Too late to train? at say, 8 months?
I've had OES and other dogs in the past, so I'm very familiar with the breed - but I've always had them from a few months old. So.. if all else is good - should I be deterred by the fact that it's maybe been allowed to grow up "outside", rather than house trained? I shouldn't think so, but I'd be very interested to hear what the experts say.. I've not actually seen the dog - it's quite a distance from where I live - and I'd like to check out as much as I can before I view. Papers and all are available, it's registered, innoculated, etc. Thanks in advance Larry |
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| In my opinion, you can undo many bad habits with time and love. There are dogs who have been kept chained in a junk yard for years who have become tremendous pets. It sounds like you are aware they may be pitfalls which is a good thing. It might be easy or it might not. If you are prepared for that, then go for it. Just know that you will be starting with an untrained mind and habits as if it were a small puppy, but it a large body which may make it all more difficult. Make sure all the health requirements (vaccines given at appropriate times, worming, hearing test, etc) have already been done on the dog. Linda Zimmerman |
| Yes, most dogs are trainable at any age. Most want to make their new pack leader very happy especially if doing well means more praise, touches and treats. There may be some old "baggage" you have to work through, but that's true with any adoption. 8 months is part of the brain-dead period where the mind seems to go off track for awhile as they experiment with new leadership.......them in control. Your firm, loving methods will be tested but ultimately will be rewarded. |
| You can absolutely train him! My first two dogs I got at 7months and a yr and half. Both were outside dogs, both ended up being wonderful dogs, loving dogs. It does take quite a bit of work and training. You treat them like they are pups and do not know anything. It does take more than usual for an ajustment period for an outside dog to get used to the inside. They maybe scared of normal inside things. It can be such a process but one day far down that road you will realize it just clicked and you have an amazing companion. Worth every single moment. |
8 Months can be lots easier than 8 weeks. You do have some maturity of body systems, longer attention spans as a bonus.  When bringing in a new dog who has a questionable (many dogs we fosters are strays, and you don't know their history) background, the best thing is to assume they know nothing. Start out with whatever your house rules are going to be, and teach them like they are babies who know nothing. This way, you may get pleasant surprises in some areas, where they will have already done this in their previous life. Being consistent, and making both your corrections and praises in a timely manner really help dogs learn. Many times what we perceive as bad, is something in a dog's world that is of little or no consequence. Like our rescue coonhound Maggie - she lived chained up, with a barrel for a dog house for 1.5 yrs - only off to hunt. She had no clue that jumping on the stove top was any different than hopping on her barrel or climbing a tree after a coon.  Or peeing when you had the urge was bad in the house, but OK on the lawn....you get the picture.  By keeping her in our eyesight 100% of the time when she was loose in the house, she turned into a great house dog. When we weren't able to watch her, she went in her crate. Even if it was just to go out to the mailbox - we didn't want her doing anything that was going to be against house rules when we weren't there to supervise. Being right there when things occur is KEY....coming later is just useless. By the time they pee, climb on the counter, or take something that is off limits...if you aren't there, it's your fault. I hope you go ahead and give this big puppy a chance |
| I have no experience with this but everyone gave such positive advice. We hope you get the dog and keep us posted on its progress. How kind of you to consider opening your home to him. |
| I'd much rather adopt an older dog than bring in a youngsters, only because of what Dawn mentioned, longer attention. They just catch on faster than a baby. While you may have missed a few months of puppyhood, you still will have a long, loving relationship. We adopted MO at 8 months and she lasted until she was 14.......so 13 wonderful years........and an easy to train, loving dog there never was.........but then she was a sheepdog. |
| Thank you all so far for your comments, - more or less what I was expecting/hoping. I took on the job some years back, to look after an OES about 14 years back, and had him for about a year. Then his owner took him back. When I took him on, he was about two yrs old, and extremely unfit. I live 10 minutes walk from Brandon Bay, Ireland - and he was on the beach with me every day. His whole nature changed from sluggish dullard to an exuberant , intelligent dog. Everyone said how much like me he was, (I have to ASSUME that was a compliment  ! )Up till that time, I'd had Rottweillers - great dogs. But not suitable for my new location. New country, change of pace, no need for family bodyguards or a real need to protect the premises. So, when I was left dogless again, I got an OES of my own. We had 11 great years together, but I lost him to cancer in May this year. As soon as he was diagnosed, that was it for me (and him). Hard as it was, I let him sleep on after the diagnosis. Held him while he passed over. Worst day I can remember. So.. time to team up with another! I'll take a look at the one in question - your responses have helped me decide. I'll let you know how it goes. |
