Help me make the decision Please?
I've been looking through posts here and everyone seems so nice, supportive, and very very thoughtful. I've been a dog lover all my life, but I've never been able to have one. Finally the time has come! And I always loved the Old English Sheepdog. I always do lots of research before making big decisions like these, but I would like to post some of the questions that I don't have mush hand-on advice, information, and answers. Thank you so much, and if there is any additional information you think I should know feel free! Questions: -How much do you personally exercise them? I love jogging (I'm not very good at it though, maybe 2-3 miles. Max 4-5 miles. With breaks in between) Do you think a (of course, matured) Old English Sheepdog can handle this if I build him up to it? -I've read that there's a stubborn streak with this breed... What's your experience with this 'stubbornness'? I'm VERY willing to consistently train her and give positive reinforcement in every way I can, but I don't know just how stubbon they can be, and she'll be my very first dog! -I've seen pictures of some very lovely, fluffy, beautiful OES, but then I've seen pictures of a lot of scruffy, unkempt ones, too. I will groom her everyday, but I also have to go to school, and work... Do you think this will be too much? Is an old English Sheepdog for someone who has a surplus of time. I've read that maintaining their coats will approximately take 3-4 hours a week, and that's fine for me, but then I want to spend lots of time training, and playing, and then there's the monthly bathing, which I feel might add up. I am at school for 6 hours, and work only 3 1/2 hours. Thank you SO SO MUCH. I'm depending on you all because you all have hands-on experience in owning an OES. Thank you!!!  Please don't reply with any nasty comments, I'm trying to see if an Old English Sheepdog will be right for me, I'm researching, and learning more every day! Thanks again! |
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Well of course you want an old english sheepdog.....what's not to love???  I have previously owned a yellow lab, yorkshire terrier, and currently own a bichon mix in addition to my 18 month old oes Millie. For me there is no other breed of dog I will own. This is an oes house for the rest of my days.  I am new to the breed as Millie is my first oes, but I will answer your questions with what I know -I personally take Millie for a 2 mile walk every day. I don't see a problem with this distance or even a little longer for an adult oes if built up to it. Of course younger puppies need shorter walks. -They do tend to be stubborn and as a first time dog owner I would say training would be a must. Puppy classes asap for socialization and then obedience classes with lots of at home reinforcement. The training sessions will actually strengthen your bond with your puppy and is fun for both of you.  Be sure to personally meet both parents of your puppy to check on temperament.-Grooming does eat up a lot of time. I usually groom 3 times a week for about an hour and a half per session. Bathing is done every 6 to 8 weeks. You have to groom regularly as mats will accumulate quickly. If you can not handle the coat, you must be okay with a shaved or puppy cut sheepdog. If you cannot do the grooming yourself, then you need to be prepared to pay a groomer. I would advise you call a groomer and inquire about the fee to groom an oes in full coat and one kept in a puppy cut. Then you will know if you can afford the grooming if you are unable to keep up with it. With proper breeding, training and lots of love an oes can be the dog your dreaming of. They are a lot of work.....but the best things in life usually are Good luck!!!!! And if you decide to bring home a sweet little sheepie baby....then be sure to join the forum and post lots of pics!! |
| There are plenty of owners on here who have VERY active dogs. Dawn, care to chime in? All dog breeds have some stubbornness in them. Working with them early on can reduce this as they'll grow into your lifestyle. As for the hair, two words - PUPPY CUT. Easy on you and easy on them. They'll still be a people magnet in public too. Vance |
| I'm getting ready to head out to agility class....yes, I'm one of the ones with active OES! I will reply more later........  |
