Old English Sheepdogs
- Thread starter juliefurry
- Start date
This breed is very prone to temperment and genetic health problems. You really have to be careful when purchasing. They also require A LOT of grooming if kept in coat, or you can have them clipped into nice styles. My Sister gets many Old English in for grooming.
We had a local breeder raided here a couple of weeks ago. She was breeding Old English Sheepdogs and Springers. All 70 + dogs are up for adoption and are currently in foster homes. The Springers are all well tempered and the Old English (the ones I met personally) seem well tempered. There are a couple of males that have some fear issues. All these dogs were taken by the SPCA from this local Show/breeder, she was once highly respected and a mentor to many but the poor lady got that dreaded hoarding dog disease.
We had a local breeder raided here a couple of weeks ago. She was breeding Old English Sheepdogs and Springers. All 70 + dogs are up for adoption and are currently in foster homes. The Springers are all well tempered and the Old English (the ones I met personally) seem well tempered. There are a couple of males that have some fear issues. All these dogs were taken by the SPCA from this local Show/breeder, she was once highly respected and a mentor to many but the poor lady got that dreaded hoarding dog disease.
I have never met one but when my oldest nephew was a baby and my sister took him over to a friends their Old English Sheepdog bit him in the face. He ended up with stitches and still has scars from it. But like Julie said im not trying to be ignorant towards the breed as I have always like the look of them. And I never met the dog who bit my nephew so im not sure if it was just one of those "things" or if the dog did have temperment problems.
Here is some info on Old English Sheepdogs. By just giving advise on "a couple of dogs some people know" is not telling you about the breed in general. Everyone "knows" a dog from a breed that is great, everyone knows a dog from a breed that is bad. That is why is great to look into the over all picture of the breed. Breeding Old English can be risky...I know a few people who have gotten out of breeding this breed as many of the lines are too genetically unsound.
I think worried is referring to the author of this website often times repeats stuff and for lots of breeds their advantages and disadvantages are the same. Like when I researched labs this site suggested that labs are not good dogs (young labs I should mention) because they are too hyper. Which is the exact same thing he says about the old english. I do find this site useful though and have researched standard poodles and other breeds through this site as well. So it is useful but often times it is repeatitive (sp?).
- Joined
- Dec 28, 2005
- Messages
- 6
- Likes
- 0
- Points
- 0
We have just lost an old english who lived to 10. Yes this is just one example of the breed but he was gentle, affectionate, fun and incredibly well behaved. He was not viscious, but was taught at a young age who was the boss and grew up knowing his place - he was not allowed on furniture etc. I now have a border collie and compared to this hyperactive puppy, our OES was heaven! They are big dogs so you do have to be firm and do get from a reputable breeder to get the best temperement. As for the article above, I don't think those are general traits that can be applied to the whole breed - they DON'T shed, as I was allergic and couldn't have a shedding breed, and regular clipping can keep them tidy and grooming to a minimum.
I hope you consider getting an OES - ours is much missed.
I hope you consider getting an OES - ours is much missed.
I know this thread is a little old, but I thought I'd bring it up to shed some light on what I know about old english sheepdogs after owning two (on the second) and reading about them. From research I've done, and from my experience, there seem to be a lot of discrepancies on that website posted.
I offer up this site as a good source.
And to quote them… Alright, well here is what I've got from researching them…
They don't have many if any aggressive tendencies, the worst they do is nip at you while you run…it's actually somewhat funny because they aren't afraid to run right up to your legs with no worry of being kicked, although they most surely could be the way they might nip (not hard at all) and rub up against you to try and 'heard' you I suppose.
They aren't a shy dog, but they aren't nervous either, they are unbelievably happy to see you, and will greet you with unsurpassed happiness everytime. Our current OES gets too happy when visitors come, that he pees, or will uncontrollably lick them. I suppose this is a training fault on our part to be honest.
For as much energy as they can have (they'd love to go out in an open field with you and romp around) they seem to be great house dogs. Neither of ours ever chewed on anything, and they seem to be content laying around sleeping a lot of the day. Now we do give them attention at night, and Duffy has plenty of toys to play with all the time. It's amusing to watch him whip his own toys up in the air and try to grab them then! Neither our first or Duffy has ever been destructive 'from lack of attention' even though they are mostly on their own during the day. Not sure if this is accidental good training or a breed characteristic.
They are fun loving dogs who love to play and clown around. This combined with their intelligence is a wonderful trait that I've personally come to love. Although other dogs definitely train easier as the OES is a little stubborn, I feel much more personality with them than most other dogs.
From my reading, and I can how this would be, they are described as a great dog to have with children around. Once they were described to me as a 'nanny' with a tendency to keep a child confined to an area. Their shaggy coats are also something good to hold onto for a child learning to walk, and since OES will not bite if it's hair gets pulled slightly, this makes it very safe.
