Old English Sheep dog as a pet?
Discussion
what a great snap - has he/she just been drinking out of a puddle?
Mrs Grumpy said:
Perhaps turn the question on its head? What experience do you have of dogs and what sort of a lifestyle will you be offering?
How long will the dog be left each day?
Are there children or other animals in the house?
How much exercise will you be able to provide?
Are you able to train the dog and / or will you be taking it to training classes?
Etc
A suitable dog could then be suggested, although I know of an OES in rescue at present looking for a home.
I agree with these questions.How long will the dog be left each day?
Are there children or other animals in the house?
How much exercise will you be able to provide?
Are you able to train the dog and / or will you be taking it to training classes?
Etc
A suitable dog could then be suggested, although I know of an OES in rescue at present looking for a home.
Can you answer them?
Why are you attracted to the breed? Is it aesthetics alone...cause it will need far more hands on attention than the 'average dog'.
I also struggle with looking at the dog on a hot summer's day!
The character reads well for the breed, but as with any breed you need to do your research, ensure you meet the parents, get the dog trained, socialised and so on! It strikes me as being a far bigger commitment than a number of other breeds you might consider.
Cheers,
Nick.
Don said:
Get a proper sheepdog. 
A truly wonderful, lovely, practical hound.
But be warned:- they are very, very, very smart. Which means they bore very, very, very easily. Which means you need to keep them thoroughly occupied, accompanied and entertained.
Because if you don't find stuff for them to do? They'll make up their own stuff.
And you won't like it.
But if they're kept busy? Fab.
25 years ago a friend of mine took on a sheepdog, it was the prefect pet until his kids had a birthday party and it tried rounding them up , proper freaked some of the parents out A truly wonderful, lovely, practical hound.But be warned:- they are very, very, very smart. Which means they bore very, very, very easily. Which means you need to keep them thoroughly occupied, accompanied and entertained.
Because if you don't find stuff for them to do? They'll make up their own stuff.
And you won't like it.
But if they're kept busy? Fab.
Bit late in the thread for dog advice, but hey ho.
Had a Samoyed (who sadly passed away earlier this year). The grooming was a serious time investment, and even doing it every day, it felt like I was only ever slowing down the descent until she absolutely needed to go to the groomers. As much as I loved her, and they are a wonderful breed, I would think carefully about another one due to the work needed to groom them.
I noticed on more than one occasion at different grooming places that had price lists hung up that the Old Engish Sheep Dog was consistently the only breed that cost more to groom than a Samoyed. Make of that what you will, but personally I'd have something 'lower maintenance'!
Beatiful dogs though.
Had a Samoyed (who sadly passed away earlier this year). The grooming was a serious time investment, and even doing it every day, it felt like I was only ever slowing down the descent until she absolutely needed to go to the groomers. As much as I loved her, and they are a wonderful breed, I would think carefully about another one due to the work needed to groom them.
I noticed on more than one occasion at different grooming places that had price lists hung up that the Old Engish Sheep Dog was consistently the only breed that cost more to groom than a Samoyed. Make of that what you will, but personally I'd have something 'lower maintenance'!
Beatiful dogs though.
What about a Tricolour Border Collie?
Less hyper and less hair.
They look nicer as well, IMO.
I have one (a resuce one) and she was very shy when I got her (been abused and/ or neglected?) and she is very affectionate.
She has a slight problem where she can bark and growl at people in certain situations (eg if someone comes round the house, or were walking through woods, and someone just 'appears' silentyly, for example) - she is almost becoming 'too confident'.
In terms of training, very easy, very obedient, very clever.
Havent herded any kids yet though
Less hyper and less hair.
They look nicer as well, IMO.
I have one (a resuce one) and she was very shy when I got her (been abused and/ or neglected?) and she is very affectionate.
She has a slight problem where she can bark and growl at people in certain situations (eg if someone comes round the house, or were walking through woods, and someone just 'appears' silentyly, for example) - she is almost becoming 'too confident'.