| Puppy cut until you get out of school. 3-4 hours a week.....if you do it correctly. Too often one works just the top while the underneath remains untouched. There is an excellent how-to on grooming on this site, thanks to Carl. One mantra: Every hair-every week.......meaning you've got to so it all, so skimping. Puppy cuts allow you to have a fuzzy....which is better for at least the first year or until someone sits you down and shows you what all in entailed. As for stubborness...........They like to play and as such will get a bit willful if you aren't paying attention or exercising them.....actually both. Jogging ....please buy a quality pup that has the hips to support such activity. Hip problems are rampant in all larger breeds and (according to Jack's emergency vet) quite common in mid size dogs now too. You want a dog from certified lines....not just a promise or handshake. All that jogging on bad hips would be painful quickly for your dog. I'd err towards a smaller line for jogging. Big heavy boned dogs are not designed for such pounding. If the papa is over 75 and the mama over 68-70, I'd step away. Lighter is better. (and this from someone who love large dogs!!) |
| Looks as though you are doing your homework, which is great. I love this forum because you get to see the good, the bad, and the ugly, without folks glossing over some of the issues with this breed. I am also a "convert" to OES, as hubby had one as a child, but it is our "forever" breed as well. As for your questions: 1. An adult OES should have no problem running 2 - 3 miles with you. Looks like you already understand that any dog must be conditioned and built up to that distance, just like any human. However, there is always the possibility that you might end up with a couch potato, who yawns and lays back down on the sofa when you bring the leash for a run.  2. OES can certainly be stubborn, but it's all about the training. If you commit to obedience training, you will build a bond with your sheepdog, and give the dog boundaries between acceptable and unacceptable behavior. And a tired dog is a good dog. The more physical and mental energy you burn off, the better your dog's behavior will be. Oscar was a HANDFUL as a puppy - we didn't call him Gator Boy and Pirhana Pup for nothing - but he is VERY food motivated. (I think I could train him to do brain surgery for a piece of kibble.  ) Basically, I wore his @$$ out with training. And he is a very good boy! Most folks would never know he is deaf, as he "listens" so well. (He watches me constantly for his hand signals.)3. From what I hear from folks who do rescue, grooming is one of the reasons OES end up being rehomed. People get them and have no idea what it will require to keep their coat and skin in good health. I know alot of folks keep their dogs in full coat, and in beautiful shape, but I am not one of them. I am a HUGE fan of the puppy cut. I kept Oscar in full coat until he got the first of many skin infections, when he was 8 months old, and he's been clipped ever since. (Oscar has an autoimmune disorder that requires that he be bathed at least every 7 - 10 days. THIS IS NOT THE NORM. But because of this, even if I had any inclination to let his fur grow out, it just takes way to long to shampoo, rinse and dry.) I shave Oscar about every 8 weeks.One last thing I would add. While OES run the spectrum in size, with females tending to be smaller in general, they still qualify as a large dog. (Oscar is 110 lbs., and he is on the XL end of the scale. ) A large dog means more food, and larger vet bills. It costs more for flea/tick meds, general anesthesia, heartworm meds, and antibiotics if necessary.Good luck in your search. Maybe there is a sweet OES in rescue right now looking for someone to run with..... Laurie and Oscar |
| Ryleigh is my 2nd OES, my first was when I was in high school. I also have 2 labs but sheepies have my heart. They do love to play, cuddle, and be with you most of the time. They are sometimes called the velcro breed because they stick to you. Another reason why I love them. My labs only want me if I have food... I live in Texas and keep Ryleigh in a puppy cut year round. Its easier to take care of and cooler for her. You do still have to do daily brushing but its not as hard as a full coat.  this is her last summer. sometimes we let it a little longer in the winter but summer she gets pretty hot. Best of luck on your search. |
Ryleigh wrote: Kristin, Ryleigh looks great in this pic. And to the OP: If you want a stubborn dog, get a terrier. An OES is a walk in the park compared to a terrier. Believe me, I know. |
jambamochi wrote: Hello, Everyone! I've been looking through posts here and everyone seems so nice, supportive, and very very thoughtful. I've been a dog lover all my life, but I've never been able to have one. Finally the time has come! And I always loved the Old English Sheepdog. I always do lots of research before making big decisions like these, but I would like to post some of the questions that I don't have mush hand-on advice, information, and answers. Thank you so much, and if there is any additional information you think I should know feel free! Questions: -How much do you personally exercise them? I love jogging (I'm not very good at it though, maybe 2-3 miles. Max 4-5 miles. With breaks in between) Do you think a (of course, matured) Old English Sheepdog can handle this if I build him up to it? -I've read that there's a