Bouvier??? You think my OES is a Bouvier???
So because I live in Northern Ontario, I called every vet in the yellow pages and asked if they ever treated any OES's. One (got that) ONE said they had in the past, so I made an appointment. Got there, and they checked her ears out, and gave her anti-yeast treatment for her ears, and they were really great!!! They went over her tip to tail (or lack there of) and sent me ( Hubby had to take her) info regarding allergies, and were really informative. So my hubby asks how many of "these guys" do you see around here? The VET says "I was goind to ask you, what breed is this?" Hubby says "Old English Sheepdog" VET says " I thought it was a Bouvier" 
Oiy!! For real?!? K, I know Bouvier's are shaggy and bear a small resemblance, but she was looking at her EARS... Oh yeah, and they are black. So, I dunno what to do, stay at this very informative vet and try to make her learn, or move on??? |
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| Wow. I don't even know what to say about that. That's not like asking if your OES pup is a Beardie, which is a more common and even understandable error. But an OES and a Bouv??????? |
| We got our first OES as a pup when my oldest was a young teen. People down the street about 10 or more blocks had 2 Tibetan Terriers. When my oldest son would walk Merlin, at 3 months (pup, not son), people were forever irritating my son by smugly declaring his pup to be a Tibetan--proud of their recognition of this exotic breed.
When we were waiting for Merlin's ID tag, freshly engraved with all the pertinent info to arrive, he slipped out a gap in our back wall and ended up at a busy street. A passerby scooped him up, certain that he was one of the Tibetans who was a famous escape artist. Mind you, this took only a minute--I couldn't find my pup anywhere and was distraught, heartbroken, scared out of my mind. And then, a friend who knew both us and the owners of the Tibetan stopped by to tell me what had happened. She had tried calling, but of course, our phone was out of order (the only time, ever). The owners of the Tibetans were actually out of town: they knew us and our pup and would have instantly returned him to us. But what really happened was that the would be rescuers of Merlin popped him into the fenced back yard of who they believed to be his rightful owner. It was a tense hour or so, as we tore up the town until my friend came by to let us know what had happened. She had spent a good part of that hour trying to reach us by phone. |
| My vets weren't familiar at all with OES when we first starting seeing them back in the 1980's. They were fresh out of vet school and very eager to learn and did so quite well.
I can't think of any problems that are specific to OES. Other breeds have the same problems (ear infections, low thyroid, Cushing's, deafness...). Vets have been trained to deal with these things regardless of the breed. Since you've found a a vet you like, stick with her. Good vets are more concerned with "what's under the hood" than cosmetics. (That's why vets are rarely qualified to judge the conformation of a dog). Can you imagine the problems they have with all these "doodle, etc., breeds in determining their heritage? If you have a situation that you feel your vet can't handle, don't hesitate to look for a specialist. A caring vet that is willing to learn about your breed is worth taking the time to teach about OES.  |
| Oops! As long as the vet took great care of my dog, I wouldn't really be too concerned about her not knowing the breed. I agree with Nita that many, many breeds have the same health issues as an OES, so as long as you feel your vet was thorough and helpful, I would stick with her. It's easy enough for anyone, vet or not, to do a search about a particular breed's potential problems in case something does come up in the future.
FYI, Oscar is the only OES at my vet's practice, and I live in a suburb of Chicago where you think we'd see tons of sheepies. I think I've met most of the ones that live near us at SheepieFest! 
Laurie and Oscar |
| I have always thought that Bouviers bore a striking resemblance to sheepodgs.
We had a dark chocolate brown Bouvier in our neighborhood, and this example was square and broad, had a big head, a strong stop and a huge big black nose, all just like our first big guy. |
| I can't tell you how many people ask if my Komondor (in full cords) and my OES (in full coat) are the same breed. Makes me wonder how they tell their kids apart. |
My favorite comment still is when this guy asked me if Frank (OES) and Haggis (13 lb. Norfolk Terrier) were the same SPECIES. 
Was it rude that I laughed as soon as he said that? I then said "yes, canine" and he responded saying, "I meant the same breed?" Of course, I laughed even harder. |
| LOL
It is only rude if you then asked him "Are you?" I know it makes no sense, that's the point.  |
| Among the questions I have been asked:
Do your dogs have eyes? How can they see? How do you tell them apart? (answer: one has brown eyes, one has blue eyes, one has one brown, one blue eye. Best time to offer this is when the first question was asked previously). Is that one the mother? (as Merlin lifted his leg to pee on a post)? Wanna breed your dog to mine? (not another OES) |
| We were in Petsmart with Nanny and I heard a mother tell her kid, "Ooh, look at the Saint Bernard!" |
| My issue...is that Bouviers have those stand up ears, and are dark in color... Maisey's OES ears are floppy and she is mostly white and light grey...
The vet was checking her ears..... (I'm just sayin')  |
Maisey's Mama wrote: My issue...is that Bouviers have those stand up ears, and are dark in color... Maisey's OES ears are floppy and she is mostly white and light grey...
The vet was checking her ears..... (I'm just sayin') And this is why you should never take it too seriously when some breeder puts something online about their vet saying their dog is an outstanding example of the breed. They may not even be talking about the same breed 
kristine |
| Most people in our area have " never seen a real live sheepdog ". I can't believe how many times I've heard this. When we walk Chauncey or he's in the yard people will stop their vehicle and ask what he is. Bobby has started reponding " he's a dog ". I'm usually more tolerant since as far as I know, Chaunce is the only OES in our area. In fact we have an older lady a few blocks away that stopped when he was a puppy and asked to pet him ( we had never met before ). A few weeks later she knocked on the door to see how he was and to pet him. She still stops by on occasion.
