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Welcome! OES are the top of my list too! Of course I would say get a sheepdog!! I have three sheepdogs now, and the first one (Mady) I got is a couple months shy of 3 years, I've had her since she was 8 weeks. My wife and I had had almost no prior dog experience and absolutely zero experience training a dog. We were surprised by just how easy it was to train them. We did have a dog trainer for Mady. I now have Mady's mum, Virginia, retired from breeding, she's 7, and another puppy from Virginia who's almost 10 months now (Gracie). I walk all three off leash without issues. I do leash them when walking next to busy roads or crossing intersections (with walking all three, it is safer). Especially if you're starting with a puppy, I think you should put the effort into training a dog properly and being good off leash should be a top priority.

Mady had a couple of stubborn months around 8-10 months where she would not come to me when called, two times in particular, she did not run off, she just danced around me because she didn't want to leave the dog park. Both times I punished her as my trainer told me, with 15 minute timeout leashed up to a fence and I sat away from her with my back to her ignoring her. And that was it. Gracie has not shown any stubborness at all. It's actually been really neat having a puppy with her mum and older sister, they train her! Many commands Gracie learned from watching me use them on Mady. They are all trained to stop, to wait/stay, and come back--those are the most important commands in my opinion.

I have never had any of the three run off at all, I think the breed is good for this, they are herding dogs, their instinct is to stay close, they are NOT sight hounds or beagles whose instinct is to run off on the hunt. My experience is that they always want to stay close and they want to please their people a lot. They are smart dogs.


Here's a video taken from my daily "walks", this is at a government complex just a block from my house, and I started taking Gracie off leash here when she was 5-6 months. I took this video on the weekend, but during the week they have become very popular with all the commuters.

I've had OES for 42 years and agree totally with Vance and Dave. You get out what you put in. Every dog wants leadership, wants to please their pack leader.......if you are a strong loving leader. Your commands must be clear and honest, no conflicting commands. Understand dog don't speak and will never speak our language but will learn clear precise words without a lot of fluff around them.

Yes, there are periods where their "brain goes dead" but actually they are becoming more aware and adventuresome and will test you. If you fail them during these periods the dog assumes, "hey, she doesn't really mean it."

There are breeds who are independent and should never we walked off leash. My other breed, Great Pyrenees, is just such a breed. They were bred to work without human interference guarding the flocks by themselves. I'd never walk a Pyr off leash unless we had been through years and years of training and he had proven himself to me. I had only one who fit that category.

Russian Terriers are too agressive for me. Lovely to look at but not only for someone who will take the dog thru all stages of obedience. Bouvs, nice dogs. He would learn. Giant "Schnoozes" are another good breed for obedience. On this site we have OES doing agility, therapy, etc so they aren't lacking in brains.

Remember with obedience, the dog wants to learn, it's the humans who have trouble understanding and following through.

Where do you live Kay? I'm in SW Ohio near Dayton. We're hosting a Sheepie gathering on September 29 and this would be a great chance for you to see a dozen or so Sheepies in full on play mode.

Vance

but to be honest The Old english sheep dog is the one for me its got everything im looking for in a dog (not sure about all the barking lol!)

We have a host of members in the UK! Welcome.

Welcome!!! I live in England UK too, whereabout are you? Im in West Midlands. Had Bloo from nottinghamshire lol. Yes, it was a long journey.

Bloo doesnt go off lead very often as he runs off, and when we have visitors...he jumps up them, nips them and barks at them He is a mad dog.

Hi, Bloo is 18 months.
No, not all sheepies are naughty, im hoping bloo will grow out of his naughty tricks as he is still an adolescence male. Hes just so stubborn, training bloo is like training a brick wall, he never listens. Im on a mission to get him back into training

Ah a lot of people are from north east, redcar and that area. There are some breeders up north, theres the one i got bloo from in nottinghamshire, lincoln. And there is a kennel called "Myhaverlands" in nottingham also. She has a website if you type my haverlands old english sheepdog into google itll come up Her puppies are all good and she shows the parents, and have good blood lines

Good luck in makijng your decision, hopefully itll be a sheepie x

Hi Kay .
Wecome to the forum from Redcar UK

Hi Kay

I had the same concerns as you when getting our OES. I was concerned the OES would run circles around me and be annoyingly active or bark continuously and not be good off leash.

I need not have worried.

Monty is 16 months now, we have had him since 4 months. I walk everyday off leash with him and the newfy, we walked off leash from the beginning. I have worked with training him on and off leash.
I do put him on leash when crossing roads and on side streets and he is not to be trusted with distractions such as squirrels and deer.
Off leash he does like to be ahead on the walk but he listens to firm commands of wait, stop and here. Like David said firmness is important and being in control as the OES is so happy go lucky and some what stubborn, if a meek command is given the OES doesn't always hear or chooses not to

Personality wise he is very sweet, comes for cuddles and head rubs. Monty is good with people and strangers. He doesn't bark at people or nip/play bite. He did play bite as a puppy but we discouraged this. Monty stands to one side when we pass people when walking whereas the newfy will go up to people for pets. Monty is more interested in walking, but will greet people if they ask me, I tell him to go say hi. He is confident.

An hour walk a day is enough for him to be calm in the house, but I have a quiet house, husband and the newfy (sleeps all the time) so there is no other active dogs or children to wind him up.

Monty's personality is probably individual to him rather than breed or training, but if you get a puppy it is good idea to see the personality of the parents, Monty's were very sweet, friendly and confident.

He spent a week in a kennel with the newfy and showed no personality changes when we picked him up.

We are very pleased we got him and I feel guilty saying I find him more entertaining than the newly, but I love them both