found OES at shelter,I have ?

I recently found an OES at an animal shelter.I am in love with her.I have never had this type of dog so I dont know what to expect.I have written the shelter and have only been told that the dog was an outside animal.I do have a cat and my 3 year old niece visits frequently.So I was wondering if anyone could tell me in general are these type of dogs good with children and cats.This partcular dog has evidently had some form of skin condition as well so they have shaved her.She is 6 years old.I basically want to make an informed decision before getting her.What kind of health concerns should I be worried about? Any info anyone could give me would be greatly appreciated. I didnt know where to post this as I am new to this site as well so I apologize if I have done it wrong.Thank-You in advance. here is the link to Winnie
http://search.petfinder.com/petnote/dis ... id=6741818
Respond to this topic here on forum.oes.org  
I'm sure others may offer various points of advice. I have two OES, one a rescue. When I got Maggie (rescue) she was heavily matted. This is often the occasion for shaving a dog, and may suggest that the dog was poorly cared for. Regarding the comment that the dog is an outside dog, this may suggest that it is not or poorly housebroken; moreover, OES are herding dogs and herding dogs, left outside for long periods tend to become barkers. If you live near neighbors, this may present a problem. Depending on your climate, outdoor dog or not, these dogs should not be left outdoors for extended periods of time in high temperatures due to their heavy undercoat which unlike other dogs, are not shed in the summer. When the temp is above 90° I only let my guys out to do their business. Even at lower temps with high humidity, just a short walk can be very stressful. Finally, to be on the safe side, expect that the dog will come with some behavioral baggage that may require retraining and this means a real committment of time and energy on your part.

I don't offer these comments as discouragement; your're interest in taking in a rescue is a wonderful thing. But if you don't like surprises, or think that your chances of getting a quiet little furball that will take little of your time, you may be disappointed. Good luck and best wishes.

George.
I agree with what has been said and I would like to add to it! :) If you're in love with her, make sure you have the time to commit to her coat when it comes back in. OES coats are one of their most attractive qualities, but they also take a lot of time!!! :roll: You don't have to keep it long, you can shave or cut it down to a manageable size, but it will take constant care no matter what you do to it! I have found OES to be loveable dogs, but she will probably try to "herd" your cat. Each dog is different when it comes to cats and children - I would see if the shelter can observe her around children to see what she is like. Good luck in your decision!
Welcome! You've come to the right place. I don't have any information to add to the folks above, but please keep us posted. She does look like a lovely girl!
Hi welcome & I hope things work out for you with the adoption as OES are really a special breed of dogs. I really would try & get more information about her being an outside dog. Ie., if she's housebroken, etc., if you're planning on bringing her indoors.

Regarding cats & kids, it really depends on the dog. Did you meet the dog in person yet, what is her dipostition like? Did the shelter see how she reacted towards cats? Our OES are both very sweet towards children. Our 6 y.o. girl doesn't even bother with our cat, nor was ever around one until she came to our home at age 5. Our 2 y.o. male has been around the cat since he was a pup, and he thinks it's fun to play with the cat and the cat plays back with him.

Since your niece is only 3, I definitely would never leave the dog unattended with her. Most OES do have some herding instinct, and even though it's not as extreme with say, Border Collies, you may experience her placing her body btw. you & the child, wanting to run after your niece everytime she runs, etc.

Sorry that you're not getting clear cut answers here if she's right for you but it really depends on the dog's temperament, and it certainly seems by the shelter description that she's sweet. I would definitely say give it a trial run and give yourself an adequate enough time to really makes sure it's a good fit.

Regarding her skin condition. Is the shelter treating it at all? I would say by the look of the photo that she needs to be on some kind of antibiotic once a vet evaluates it. She might be on the antibiotic for a few months as some of these conditions can be a bugger to get rid of.
You should confirm that she is heartworm negative. We recently had a rescue here in Indiana that was an outdoor dog, supposedly current on all vet care... then he tested heartworm positive. The vet bills were high but the adoptive family gladly nursed him back to health and today he is living in the lap of luxury.

To his new family this dog was well worth the expense of the treatment, however if you don't have the resources you may want to reconsider.

She sounds like a wonderful girl and I really hope it works out for you. You will find this board an excellent place for advice and encouragement.

Good Luck!
Thanks everyone for so many answers.I have wrote the shelter again with my questions and am hoping for a better response this time.I lost my German Shepard a couple months back after 13 years to bone cancer.I work from my home,live alone and have no children so my Bruiser was my baby.I realize that each dog has its own personality,each has its own way of doing things,but I know alot of times one breed can be more prone to certain things,temperments and diseases.I live in the country and so really only have one neighbor which is my mom about a mile away so barking isnt a problem,Bruiser was a very heavy barker and did so most of the time to just hear himself I think.I have a trainer that lives about a 20 min. from me so that will not be a problem.I plan on having her as an inside dog and will just have to work with her to make her comfortable with being indoors and just going outside for walks,potty time and such.My vet has a groomer right beside it as well.I read you must brush there hair at least 3 times a week?Then let the groomer take it from there.I guess I still need to do some reading.When I wrote the shelter I asked to verify if she had been tested for heartworms.I also asked about hip displaysia because I read that was common in this breed.I really appreciate evryone taking the time to write me back,I know its a big decision bringing a new family member home and just wanted some advice from somone that already has this type of dog.Thanks again you gave me alot to ask the shelter and I am now just waiting for a reply.I will keep you posted with a reply (hopefully by tomorrow).I plan on having my niece go with me to meet her first,and am going to ask the shelter to "cat test" her.Thanks again
galadriel wrote:
.I read you must brush there hair at least 3 times a week?


3 days a week is a bit excessive for grooming. If you want to keep her in full coat, I would say you would need to spend at least 2-3 HOURS a week, line brushing throughout. I would imagine that a dog that spent its life outside, might not be used to grooming, so you would need to build up to that. A lot of grooming tips are to be had here on the forum in the grooming section.

I hope this works out for you. OES are equally sweet as GSD's. Big lovable goofs who often have the nickname "velcro dogs".
Hi and Welcome. If you sit and read through this forum you will learn lots. But most importantly you will learn that there really isn't a typical OES, like people they are all different. I always thought my sheepie was the "typical" oes and then learned that other than physical appearance they are individuals.

I keep Tasker clipped due primarily to skin problems but also because I am pretty lazy and don't want to spend the hours and hours required to keep a sheepie in full coat. Maybe it's because it's always been that way but I really think Tasker prefers his short coat. As soon as he gets any length to his hair he starts to pull and chew at it.

Good Luck and stick around, this is a great place to learn about sheepies.
She looks like a real sweetie. Hope it works out that you can adopt her.


There is so much info on this site in the different categories. It is very user friendly.

I would definitely say if you have a chance to get a sheepdog I would RUN not walk. They are the best part of life.


Please share your stories and pics if you get her.

Welcome!
Oh she's so pretty and looks so sweet! What a honey. . . Good luck!
OH!!!! Good luck!!!!

I hope everything works out!!! :D
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