need info on OES
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| Hi and welcome to the forum. I'll be the first to jump in here but I'm sure I won't be the last. A good place to begin is www.oldenglishsheepdogclubofamerica.org which will address many of your questions. As to temperament, browse through our "antics" and "behavior" topics.
I have two OES; Barney whom I raised as a pup and Maggie a rescue; now 2 and 3 yrs old. I found them to be very intelligent, playful and responsive to good training. However they are high maintenance: figure on a minimum of $1,000 per year in feed, routine medical care (shots) and heartworm/flee & tick medicines, and either 6-8 hours a week grooming or 50-100/month if professionally groomed. I think you'll find a range of $900-$2,000 for a pup depending on pet/show quality and bloodlines. Major health concerns are hip displasia (common to many large breeds) and eye disorders. A good breeder will show you the certifications of sire and dam regarding hips and eyes (although a good certification of these items is no guarantee that the litter will all develop without problems) These certifications cannot be issued until the dogs are 2 yrs old, so be sure to check on the age of the parents of any pup you might consider. They are big dogs (65-110 lbs) and need at least the basics of obedience if you want a civil companion that wont walk you or rule/ruin your house. Because they are herding dogs, they will tend to become barkers if left outside for long periods. One avenue you might consider is rescueing. However if you do presume the animal will come to you with some temperament/behavior baggage. Like a special child, this is not for you if you don't have the time to give the special attention needed to deal with any issues. I'll conclude with my best wishes to you and pass the ball to the next member. George |
| Welcome! Those are great questions and if you browse around the various sections of the forum, you will see all them answered in great detail! Please explore and enjoy. I spent alot of time reading here before I got mine and the thing that stood out to me was that despite the challenges of grooming and various health concerns, everyone here seems to have dogs that make them laugh and melt their hearts. . .
I hope you find the answers you need! Best, Valerie |
| What george has posted pretty much covers a lot, do your homework, read the forum and see what problems do come up with this breed of dog, both health wise and behavioral. Like any breed of dog firstly you have to make a decision if you want a big dog or little one for your family. Yes they are a high maintenance breed even a clipped off sheepie requires the cost of continual clipping and grooming.
The only other thing I will mention is they are a late maturing breed they stay puppies in mind for quite awhile. So training and socialisation is a must. You get out of this breed what you put in, in time, training and love to end up with a well behaved socialble sheepie. They do well as an active dog or a couch potato, but the baby puppy stage can be quite a challenge 
Welcome too  |
| Thank you for your answers. I had a Newf that died last year so I know something about large breeds. OES look like they are more high maintence than them. Something to think about. I'll keep reading. |
oooh -- newfies are wonderful!  There's one at my park that plays with my dog and he is such a great dog. I'm so sorry for your loss. |
| About the swimming - many really love water!
Our puppy Chewie is a water lover. He jumps into our yard pond many times a day, and also wades in the kiddie pool. Our previous 2 OES were not as water loving, but would go in if they were with our labs. We clipped our dogs at our groomer's twice a year, and did the rest of their grooming ourselves. They are similar in many ways to a Newfoundland - just more light weight and bouncy. Most just want to be right with you all the time and do everything you do. Some are excitable, some are more laid back. Check out the breeder's dogs and find one to match your needs. There are also many nice adult rescue dogs out there. We have adopted before and they bond as well (if not more) than a dog you get as a pup! You get to skip the puppy chewing and housebreaking for the most part. Good luck. |
| What I stress when people tell me how cute and wonderful my dogs are (and they are) is how much work they are. I keep mine in long coat (although that may change next spring) and do not show them, but they still require hours of grooming each week. Mine are also walked a minimum of 4 times a day. And they do want to be with you most of the time (except when they're sleeping, but hey, they're willing to skip that nap and spend some quality time with you, whatever you're doing).
Mine love sprinklers and puddles and hoses but not pools or ponds, really. They are herding dogs, with all of those instincts. Mine have always been very, very good with children, gearing their tolerance and activity level to the size/age of the child instinctively. Actually, mine are simply very social, with people and with other dogs. I can't say enough how important it is to select for good temperment. |
| WATER and OES:
Depends on the individual, but even ones that love it were not bred to be water dogs like Newfies. Their coat care is HIGH maintenance, but if you have the time to commit to it it can be a very rewarding thing. If you're planning on keeping your OES in full coat, swimming is still an option but a VERY hard one as you'll need to start in on coat clean-up pronto so matts don't form!!
GOOD LUCK in finding info around. Aren't big dogs fun? They're just more to love!  |
| Welcome to the forum. Wow, this is really long... others please add your thoughts...
