a newbie hoping for a rescue!
Anyway, thought I would join (I've been lurking for quite some time). I know many of you have rescues and I was wondering if you'd like to give me any help/tips on questions I should be asking if we do get approved for the adoption. Here's hoping I'll be on here much more discussing our very own sheepie girl!  |
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| No matter what you ask there will be surprises. Our rescue (Rudy) was perfect for about two months, then he settled in and his baggage arrived! We are still thrilled with him, but he's definitely had some challenges. I look at it as he needs us to help him and that's why he ended up with us. He's also one of the kindest, most loving sheepies ever...and he'll let you do absolutely anything you want to him. If you're giving him attention it's all good. I'm fairly certain he'd let you saw his leg off if you did it with a smile and while telling him he's a good boy. I'd say ask for as much information as you can get about the dog's history, knowing it's possible that they may know very little. We were told that Rudy was about a year and a half when he was in the rescue. Our vet took one look at him and said no way...a year at most. Not that that changes anything, but often they just don't have accurate information, so you have to be ready to roll with it. Ask about anything they've observed at the shelter as well. How does she get along with others? Dogs? Cats? People? Again, we asked all of this and were told he was great all around. Two months later out came red zone dog aggression. Am I happy about it? No. But we're working on it and he's coming along. Again, I think he found us because he NEEDS us, and we're honored to be able to help him. Get any/all medical documentation as well. Has she been tested for Heartworm? That's a biggie. Is she being crate trained? How is she handling it? Have they noticed any food guarding issues? (None of this is a deal breaker, but the more you know the better you can help her through anything that may come up.) So good luck with your adoption. Our fingers and paws are crossed for you guys. I've had sheepies for over twenty years, and they are/were all wonderful. Rudy's our first rescue (and our problem child) but there's something really special about him. It's like when he looks into your eyes he understands where he's been and what you've done for him and he truly appreciates it. (Not like our other guy who has been spoiled rotten since he was ten weeks old and completely takes us for granted.) Rescues never forget what you've done for them. No matter what they've come from, they just seem to get it. (I've heard that said by many, and now I've seen it firsthand.) Anyway, sorry I got mushy there. Good luck with your new best friend, and welcome to the board. Keep us posted. |
| Hello!!! and Welcome from St. Louis, MO!!!!! Hope to hear you have gotten your furbaby soon...And don't forget to post pics!!!! |
| Thanks for the welcome Tracie and Val! Believe me, I already have a list of questions ready in case they call. Her "bio" states that she is good with kids, cats and dogs. Also, she is crate trained, but my list includes how well she is doing on that. The food guarding is on my list already, too. I also thought it might be a good idea to ask how she does with being groomed. Thanks again and keep any other thoughts and suggestions coming, I really appreciate it.  |
| From a rescue perspective, I can't stress enough the importance of being completely honest with the rescue(s) about yourself and your family. If you've never had an OES, it's not a problem with many dogs but others can only be placed with those with more breed experience. If you don't have a fenced yard, they would need to know that. If your kids are young, if you have other pets or if you're gone during the day... These don't rule you out as an OES owner but may limit the field of dogs in which you can choose from. Trust the rescue to guide you and if another applicant is a better fit for the dog you have your heart set on, don't get discouraged. A great dog will come along if you're patient and persistent. Offering to foster for a rescue is a great way to decide if a dog is right for you. |
| Hi Nita-thanks for all the advice. I was totally honest on the application, I realize how important it is for a dog to be placed in the best home possible. I have had dogs my whole life, my first was a mixed breed from a local pound when I was 6. We always said she was like a mini sheepdog (she was goofy, energetic and required lots of grooming!) While I was growing up we always had at least 2 dogs (along with cats, chickens, bunnies, birds, hamsters...) but I always wanted an OES. I will be awfully sad if we don't get this little girl, but I don't plan on giving up until I have my a sheepie of my very own . |
| welcome !! I hope you find the right dog soon, but be patient it will be worth it!!! |
| Thanks Cindy! I'm being patient. Luckily I have this great site with so much fabulous information (not to mention adorable sheepie pictures!) to help me pass the time! |