I do expect vet's and groomer's to at least be able to identify the breed though |
| When Guinness was in a shorter puppy cut several people ask if he was an airdale Then I met an older woman at a parade that actually had read up on the breed and knew more than I did about them!!! One time a guy was really flip about what kind of dog he was. I said a rare coated hungarian pit bull....he stopped asking questions |
| Odd I have had the opposite experience - EVERYBODY knows they are sheepdogs (sometimes they say shaggy dogs) and every adult over the age of 35 either grew up with one, had an aunt who had one or a neighbor (and they always wanted one of their own).
When I go to the eye drs I have to bring the dogs (they stay in the car) and the erson who fits the glasses always has to come out to the car and play with the dogs. Everybody wants one - no one wants to help brush them |
| Rare Coated Hungarian Pitt Bull.....ha!!!
I LOVE it..... |
| I always, ALWAYS here, "Oh look, it's Mr. Mugs!" I've heard this more times than I can count. The funniest thing is that I didn't know who/what Mr. Mugs was beofre we got Tucker :S |
Mel & Tucker wrote: I always, ALWAYS here, "Oh look, it's Mr. Mugs!" I've heard this more times than I can count. The funniest thing is that I didn't know who/what Mr. Mugs was beofre we got Tucker :S
I am afraid I still don't |
| Mr. Mugs was a series of books, I think, for early literacy. I think people who are currently in their late 30s and older are familiar with them - people always say, "Oh! I learned to read with Mr.Mugs!" |
Mel & Tucker wrote: Mr. Mugs was a series of books, I think, for early literacy. I think people who are currently in their late 30s and older are familiar with them - people always say, "Oh! I learned to read with Mr.Mugs!"
Also - they are Canadian books!!
Like our Dick, Jane and Spot books here in the US. |
| My issue...is that Bouviers have those stand up ears, and are dark in color... Maisey's OES ears are floppy and she is mostly white and light grey... The vet was checking her ears..... (I'm just sayin') Bouviers do not have stand up ears. They are floppy and only "stand up" if their owner has them cropped. All Bouviers are not black. There are brindle, fawn, and blonde. (I'm just sayin) |
| Not really related to the thread, but does anyone else think that the producers & writers of The Simpsons should work a Bouvier des Flandres into an episode? |
| Why? I don't watch the Simpsons very often, is there some joke here? When we first got Maudie OES people assumed she was a bear cub, no tail. The Newf was thought to be a bear......kinda long tail for a bear. The Pyrs were called polar bears.......ditto the tails. The dominant breed here is pit bulls.......go into the shelter and 80% of the dogs are pits or pit x's. So I'm not surprised at people's ignorance about dogs.......but an OES and Norwich .....unless they thought the terrier was a puppy OES. All hairy dogs look alike. |
| I thought they are all people, with a mutation causing the 2 extra legs (and the better looking of us). We also are rural, and have few OES in the area, but many, many years ago, I worked in a mall pet shop, and sold an oes. The lady I sold that puppy to, has (as everybody does) continued with OES. I quite by accident went to her vet, not knowing it was her vet. He was just a good vet, good reputation, and I knew he would learn what he would need to know for the breed. |
| I also happened to think of an odd story, I live next to an ice cream stand, and I was outside with my OES, and a lady came over asking (in heavy european accent) "Oh, can I pet your bobtail" (I had to think, but realized she was talking about Isabelle, my OES). She had come to the U.S. to visit a college friend, and commented that she missed her 'bobtail', she saw dogs, but no 'bobtails' (like hers). Saying, it is hard to find a vet that know OES (at least around here), so take what you can, as long as they are good (the first vet I tried, gave me prednizone . . . I was there for an ear infection - not cool to supress the immune system then) |
| Lily was the first OES that my vet had as a patient. It doesn't make me doubt his abilities. He is wonderful. People are generally really quick to identify Ritz as a wolf hybrid but have no idea what lil is. Bouviers is better than a labradoodle. Which is what most people think lil is. Shes also been mistaken for a beardie which is understandable and a fake stuffed dog...til she moved. Yea...a stuffed dog. |
SheepieBoss wrote: Why? I don't watch the Simpsons very often, is there some joke here? Marge Simpson's maiden name is Bouvier and the Simpson's neighbors are the Flanders. There's gotta be a dog joke in there somewhere. |
| Ahhhhh! Maybe one of the show writers has a Bouv. Now for the vet: As an owner of an unusual breed, it is up to you........us.....to do the research and keep a record to show to the vet. In particular the OES=Collie gene relationship with regard to meds. Also do the research on the genetic and inheritable conditions our fuzzy children can have. For our Pyrs we taught the vet about their very poor reactions to certain anesthetics and yes, she did her own research and confirmed it. Vets can't be expected to know every breed and every possible condition......especially if they also are vets for other animals. Our first few vets were large and small animal vets. |
| Bouvier ears come in two ways - cropped (stand up) and uncropped, which lie flat on the head in a manner not extremely dissimilar to the shape and placement of an OES's ear. I've seen many of both types here in California especially in recent years. It used to be you only saw cropped style of Bouv. Bottom line, if the vet's care was good, I'd stay. Linda Zimmerman |
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