, and a girl almost 7, she was 4ish when we got our sheepie. They were already broken in with a lab and a boxer...so a sheepie was not different. Like Willowsprite already mentioned, constant supervison, training the children is more important than training the dog, and eventually everything falls into place. Puppies are a LOT of work, no matter the breed and they need to be taught how to be gentle, and not to bite, and they need a safe place away from children to settle down. I'm a strict mom as well, and usually it was the kids fault if something happened...but now they know how to approach, feed and proper play. I also stay home, and the dogs are rarely left for more than 2 hours at a time, if I go shopping or something. |
| I will agree with the other posters that this breed does not shed like
a regular double coated dog. My Sheltie and my Samoyed both went through times during the year when they did shed a lot, in clumps. A healthy OES that is being brushed regularly will stay relatively clean and shed-free. There are several coat changes, the worst being from puppy to adult coat. If you keep the dog clipped you can avoid having to brush so often and not have to worry much about matts. Keep reading here, there is lots of info. Many answers to just about any question. Ask away if you have more. We are always happy to help if we can. Lots of us even have more than one OES. I would suggest a rescue, but with small children that may not be the way to go. You may want to check that out anyhow, you never know! Shellie |
| In regards to leaving a puppy alone. My husband and I both work full time. When Our OES was a puppy the max we left her was about 3 or 4 hours until her bladder grew a bit. If we have to she can be alone for longer now, but one of us goes home for lunch every day to let the dogs out for a little bit of play and a potty break. My only recomendation for leaving a puppy alone, is a crate, they stay much safer and less destructive in a crate. At almost 2 we are starting to transition out of the crate, but it has worked really well for us so far in terms of being left alone.
Good luck with your decision and I hope you find the perfect dog for your family. |
| Along with everything else said here, I would recommend actually going to meet and play with some OES. Look through the memberlist and see if anyone is in your area. Go to a local dog show and meet with some exhibitors and breeders. Check www.oldenglishsheepdogclubofamerica.org and look at their mentor list or e-mail one of the board members for an OESCA member near you who could get you some hands on experience. A lot of the people that I meet at shows are overwhelmed by the OES' size and exhuberant greeting.
You will have a very large puppy on your hand for 2 or 3 years. Make sure you have time to take it to a positive reinforcement obedience training center. Most people find that one puppy class or one intro obedience class does great for a while but they get lax in reinforcing that training and the dog gets the upper hand. It's actually pretty easy to continue going to classes or taking one 5 week class a year just to brush up on skills and reinforce the training. They are very, very social animals and if they don't get the attention they need they can become destructive. They figure any attention is good for them. It can be a 15 year commitment so make sure you are certain this is the breed for you, you get your pup from a VERY reputable source (aka, breeder) and that the whole family, no matter how young, is dedicated to being part of the pups care and upbringing. They aren't the breed for everyone but if you decide that they are for you, you'll never go back! |
| I think the others adequately discussed the compatability with kids and being left alone, though I strongly recommend that from the start you get a crate to keep your dog in at nights and when you're gone; also helps with the housebreaking. Unless you don't mind buying several as he grows, get the big one and put a divider in it which you can move as he grows.
Sheepdogs are high maintenance dogs. As a pup they are easy to brush; and although they may need little or no brushing the first months, its the best time to get them used to grooming. By the time they are 8-9 months their coat will be long enought that either daily grooming or several sessions a week will be required to prevent serious matting. I groom my two guys twice a week, using a medium and fine combination comb, and a pin brush. The sessions usually take about 4 hours total for the 2 dogs, that's 8 hours a week. In addition I have them bathed and brushed each month. High maintenance also includes cost: figure about $1,200 per year. My guys go through 75# of Pro Plan a month. They both weigh about 95#. They need daily exercise - no 5 minutes playing fetch with a ball. Mine get 2-3 mile walks a day, plus 45 min obedience training. They are great dogs, and will love you to death. But they want lots of attention and require discipline if you don't want 80+ lbs of dynamite out of control in your house. Be sure to check out the Obedience posts on the forum to see what I mean. Also keep in mind that as in any breed temperament will vary from dog to dog. With small kids I would suggest you lean toward a mildly submissive temperament. A good breeder will help you ascertain this probability in picking out a pup from the litter. George |
| Welcome. I don't think I have much to add to the above. We have a 14-week-old pup right now and the puppy-herding is STRONG. Sometimes it seems like he runs around with his mouth wide open and anything he happens to touch he just closes on. If you're adequately prepared to deal with training a pup like this around your family (while training them, too) than that's great!
If not, don't forget about rescue. There may be an older OES that could fit your family to a T - and OES don't ever really grow up so it would be like having a house-trained puppy enter your home.  |
| I work full time, so Monday through Friday I am gone from 8:30-7ish. We got Barney when he was 6 months old, so his bladder was already a little bigger than a little puppy, but I came home at lunch everyday for probably the next several months to let him out and play with him.
Now I rarely go home (he had anxiety issues, so it seemed like it upset him worse to see us leave more than once) and he is fine. We just spend the rest of the evening hanging out with him. Sheepies tend to get used to whatever schedule they're given. My dad is a real estate agent, so he has varied work hours, but he always (usually) feeds their sheepdog at the same time in the morning and night and then if he's home, she'll hang out with him, if not, she'll sleep in her box... |
| My OES have always been very, very good with children. That said, I think it needs to be stressed that an OES will grow rapidly and will be very energetic and a bit clumbsy. A puppy--and they are puppies until they are a year and a half to 2 years old---WILL knock down a small child at some point. By accident, sure, but it will happen. You need to know this and to either accept that your kids will get some knocks, in the spirit of play, or go for a much smaller dog.
Puppies also chew and bite--a lot. They are like teething babies and exploring toddlers--everything goes in the mouth, including fingers, toes, shoes, socks, Barbie dolls, stuffed toys belonging to the children of the family, and any garbage they can get. You and your children will spend some time as a puppy chew toy. I don't think this is different from any other breed, though. We got our first OES when my children were 4, 6, 9, and 13. The kids grew up with the dog. My daughter (the 4 year old) lost a fair number of Barbie dolls and while she was fine with an energetic, bouncy puppy who sometimes knocked her down, some of her friends were overwhelmed by the size of the dog. Remember that in a year or so, the puppy will be looking at a toddler eye to eye--which can be overwhelming for some kids, while other kids absolutely love it. You will need to train your kids to keep their precious belongings out of reach, regardless of the breed of dog you get. You will also need to train them to respect the puppy--ie, let him sleep when he needs to, have some quiet time when he needs it, don't always pick the puppy up if he wants to run and play, etc. |
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