stubborn streak with this breed... What's your experience with this 'stubbornness'? I'm VERY willing to consistently train her and give positive reinforcement in every way I can, but I don't know just how stubbon they can be, and she'll be my very first dog! -I've seen pictures of some very lovely, fluffy, beautiful OES, but then I've seen pictures of a lot of scruffy, unkempt ones, too. I will groom her everyday, but I also have to go to school, and work... Do you think this will be too much? Is an old English Sheepdog for someone who has a surplus of time. I've read that maintaining their coats will approximately take 3-4 hours a week, and that's fine for me, but then I want to spend lots of time training, and playing, and then there's the monthly bathing, which I feel might add up. I am at school for 6 hours, and work only 3 1/2 hours. Thank you SO SO MUCH. I'm depending on you all because you all have hands-on experience in owning an OES. Thank you!!! Please don't reply with any nasty comments, I'm trying to see if an Old English Sheepdog will be right for me, I'm researching, and learning more every day! Thanks again! Ok let me break this down: jogging, both my boys weight around 60lbs and during the summer I was walk/jogging an hour(at least) 4-7 times a week...They both wanted MORE. No couch potatos here. Stubborn...just another way to spell sheepdog. If you keep them active and their brains engaged, life with them "can" be a joy. We do agility here and they LOVE it. Grooming...I fail at it. Both of mine are the scruffy, unkempt kind you see  Ok maybe not unkempt but scruffy, yep they got that going on. As for bathing, each dog is different. I have one that can get a bath once every six months and be fine but the other one after about 8weeks looks kinda greasy. Check out the grooming section, that should give you an idea.An Old English sheepdog is not for everyone. They are not wash and wear. They are velcro dogs, meaning they want to be with their people. You can't just "have" a dog. They are there and can be in your face about it. One thing I feel I have to add since this is your first dog...Most people "get rid of their dog"(hate that phrase) between 6-12 months. These are the witching months(witching hour), where all patience are tested, meaning your dog has lost its brain. Naughty is the norm. We've all lived through it and come out the other end with a GREAT dog. When you adopt a dog, you adopt if for life, not for just when it suits you. Training, playing, cuddles, we have it all here...X2 |
| Mady is our first dog. We had no prior puppy experience or experience training or grooming a dog. My position had always been "if we ever get a dog, I want it to be a sheepdog". Of course, I wanted to keep her in full coat, it was definitely a big part of the attraction. I figured "sure, we just have to brush her, I can run a brush through her every day, no big deal". Sadly, keeping a sheepdog in full coat is NOT just running a brush casually through their coat. Over 2 years later, she is still in full coat and has never been shaved down, but it has been a long hard slog learning how to groom her properly, and I did a lot of things wrong the first year. I groom her maybe 2+ hours per week, in single sessions. So yeah, the grooming is hard work, and it would really really be helpful if you had an experienced mentor to teach you how to groom properly, I did get great help from her breeder and Carl from these forums who lives close by, but most of that help and teaching came after her first year, so I had a lot of remedial education to do. A professional groomer may be no help honestly, the majority of professional groomers have no experience with a sheepdog and no desire or incentive to properly groom one. Let's be honest, most people take their dogs to a groomer to be shaved or clipped down, not to have their full coats line-groomed. During that first year we did sample numerous groomers, usually within the first 10 seconds of entering a groomers the word "shave" would have been said. IF you do find that rare groomer that does know how and has experience to properly groom a sheepdog, my suggestion would be pay them big bucks to give you 1 on 1 teaching. As for bathing, Mady only receives maybe 4 FULL baths a year. Giving a full bath to a full-coated sheepdog is an ordeal to be honest, Mady doesn't complain or struggle at all (she's perfect! ) but it basically involves 2 full groomings, the bath, and the drying (which takes 3x as long as the bath)! I do pop her in the tub as needed to wash her muzzle, bum, and feet. I'm a mean dad and I've trained her to walk around big muddy puddles when hiking etc. I'm just too lazy! Grooming aside! Sheepdogs are absolutely wonderful gorgeous loving happy creatures, I can say it's felt like my heart has grown 10x after getting Mady, it is pure bliss to lie down and hold her, or to watch her run at full speed at the dog park, or to herd sheep (yes she does sheep herding!) Unlike Pam above, I would say the most difficult and challenging time with a sheepdog was the first 2 months of puppyhood (so 2-4 months old). Mady as a young puppy was very exhausting and drove us to despair sometimes, I would say our complete lack of puppy experience certainly didn't help. By 6 months of age and since she has been a complete dream, so easy going and so easy to care for (aside from the grooming!) Adding a sheepdog to our life has been the best decision we ever made. So much so, we've added TWO more sheepdogs so we have three in total now.  