Not sure where you are located but have your ckecked out Max? I am currently fostering him and he is very good boy. Still very much a puppy. He is listed on TX OES Rescue. He mostly Sheepie mixed with something else but acts all sheepie since I have had him. I call him a sheepie with big ears. As you can see from his before pictures on TX OES Recuse he is going to be a very hairy boy! Picture of Max after he was shaved down because he was so matted and covered in ticks/fleas http://www.texasoesrescue.org/Max3page.htm If you want more information on Max, please PM me. Thanks, Michelle |
I think Max has striking markings  |
| Max's ears are so cute. I wonder what he's mixed with? Or are they popped up because they grew around mats? I hope it isn't the latter. |
ButtersStotch wrote: Or are they popped up because they grew around mats? I hope it isn't the latter.  Is that possible?! I've never heard of that... what a horrible thing to have happen. |
* Capt. Obvious Danger wrote: ButtersStotch wrote: Or are they popped up because they grew around mats? I hope it isn't the latter. Is that possible?! I've never heard of that... what a horrible thing to have happen. When they are young, the cartilage can be trained. That's the premise behind taping the ears of cropped ear dogs - like min pins, dobes, great danes. Some are cropped so short that cartilage alone does the trick - like the short cropping done on pit bulls, for example. But for the rest, they need a little help. Here's a picture (taken at a winter weight pull) of my friend Kristen's pup Ramone - he was just a pup then, not quite 6 months old. Now he's a big boy! Ramone was along for the outing, his big brother Bogart was pulling.  |
Sometimes chronic ear infections can cause the ear tissue to thicken and stand up that way.  |
| Hi Michelle, Max is adorable! I live in RI and I'm still waiting to hear about the OES I filled out the adoption application for. |
| If you haven't found your new pet I may have the one for you. I was working at my local pool when Massie showed up. She was matted and covered with burs. I had a vet check her out and she is in great health. She has her rabies shot, heartworm test, and deworming. I also gave her two baths and a sheave, then frontlined her as well. According to him she is about 1 year old maybe less. She is white with grey on her back and sky blue (maybe even lighter) eyes. She has a very good temperment and would make a great pet. I would love to keep her but I already have more than I can handle. If you or anyone else would like me to email a picture please let me know. |
| Hello Guest Where are you located? There is a full list of rescue contacts at this link http://www.oes.org/html/oes_rescue.shtml Thank you for helping out the baby girl!  |
| Hi Guest, Thanks for the offer. I'm still waiting to hear back from a few local rescues. Also, I'd need to know a lot more about yours. |
| For some dogs we get swamped with good applications and sometimes it's difficult to make the ultimate decision on a home. Other rescues may hate me for saying this but in such cases, the squeaky wheel really does tend to get the grease. Showing a higher degree of interest in a dog can put your name at the top of the list. Sending a couple follow-up emails can be very helpful to your cause. If you still seemed to be passed over, ask WHY. If you have really young kids and the dog is rambunctious, the rescue is doing what's best for your family. If your yard isn't fenced and you live along a busy highway, that's not the best place for a pet who may wander off. Some dogs don't do well around other pets, etc. People often take "rejection" very personally and they shouldn't. Rescues do what is best for the dog. They don't like taking a dog back because things don't work out for whatever reason. It's difficult for the family and the dog and the rescue has to start all over trying to find another suitable home. Be patient and waiting until the rescue knows the dog is a good fit for your family but stay in contact with the rescue as long as you're still looking to adopt. |
| You didn't mention in your post what you were looking for......were you only looking for a puppy???? that may be a little harder to fulfill. When I was working with Madeline from NOEOSR my only "want" was a girl. I was happy she found Bella who is 2 years old. Would I have taken a girl a little older... you bet since the only downside is that you may have a few less years with your pupper. Make sure that you keep in contact with the rescue people since many come in that may not get posted on the site. That happened with Bella. She knew what I was looking for and I kept in email contact with her. She called me right up when she had a match for me. I think that they just got in a male and female adult. |
| Gail, On my application I said young or a puppy and preferably a female. I'm not sure if you got my e-mail earlier, but I was basically denied any opportunity for a rescue mainly because I have children. The letter said "very young" children, which I don't particularly think my children are "very young". They are 6 and 9 (not infants, toddlers or even preschool age...) and they have been around dogs since they were born. I understand that an OES is a large, boisterous herding dog. But, I know there are plenty of people just on this forum that have children and sheepies. I don't know..... I'm just feeling rather......disgruntled at the moment. I'll keep trying.... I know it's tricky to find a rescue that can be placed in a home with children and another dog, I've been searching for a while (long before I joined this forum). At this point I'm considering just saving up some extra $$ and getting a puppy in the spring. My boys have never had a puppy and I know they would be over the moon if I decide to do that. I really appreciate all the help and input from everybody here. I have spent more hours than I care to say lurking on this forum over the years! This is such a wonderful place |