Not a guard dog…look intimidating with it's full hair, and it has a bark that can scare even larger dogs, but they are friendly to everyone and would lick a burglar to death.
Their coats are shaggy, but relatively free from curls, although Duffy does sometimes get little half curls when his hair is shorter. They have an undercoat of hair that forms a water proof barrier which makes them great for playing in the snow, or just a general insulating layer. Although they can seasonally shed, they "aren't considered a shedding dog." This is a fact that I am torn on, I know they can shed, but for the most part it doesn't seem like they shed a lot. Duffy definitely sheds more than our past OES, but still much less and not to an annoying rate. Goldens, and Dalmations drive me absolutely crazy though with their shedding.
Their movement style is a trotting type of step. It's powerful, seemingly effortless, but covers the maximum ground with minimum steps. As you can see in the video that I will have at the bottom of this post, they amble when they are walking slow…or when you wake them up from sleep to get the paper for you
They don't have a tail for any of you that don't know that, if it isn't naturally tailless, they dock it close to the body. This was probably done in the older days as proof of being a working dog.
Neither of our OES slobbered much if at all. The biggest problem would be after they are drinking, their hair soaks up the water and will leave a drip trail where ever they head after.
They are a lot of work to groom, I will admit we don't keep up amazingly well on grooming, but we do what we can. We also shave him once a year and let it grow back in. It is a hassle and he does get matted sometimes.
Health problems. Well our first did suffer hip dysplasia later in life and our current one has seizure and must be kept on phenobarbital.
Duffy's Trick
*takes deep breath*
I offer up this site as a good source.
And to quote them… Alright, well here is what I've got from researching them…
They don't have many if any aggressive tendencies, the worst they do is nip at you while you run…it's actually somewhat funny because they aren't afraid to run right up to your legs with no worry of being kicked, although they most surely could be the way they might nip (not hard at all) and rub up against you to try and 'heard' you I suppose.
They aren't a shy dog, but they aren't nervous either, they are unbelievably happy to see you, and will greet you with unsurpassed happiness everytime. Our current OES gets too happy when visitors come, that he pees, or will uncontrollably lick them. I suppose this is a training fault on our part to be honest.
For as much energy as they can have (they'd love to go out in an open field with you and romp around) they seem to be great house dogs. Neither of ours ever chewed on anything, and they seem to be content laying around sleeping a lot of the day. Now we do give them attention at night, and Duffy has plenty of toys to play with all the time. It's amusing to watch him whip his own toys up in the air and try to grab them then! Neither our first or Duffy has ever been destructive 'from lack of attention' even though they are mostly on their own during the day. Not sure if this is accidental good training or a breed characteristic.
They are fun loving dogs who love to play and clown around. This combined with their intelligence is a wonderful trait that I've personally come to love. Although other dogs definitely train easier as the OES is a little stubborn, I feel much more personality with them than most other dogs.
From my reading, and I can how this would be, they are described as a great dog to have with children around. Once they were described to me as a 'nanny' with a tendency to keep a child confined to an area. Their shaggy coats are also something good to hold onto for a child learning to walk, and since OES will not bite if it's hair gets pulled slightly, this makes it very safe.
Not a guard dog…look intimidating with it's full hair, and it has a bark that can scare even larger dogs, but they are friendly to everyone and would lick a burglar to death.
Their coats are shaggy, but relatively free from curls, although Duffy does sometimes get little half curls when his hair is shorter. They have an undercoat of hair that forms a water proof barrier which makes them great for playing in the snow, or just a general insulating layer. Although they can seasonally shed, they "aren't considered a shedding dog." This is a fact that I am torn on, I know they can shed, but for the most part it doesn't seem like they shed a lot. Duffy definitely sheds more than our past OES, but still much less and not to an annoying rate. Goldens, and Dalmations drive me absolutely crazy though with their shedding.
Their movement style is a trotting type of step. It's powerful, seemingly effortless, but covers the maximum ground with minimum steps. As you can see in the video that I will have at the bottom of this post, they amble when they are walking slow…or when you wake them up from sleep to get the paper for you
They don't have a tail for any of you that don't know that, if it isn't naturally tailless, they dock it close to the body. This was probably done in the older days as proof of being a working dog.
Neither of our OES slobbered much if at all. The biggest problem would be after they are drinking, their hair soaks up the water and will leave a drip trail where ever they head after.
They are a lot of work to groom, I will admit we don't keep up amazingly well on grooming, but we do what we can. We also shave him once a year and let it grow back in. It is a hassle and he does get matted sometimes.
Health problems. Well our first did suffer hip dysplasia later in life and our current one has seizure and must be kept on phenobarbital.
Duffy's Trick
*takes deep breath*
