Old English Sheep Dog ?

[fender62]

i rescued an old english sheep dog, well not rescued..but old couple could not handle him sadly.
im curious about how smart they are and how easy to train, any do's and dont's with this breed
he's very placid, but does not like to go out in the rain for a wee, rather he holds it in, not sure if thats because previous owner did not train him, and eating habits..any tip of preferred food etc.
any tip's

[woofgang]

How kind! Be prepared to put time in on his coat and/or find a good groomer and use them often! My general experience of dogs is that smart does not necessarily mean easy to train. Patience and positivity will win out though :)

[fender62]

i forgot to mention, he's 18 months old, very fit and powerful, ie tug of war with one of them big chew bones, almost put my back out lol

[Tilly2]

All types of sheepdog are smart. Be firm but kind and reward his good behaviour with a reward of some kind. Don't ever punish him except for a short sharp, 'No!' if he makes a mistake. Don't try to bully him into behaving by trying to be 'top dog'. That won't work. You need to be on the same side. Trust him and he will trust you.

[Tilly2]

If he's only 18months old you should be able to train him fairly easily, Fender.

[ladybirder]

Wise words Tilly. And well done Fender, he will repay you a thousandfold;-)

This might help. x
http://dogtime.com/dog-breeds/old-english-sheepdog#/slide/1

[Islay]

Fender how kind of you.
A good quality food, you may wish to do a bit of investigation as to how much you are willing to spend as he is going to eat a lot!! Also what you feed him remember you will have to pick up the left overs.
He will be very intelligent so you may wish to go to some 'puppy' training classes.
You can buy a comb that has an in built stripper that would help keep his hair in check in between cuts.
As for he weeing issue, make it fun to go out in the rain, no dog likes to piddle on wet grass - my two stand there looking at me on from that patio as if to say 'really'!!
I throw a ball and get them on the grass that way once on the grass they soon piddle!

[fender62]

Tilly2 islay, thank you for you kind words, i love animals actually adore
i have taken marley to the vets and they gave him a great checkup, happy to say he is fit as a fiddle, but was scratching one ear, so we were given drops for seven days, and that seems to have cured his problem, and flea and worm medication again just in case, and we gave him a shower in the bath lol, did not seem to mind, i think he actually liked it, funny dog...those eyes they have melt your heart.

[Islay]

Fender how long between your last dog and Marley?

[fender62]

20 odd yrs

[ladybirder]

I've got the hump now:-(

[jambutty]

Aww I love these big fluffy wuffy dogs.

[fender62]

exactly like the dulux commercials, bit hair balls of fun lol

[wolf63]

Has he been de-nutted? I rescued a 5 year old who still had all his bits and he was a nightmare to start with.

[fender62]

not ermm de nutted yet, were getting there though, just letting him get used to us at the mo,

[Tilly2]

You might need to invest in a new vacuum cleaner, Fender. :-)

[fender62]

Tilly2, i have a dyson original yellow ones that can suck a garden ball through a hose pipe lol, idid have a similar dulux dog 20odd yrs ago, but have forgotten many of the previous dogs traits, and before that i had a lassie type and before that an alsation, it's just getting used to having a big dog again, but so worth it to me, but i love animals.
i also have two guinea pigs, that marley is very interested in, yes im careful, but like anything he will get used to them in time.

[fender62]

he just figured out how to take the loo rolls off their holders, dam my garden jeez looks like..........

[Islay]

I holiday sit a guinea pig and one of my dogs is mad about it, loves to sit there and just watch and everynow and then I catch them kissing through the bars.
Have fun fender during this special bonding time x

[Tilly2]

How long have you had him, Fender?

[fender62]

i have a hutch out the back for them in summer, they live in the house normally after sunset, but marley goes nuts when he see's them and runs round there hutch barking, so iv brought them back in, they live by the back door nr garden, i supposed to have to waite till he get's used to them, he just barks at them in their hutch outside, sad for piggies as they love to graze on the fresh grass, as i can move their hutch round the garden, yea i have a big garden.