In terms of training, very easy, very obedient, very clever.
Havent herded any kids yet though
Would seriously recommend these as a pet - absolutely superb dog, great with people, great with kids, incredibly affectionate and gentle and as others have said, becoming increasingly rare.
Yes, they're big, clumsy and they get in the way all of the time and they need constant grooming but we wouldn't be without ours
He's now 11 and he's given us so much pleasure we've got another one, or rather we get him at the end of the month as he's not quite old enough yet to leave the litter.
Can't wait ............
Yes, they're big, clumsy and they get in the way all of the time and they need constant grooming but we wouldn't be without ours
He's now 11 and he's given us so much pleasure we've got another one, or rather we get him at the end of the month as he's not quite old enough yet to leave the litter.
Can't wait ............
gumball said:
Thanks.
I think she had been looking for a ball in the mud, it was a while ago.
Here she is a bit cleaner:
Ancient thread so I don't suppose gumball will be back, but I don't understand why you see certain breeds of dog with fur covering their eyes. Is it supposed to be a breed standard thing? Surely the dog would prefer to be able to see properly? I think she had been looking for a ball in the mud, it was a while ago.
Here she is a bit cleaner:
I am now six months into OES ownership.
1. They are daft as a brush.
2. They grow VERY quickly.
3. They are extremely friendly and just want to play with humans and dogs ALL the time. I have never heard my dog growl once at another dog.
4. The grooming isn't as bad as everyone makes out although during the wet Winter months it is a pain. Just when you think you'll be able to return to the house with a clean(ish) dog, they'll spot another dog and have a roll around.
5. My lush green 'carpet' lawn is no more.
6. Everyone tells you their Mother/Grandparents owned one (or more often than not owned two).
7. Children tell you its like a big bear and they want one.
1. They are daft as a brush.
2. They grow VERY quickly.
3. They are extremely friendly and just want to play with humans and dogs ALL the time. I have never heard my dog growl once at another dog.
4. The grooming isn't as bad as everyone makes out although during the wet Winter months it is a pain. Just when you think you'll be able to return to the house with a clean(ish) dog, they'll spot another dog and have a roll around.
5. My lush green 'carpet' lawn is no more.
6. Everyone tells you their Mother/Grandparents owned one (or more often than not owned two).
7. Children tell you its like a big bear and they want one.
Lost our 11 year old on Monday and the pain is just immense. The fight against the ravages of time, old age and arthritis finally became too much and we had to take that horrible decision that the time was right for him to go and get some well deserved peace.
36 hours later it's still impossible to come to terms with.
No more walks, no more coming out of the shower and tripping over him as he lay there waiting for me, no more sitting down and having him plonk his head in my lap to have his head rubbed.All those silly little things that just epitomised the character and spirit that was Harvey
Loads of photos of him, but this is one of my favourites as it typifies what he was all about.
Fortunately we have another one to help take away the pain but the memory of Harvey will never disappear and young Nelson has got a lot to live to up to
RIP Harvey, you'll never know just how much you're going to be missed
36 hours later it's still impossible to come to terms with.
No more walks, no more coming out of the shower and tripping over him as he lay there waiting for me, no more sitting down and having him plonk his head in my lap to have his head rubbed.All those silly little things that just epitomised the character and spirit that was Harvey
Loads of photos of him, but this is one of my favourites as it typifies what he was all about.
Fortunately we have another one to help take away the pain but the memory of Harvey will never disappear and young Nelson has got a lot to live to up to
RIP Harvey, you'll never know just how much you're going to be missed
Sorry to hear about your loss Russ. We have very recently lost our Border collie to Epilepsy at only 6 1/2 yrs old. It is very difficult to re-adjust after living with a high maintenance breed. Just over 2 weeks on and things are becoming easier, but a long way to go still. The way I cope is to keep telling myself that we still have the other dog to look after who does not understand like we do why he is gone and she needs our love and support.
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