Another puppy, a baby sister to Mady, and their mum, a 6 year old sheepdog (who is super super super easy to care for and insanely sweet and loving). One crucial thing: if you're getting a puppy, finding a TOP breeder with impeccable reputation is an absolute must. To be honest, and I certainly do not mean any offense to any forum members, but a lot of the more challenging behaviours and difficult sheepies we hear often about here, tend to be dogs from backyard breeders, puppy mills, and rescues (from byb/puppy mills). A lot of these dogs owned by forum members have become really well-behaved, beautiful dogs, but often that took a LOT more effort and hard work to achieve than it would have with a well bred dog. I am very impressed with them, but especially for a first dog, you'd want to set yourself up for greatest chance of success, and that comes from a great breeder who stands by their dog and offers you the mentoring and support you need for the lifetime of your dog. Mady, on a hike after a grooming:  Virginia and Mady, note that Virginia was shaved down this summer and lacks the thick undercoat that Mady has, she is subsequently very quick and easy to groom, while still being a beauty!   Gracie, our new puppy:  Good luck! Stick around the forums and if you do get a sheepdog, make sure to post a lot of pictures and introduce him/her!  |
| yes~~~ oes's are just like Lays Potato chips...MOST of us can't have just one!!!!! Yes~~Depending on the age, grooming takes alot of time. Puppy Coats are easy..but..as the adult coat grows in, (transition)..it is very hard to keep up with the mats. My Heart is almost 5 years old and she has an amazing coat,and like David's pups, she has never been shaved down~I groom her twice a week about an hour each...(It helped me that my breeder got Heart used to grooming before she came to me at 9 weeks old. after a good grooming session, she KNOWS she looks amazing and she shows off~~THAT is an OES. I have to bathe her at least once a month because we are a Therapy team and she needs to be CLEAN for every visit. But, my retired OES, Pearl has been shaved down. She is a senior and gets agitated when I tried to groom her..she deserves to be left alone and live out her days without stress...I know there are many people who run with their OES's, but I just wanted to warn you that (I think) they need to be trained to run. Since they are a herding breed, both Pearl and Heart weave as we walk,but since I am not a runner, it was never a problem. You need to decide on whether you want a rescue or a puppy, or a dog. And, most likely, the breeder will pick the pup for you. When I knew I needed, wanted another OES, I told my breeder what I wanted~~I am very involved in pet therapy and needed a pup that was calm, smart with a mild easy temperament. Out of 7 pups, my breeder picked the perfect dog for my~~ YES, she is more of a couch potato than most OES's..She will never be a fast dog in agility but I got what I wanted.  HEART'S OFFICIAL THERAPY GRADUATION PHOTO~~~~~~  I think the most important thing is to find a reputable breeder (from the OESCA Website)..Please don't pick a breeder because of prices. A quality OES is not cheap, but you will have a better chance of a healthier pup with a good breeder. We are here for you~~~ for anything you need~this is what this website is for ~~ Good luck and please keep us posted~~~ |
| Hi jambamochi I see you have gotten plenty of responses! I will of course second the importance of a good breeder. Way too many backyard breeders (byb) out there - breeding their male and female and then selling puppies...usually charging way too much, just because they have "purebred OES". It's a problem with all breeds, but common with OES as they can charge so much because they are not that readily available...a big huge "buyer beware". I also wouldn't rule out rescue dogs - even though they usually are from these very same byb's - they are vetted, assessed in their foster home, and many have been rehabbed through various issues already. In this case, they are adults and you know what you are getting, for the most part. Not the unknown of the puppy who may turn out to have a bad temperament, hip dysplasia, other health or behavioral problems that surface when they grow into adults. And most OES rescue groups are very much wanting the best home to suit each dog, especially as they may have not had the best home previously. And another point - now we are seeing many perfectly good dogs (no issues) showing up in rescue d/t the economy. It's very sad - families and individuals needing to give up their family dog because they lost their job, no insurance and medical costs devastate them, etc. I have a senior dog forever foster in my home right now - his family lost their home, and the rental was threatening eviction because they moved in w/ their dog.  