| I am so sorry it didn't work out. I know the feeling. We were turned down by a LOT of rescues because we weren't local, even though we were more than willing to pay for transportation (we ended up hiring a service who took care of all the details) or drive out ourselves. Several that were closer either said a flat out NO, or never returned our calls/emails despite repeated attempts. I got two tips from people here about specific dogs. We almost adopted one from Colorado (he got a local home, and I can understand that...we were thrilled for him, but sad for us). Then someone told us about a lady who works with longer distance people, we sent an email and an adoption application and our phone rang within twenty four hours. Had we been able to take time from work then we would have driven to get him. Since we couldn't we flew him to Minneapolis and drove there (nine hours away). We live in Manitoba and there were NO available sheepies in Canada at that time who needed rescuing. We said we were hoping for a youngish boy, but were open to anyone (just not a senior as we'd just lost two senior littermates within eighteen months of each other and that was really painful). We got a crazy, but delightful one year old (ish) boy named Rudy. We could NOT be happier. If you're interested and able to work with someone a little farther away, I'd be happy to share her contact information. Don't give up on the rescue route. It can be time consuming, but it's well worth it. Rudy's our first rescue (my hubby always insisted on puppies...I was too exhausted from Hudson to do it again). We'll be lifetime rescue people from now on. There is something really special about that bond. |
| I did get your email dustbunnies...Did you get in touch with Madeline. Talk with her on the phone. Maybe you want to consider a 1 year old rather than a puppy. It would open up a lot more options for you. The other plus 1. maybe housebroken already (Bella was), 2. no coat transition 3. You will get to see the personality right from the get go and know if you have a bouncy fluffball or a couch potato (Bella is a potato inside and can be speedy and typical sheepy outside) 4. More sheepies available 5. Kids can meet the pupper and see if everyone gets along. I know puppies are cute, I've seen everyone's pics and posts, but at the same time I wanted to go with a youngster or adult. Yes I missed the puppy antics, tough coat transitions, chewed up shoes, toilet paper and Kleenex shredding and all that fun stuff. Instead I got who I met. I very happy loving sheepy. I knew there was no food aggression issues, knew that we had to work on walking on a leash etc since she had been evaluated by the rescue. Of course there are unknowns just like with puppies.....how is she with cats and other animals. Bella does seem to be timid around men, we don't know why, but we are working on that. A lot of people on this site have had their sheepies and little kids at the same time. I would think that your kids are old enough to understand how to act around a dog, how to work with you to teach the dog how to behave around people including kids. If you have your heart set on a puppy I understand, but please consider widening you scope since it may improve you odds in finding the right sheepy for you and your family and there are lot of great "teenage" sheepies out there. |
| Gail-Thanks so much for all of your help. I'm going to get in touch with Madeline later on today. I appreciate all your input regarding getting a "teenager" and I totally agree. Thanks again! |
| Okay, so I just wrote a book to Madeline. I hope I'm not stepping on any toes by doing that, but.... Too late now I guess. Thanks again to everybody! I'll keep you updated in my sheepie quest! |
| Madeline was wonderful. I talked to her last Friday and hope to hear from her soon about a 2 yr old male from PA. |
| I'm thinking MO's ears stand up when she's been first shaved. Then in time they drop. She was a horrid mess when I got her from the pound, maybe the ears were propped up by the mats during the cartilage development. As for the rescue, your Corgi will play a big role in how you get selected for a sheepie. Does your Corgi play with other dogs or very territorial? It is just awful with a rescue comes into a house and the established dog has not been socialized and immediately picks a fight with the rescue. MO has been our problem child. We had to isolate all rescues for 2 weeks until Mo had her say, "I'm the boss, remember that" in that quiet sheepdog bark. They see each other thru a chain link fence. Let the rescue coordinator select a dog for you. You are not the only one in line, so don't set your heart on a dog, there may be others better suited. Patience. |
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