| Good! Rotties are indeed great dogs, but there's something special about a sheepdog......you never know what silliness they are going to show at any given moment. They can be rock solid at work but when off work they keep you laughing. There is also a protective dog under that wooly coat. They have been known to rise to need to protect their owner if necessary. The fact dogs don't live but just beyond a decade or so means we will face losing them. I've found the loss is lessened by taking on a new charge or two. The earlier dog(s) tried to teach me how to love totally and share themselves completely.......I'm still learning. |
| I love rotties too. They are great dogs. They don't need to protect, ours never did (greet the new bestfriend burglar kind of dogs). My dad had his rotties in different places that he lived, apts, houses, and a farm. I would definitely own a rott again but I will never be without a sheepie now. There is just something wonderfully special about them. Well everything about them is. Yes please keep us updated (and post pics, we love to see everyone's sheepies.) |
Eight months is still a baby in sheepdog years. You had Rotties and you had sheepdog. I would say you are experienced and can train this 8 month old with some effort and help from a class maybe. Go for it. And keep us posted.  |
| 8 months is sooo very young. Our new pup was only 12 weeks when we got him but he is only now really mature enough in the head at 14 months to actually take note and listen and learn! lol. I was worried that we were behind in his training as at 9 months he was still having "accidents in the house" . He was still doing all the naughty puppy things like eating stuff (small insignificant things like the washing machine and the caravan!) Weve always had older rescue dogs in the past and honestly they were far easier to train than a tiny pup in so many ways. Your wee one is still a baby. Don't right him off! He can and will learn well. The last pup we had before this chap was 18 months when he arrived. He had issues and needed lots of love but he came round in the end and was a brillient pet. I am hoping this new pup of ours will turn out just as good a boy by 18 months! They are still very much babies. My old fellow was still growning at 18 months and by the age of 2yrs he had grown out of his crate and chest harness so they are still very much puppies for quite a longtime. Go for it and give this one a chance! Oes |
| Update - I missed that 8 month old one - someone beat me to it. However - after searching for a couple of months for the "right" dog - another one presented itself within a day or so. He was 10 weeks when I got him - that was nearly 3 weeks ago now. He's just brilliant. VERY intelligent, and has quite a few of the characteristics of my previous guy, Bones. In particular - when he gets excited, he runs in front, going round in circles.. like when we're going out, or he's about to get his dinner.. makes me think this may be quite a common trait. Potty training is going well, although I do get up in the middle of the night and take him out. There was a bit of barking the first night - I had him cordoned off in a downstairs tiled area - he went on for hours. I caved in, came down and slept on the couch, with his bed on the floor beside me. He was fine with that. That lasted 3 nights, then he was ok being left alone at night - I slept back upstairs - only thing was the mess in the morning. Now, I take him up with me at bedtime,, and he wakes me to let him out. Started him on the leash yesterday - there was resistance for a few minutes, then - it was as if he'd been on the leash all his days! When I figure out how to reduce the size of pics for the avatar here, I'll upload him. Only one negative - took him to the vet as soon as I got him for a checkup - and apparently he has an umbilical hernia. Vet reckons it's no big deal, and the best time for an op would be between 6 and 12 months. He's gonna be a big boy, if the Dad is anything to go by... he put on 6 lbs last week... Thanks for all your advice.. |
Yep, we need pictures! So happy you stayed with the search and now have another fuzzybutt in the home. Indeed they need to be with you most of the time, even at night. Kensie sleeps in the hall outside the bedrooms, but she comes in and checks on us several times a night. Harry sleeps next to me on the floor......and gets very frustrated when I move to different bedrooms  . |
 congrats!!!! can't wait for pictures!!!! |
| PICTURES PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Oes |
| How have you got on? Sorry,have missed the forum for a while-2 sick prem twins kept us trotting to 2 diff hospitals!!x |
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