Being grown, it's actually a really nice "feature" of the rescue dogs that they now can be paired with the individual or family who will be the best match for them in life. Ok - on to activity (I digressed  )!!I will preface with the info I am a lifelong dog person, active in most all dog sports, and also a dog trainer. I also was a distance runner in HS and college..... But I'm older now, and slowed down - a bit! Oh - and also a 20 yr ortho/neuro/trauma nurse.I do tons of stuff with all my dogs -my OES and the non-OES. Like humans - if you condition properly, have good health, your dog can lead a very active life. And like humans - some love it, some are slugs! Because they like to herd (and mine do - very much!), they need to be trained to not herd when you don't want them too - like out running, roller blading, biking, etc. But it's really not that hard to do. Because dogs don't wear cushy, shock absorbing shoes like us, it's not a good idea to run them on pavement and other hard surfaces. Over time, this is really hard on the joints and connective tissue. With our carting, dog sledding, backpacking it's always on natural surface trails. The only activity we ever do on pavement is walk. And luckily at home I can avoid even that, as we live on a gravel road. These are dogs that love their people very much, and many really need a job. So if you are active, most are going to want to join right in. We stay busy at our house, and my dogs are very happy to do most any sport we try. 10 mile pack hikes -  swimming and fetching -  lure coursing -  Disaster Stress Relief Therapy Dog  competing in rally and obedience-  dog sledding -  dryland carting -  playing with the grandkids -  being a champion show dog -  ...and at the same time being a champion weight puller -  (personal best pull - 2324#) agility -  out for a walk/run -  and of course, herding sheep -  So YES - a sheepdog can be a wonderful dog for a person who likes to be active!!!  And - if you let us know where you are located, we probably can find someone near you who had OES, so you can really meet and see for yourself what these dogs are all about. And if no one is near, we should be able to get you pointed in the right direction for finding a good person for you to get a dog/puppy from.  |
| Ok now you're just showing off! Chewie is super dog. He has a cape under that shaggy coat! |
Baba wrote: Ok now you're just showing off! Chewie is super dog. He has a cape under that shaggy coat! Chewie's not the only one involved - all the other dogs do at least one of these sports, and several of them do many Options - they are all just options! (and I have way too many dog friends that say, "try this" and I can't seem to say NO  ) |
| Dawn, you should make a collage poster of Chewie! I know our two girls would love to have one of them to hang in their room, I mean crate... Vance |
| Gee dawn and chewey are so lazy! It's time to get out and do something! I got tired just looking at the photos! Go dawn! Go my hero chewey! Yes make sure you get a good breeder. That is the most important? Rescue is a great idea! Best of luck! |
| I think you'd love an Old English Sheepdog! Be prepared to give a large piece of your heart away that will always only belong to your sheepie. As an adult I've had two sheepies female and a sheepie mix male. My first sheepie Katrina was extraordinarily intelligent and only wanted to please. No stubborness at all. Our next sheepie Hannah was stubborn/ naughty for two years. That later served her with that strong spirit to overcome many health problems. And you won't believe how much you could possibly miss a stubborn sheepie. Our current male Sheepie Mix Copper is the sweetest, non stubborn, intelligent dog you could wish for. If you are very active it's imperative to get a well-bred sheepie, because you have a better chance of avoiding hip dysplasia. Both our full blooded sheepies suffered from this and if you can avoid your sheepie suffering from this it's maybe the best thing you'll ever do. Back in the day, we knew better than to go to a pet store so got our sheepies from a backyard breeder thinking that was a good breeder. We thought a show breeder was if you only wanted a show dog. And we wouldn't have known how to find a show breeder back then anyway. Now with the internet we have the benefit of knowing how/where to get a family pet that has the best chance of good health, good temperament to maybe avoid most common problems inherit in the breed. Active sheepies are so endearing. Many of our forum sheepies do agility and lots of other activities. Here's how to start if you decide to go forward and are looking for a puppy: viewtopic.php?f=14&t=7690 On the first page of this forum is also a link to rescues as well. And if you should get that sheepie, well don't say we didn't warn you, they are quite addictive. |