Most of your questions on temperament and likes/dislikes simply depend upon the individual dog. Three of mine love water including my blind sheepie... the rescue we got in September does not though she is learning it can be fun. All of mine love people and are very excited during the first 5-10 minutes of an outsider's arrival. They then settle down. I have seen different personalities in a couple of local dogs I've met... one was standoffish and aloof and didn't care for strangers at all. Mine all like to be with their humans and will follow either myself or my husband around. They should have a securely fenced in yard (at least 5-6 feet high) so they can play safely or they should be leash walked. They are generally known to be stubborn and are not a good choice for around small children. Many end up in rescues because as puppies they are so darn cute but they grow much faster than children in the family and they have a built in herding instinct. The child gets knocked down due to the young dog's exuberance and ends up without a home. Yes, there are some bad breeders out there that don't breed to "better the breed"... they breed for the money or simply because they can. Some breed specifically for white heads and blue eyes sometimes producing deaf dogs. A good pup will be bred for temperament and health first and foremost. As George said, require detailed health info including test results on hips and eyes on at least both of the parents. Ask if any of the pups they have produced have had health issues... a good breeder will end a line if there are proven health problems. Hip dysplasia can also occur with this breed (we knew going in that our NEOESR sheepie has this) and you should start annual testing for low thyroid at around 2 years of age (a simple pill divided and given twice a day for life corrects the problem). You should read up on other known health issues known to occur with this breed. They generally live 12-14 years... simply never long enough. One of mine is hypothyroid and on meds (but my two mix-breed dogs are also) and two of my sheepies have allergies to molds/dust. Three of mine came from a "backyard breeder" in Texas... two were purchased and one was considered a rescue (blind with a cleft palate) and have great temperaments. My fourth is a rescue or rehome from NEOESR that arrived at 11 months of age after two other homes and a month at a shelter. She too has a fun personality but is a bit mouthy... not mean but she is so exuberant (I stuff a toy in her mouth when she's too boisterous). A big, fun loving, goofy, intelligent oaf best describes her. Old English Sheepdogs are definitely high maintenance dogs... you either have to brush them out completely once a week or so if in full coat (not just surface brushing but parting the hair and brushing systematically as you go over the entire dog so you get down to the skin). If you don't have that kind of time you can shave them shorter... they still require brushing but not as often depending upon the hair length. You can also keep them in a puppycut or shorter length. I just clipped two of mine down this morning to about a 1/2" length... it took about 3 hours and I do this probably 3-4 times a year. I can't stress enough that you will have an awful mess if you don't keep them either clipped shorter or brushed out... they will develop painful mats and possibly hot spots and it's just not fair for a dog to ever get in this condition. But a properly maintained sheepie in full coat is a sight to behold. I just don't have that kind of time.
My OES's don't shed as much as my Schipperke-mix and Border Collie-mix. Be aware that they will get wet beards when getting a drink and often put their head on your lap  It's pretty amazing how they can run through the mud and get their white feet filthy but if you didn't have time to wash their feet the dirt will brush out fine. If the feet/face get dirty I pick up the front half of the dog and put her in the tub for a quick rinse or wash if necessary, turn the dog around then do the back half. They really don't need to be bathed all that often... spot bathes like described above usually take care of any dirt on the feet, face and fanny. I do full baths probably 3 times a year.
I think it's great you're doing some research BEFORE committing yourself to this breed. Personally, the OES will probably be my only dog of choice if we ever get another dog down the road some time. I am simply captivated with the breed. I've also seen the results of their neglect- http://thesheepiestore.com/Assistance.htm One of the positives of adopting a rescue from an OES rescue group is that they should know some about the dog's temperament. Yes, you can get some odd quirks or extreme challenges. Sometimes things just happen in life and wonderful OES with few issues just ends up in need of a new home. If you go the rescue route, just be honest about what you're looking for. Be aware that you may have to be on a list for a while before getting one and puppies don't show up very often unless there are health issues (there is a vision challenged sheepie-boy on PetFinder now http://search.petfinder.com/petnote/dis ... id=6928043 ). Good luck to you! This is a magificent breed that is well worth the time it requires IF you have the time and funds available to devote to it. Jaci |
| Thank you all so much for your well thought out answers. I found out alot of what I wanted to know. They sound more high maintence than Newfs and I had trouble keeping up with his coat. They do sound like sweet dogs and so cute. They might not be for me. I guess I need to wait and not make any quick decisions. Thanks lots |
| The coat is not much work if there isn't much of it. The ears and paws need maintenance but not as much if there's not much hair there either.
If you'll notice most dogs on the forum are kept in "puppy cuts" or really short coats. Not all of us can keep 3 showdogs in full coat, that would be brushing like 5 hours a day, give or take. But your ARMS would be in such great shape!
Good luck in your decisions. |
| I have to add my two cents to the GREAT info already posted. My sheepies were the most intelligent dogs I've had, and believe me, I've had many many breeds. They would potty on command so if I were leaving for a long time (work day when I knew I wouldn't get home at lunch for example) I was sure they pottied before I left and NEVER had a mess when coming home. They were sooooo gentle with all 2 and 4 legged creatures. They loved the water, but I trained them early on with a kiddie pool. If friends with kids came over, I was sure my sheepies would herd the kids away from stuff on my coffee table, etc without hurting them. They were ovelry exhuberant, that's true, but NEVER aggressive about anything, including food. Like most big breeds, they counter surfed for food but were not stubborn, so when one got my husbands steak off the counter, we could get it back, throw it back in the pan and he still had dinner that night (true story), unlike my greyhound who would have eaten it before we could get it out of his mouth! They love their owners and would do anything to please us. They do stay puppies a long time, but that is one of the appealing things about them, their clownish demeanor. I shaved mine every spring, and grooming was not a bad issue for me. I live where it is HOT so they were happy to be shaved and that way could swim without all the grooming problems. I do have to say, a 6 foot fence was not tall enough, they could jump it so we have and 8 foot fence and had no problems. When they did jump the fence, however, they stayed right in the yard, not wanderers like labs. A sheepie may not be right for you, but if you decide they are, you'll have a devoted and loving friend that keeps you laughing! Good luck and let me know what you decide!
Kathy & the gang |
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