Oh my goodness, thank you ALL SO SO MUCH! I had no idea so many replies would come, and you all have such beautiful, love able dogs! I really am so appreciative with all the information you've given me, and I really do feel like I've found the breed that I truly want as my baby! There are so many activities that you do with your canines, Dawn! Very inspiring! So beautiful!! And Baba, I love it!! Camval too:) Oh my, you all gave such useful information in helping me make a decision, thank you all so much (I'm sorry, it's really hard to scroll down and list all of your names to thank you, so I'll just thank you all in general!  ) I'm so excited, I've always been a big believer in rescue, and I do feel so bad for the dogs there, but there are no rescues near me! And the rescues that are vaguely near where I am (Southern California, specifically, Fullerton), don't have any available OES! Also, though, I do want to have the experience, at least once, to raise my little guy from a pup, and make sure she has a quality life. I've found the answer to all of my questions, mission complete! Now it'll probably be a while until I find a breeder whom I really trust and I feel that I should accumulate a bit more savings before making the splurge, (at least to cover a few years of her life, $$ wise). Thank you again, I'll stop babbling.. Ooh, wait, I have just a few more questions, but this is not really about puppy hood. - I really want to be a part of activities like Canine Freestyle, agility, and maybe a bit of show(?) But really, I have no experience whatsoever, and I'm wondering if for all of these shows, do the dogs have to be spayed/neutered? -Is it very costly to participate in these activities? Even the small community ones? ...I had a few more, but my mind went blank on me... Thank you all again! Any info about showing, please feel free to let me know (well, things that I might not have picked up from my research)... Maybe I shouldn't be thinking about it so early??  |
| Oh yes, I forgot to mention, I'm in California, and Dawn you mentioned finding someone in my area so that I could meet them/ see for myself! That would be absolutely fantastic! (I don't think I've ever seen an OES for real, before...) |
| Linda Z and Wendy are both in California...I know it's a big state, and I'm bad with CA geography! I will check.... |
| Dexter is our third OES and we are actively looking for our 4th. One female, 2 males, the next will be a female. An invaluable resource for a quality puppy is the Old English Sheepdog Club of America Breeder Referal - http://www.oldenglishsheepdogclubofamerica.org/breeder_referral/breeder_directory.php. This is not to say this is the only place to get a puppy but you can be fairly sure it will be a good dog. Exercise - My second OES (a male) ran 3-4 7-minute miles a day with me, off leash and never left my side. I left for an extended period and he didn't run for about 6 months when he was about 5 or 6, when I tried to get him restarted he refused, loved to play and walk but his running days were over. He left us just after his 13th birthday. All my OES were/are stubborn, we think it is part of the charm of the breed; they are thinkers. Don't confuse stubborness with disobedient, they can be stubborn and still obedient. You mentioned a "little bit of show." I don't know if there is such a thing; you show or you don't. Conformation dogs cannot be spayed or neutered. They are not wash-and-wear dogs. Lots of work but the reward is well worth it. They aren't a pet, they are a family member with tons of personality. |
| OES rescue of Southern California is based in Santa Monica- not far from Fullerton! http://oesrescue.com/ AND there are three OESCA recommended breeders nearby- seems you are in luck! http://www.oldenglishsheepdogclubofamer ... l/west.php Bob & DeeDee Caswell Cottonwood OES San Diego , CA 619-445-3517 deedeecaswell@yahoo.com -------------------------------------------------- Tina Dougan For-Pause Orange County, CA 949-644-7907 forpause@ix.netcom.com -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Dody Glassco Fuzzyacre OES West Covina , CA 626-339-0376 fuzzyacre@yahoo.com Best wishes on your search! |
@ kzinzer- weren't you looking for a sheepie also after things with Disco didnt work out? Have you had any luck bringing one into your family?  If so please share pictures. We love pictures here.  |
| Hi Kristin- We are still looking...every day! We have a very promising lead on our next furry family member. If all works out well, we will be getting her @ the end of the month. Thanks for asking! This forum is fabulous for getting a sheepie fix! Kathleen |
jambamochi wrote: Ooh, wait, I have just a few more questions, but this is not really about puppy hood. - I really want to be a part of activities like Canine Freestyle, agility, and maybe a bit of show(?) But really, I have no experience whatsoever, and I'm wondering if for all of these shows, do the dogs have to be spayed/neutered? -Is it very costly to participate in these activities? Even the small community ones? As mentioned, to show in breed (conformation) the dog needs to be intact. You can participate in agility and so on even if your dog is spayed or neutered, but if you plan for your dog to be an athlete be prepared not to speuter until they are mature (2-3 plus) - those hormones are pretty important for proper orthopedic development, among other things. AKC agility can be pretty expensive. There are other agility organizations where you can get more runs for less $$$ and have just as much fun. Not to say you shouldn't do AKC - it's just that your pocket book probably will notice it a bit more than most other organizations. I wouldn't worry about that just yet as it takes a few years for an OES to grow up and become an agility dog...it takes time to train the dog, never mind wait for the brain to arrive (I've heard estimates varying from anywhere between age 3 to 8. 8 is extreme. He belongs to a friend and turns 8 in May and I see no evidence whatsoever that his brain will arrive by then, but hope springs eternal and all that. ) In short, there's time to figure that part out later. There are so many different things you can do with your dog, doesn't have to be agility (that just happens to be my main passion) and not all of them are terribly expensive. Echo what Susan said about the smaller OES being more athletic, all else being equal. You also want sound basic structure. If you want to "do stuff" with an OES biggest thing you are looking for is BALANCED angulation - you want the angles in the front (shoulder layback) to equal the angles in the rear. If not you can get some funny looking movement, side winding, dog with excess movement in front or - more commonly in this breed - rear (wasteful), and no stamina. Oh, and you want all four paws facing in the same direction (ideally forward) Sure, laugh, but you'd be surprised  In other words, be up front with breeder (or rescue) what you want to do with the dog and that it's really, really important for you to get a sound one. Kristine |
| Deedee happens to have puppies that are about ready to go but may all be spoken for. |
| Carol in FL... Have you seen this car magnet? Reminds me of your photo http://www.ebay.com/itm/OLD-ENGLISH-SHE ... 2c63489e90 Kathleen |
| I have that magnet on my car! I am more than willing to introduce you to my Nigel. His half brother lives in LA but his daddy is very busy. I know people with rescues...Linda Z is one. My boy is from a show breeder in Canada. He is almost in full coat now so I would suggest a meet up soon before we clip for Summer if you want to see what grooming a long coat is like. I am in Palmdale, High Desert, LA county. |
| Wowowow! Great info! (Sorry I'm not the quickest to post replies... ) Oh my goodness, wendy58, that would be more than fantastic! I'm so appreciative that you would do that. I really don't want to find myself in a position where I , for whatever circumstance, am unable to provide for my oes, so I want to wait a while until I start seriously looking. I just get sooo excited thinking about it! Thank you all for your replies! |
| Hello from southern California! We're an hour an a half or so away on the opposite side of the city of Los Angeles. I have shown OES in breed and finished several champions myself over the years but am now showing only in performance activities with my 5 year old OES, Hudson. I also have Hudson's Mom and Aunt who are both 11 yrs old - they are litter mates. For the past couple of weeks I've only had a moment here or there to skim the forum and totally missed this thread so thanks for letting me know about it, Dawn! Besides DeeDee Caswell's litter, I believe there might be one other litter of puppies in the area. I will be happy to share what knowlege and contacts I have with you. Hudson and I are attending a seminar on the new rally rules changes this weekend and showing in rally on March 31 & April 1, but would love to get together and meet up with you somewhere in the area soon. There are also likely to be several OES entered at the 4 day Mission Circuit dog shows in Pomona at the end of May. Send me a private message so we can chat. Linda Zimmerman & Hudson, Chloe & Kristy |
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