There are hundreds of breeds of dogs and each one of them has their own personality and quirks. What makes a great canine companion for one family may not be the best choice for another. If you are considering an old English Sheepdog and are thinking about adding one to your family here are a few things that you need to think about before getting one.
A fully grown sheepdog can be quite big. A male will reach heights of up to twenty-two inches and may weigh a hundred pounds. This means that you will pay more for food and veterinary care. It may also make it difficult for you to fit your dog into a smaller car. They do well in apartments however, as long as they have a way to get exercise.
If you are looking for a dog that gets along well with people and is easy to socialize you will likely be in luck with an old English as these dogs tend to be quite outgoing and friendly. It is still important for you to introduce them to as many different people and situations as you can before they reach maturity. This way if you use positive reinforcement when they do meet new people you can help ensure that you have a friendly, non-aggressive canine companion.
One area where these dogs may be harder to deal with is their fur. They have a lot of it and it can be fluffy and hard to work with. If you don't care about having a dog with long hair you can keep your sheepdog clipped short but if you want it to be long you can expect to spend a lot of time clipping, brushing and washing your dog to keep mats and tangles from forming.
One advantage that this breed has is that they are often fairly quiet dogs. This is a fantastic advantage if you and your dog will live in close proximity to people who are not in your family. While you can expect them to sound an alert if they feel there is an intruder around they do not have the same tendency to be yappy that other dogs may have.
A good breeder will do their best to make sure that they are producing healthy puppies but there are some conditions that these dogs are prone to getting. Like many large breeds they may have bad hips and if this is the case it may cost thousands of dollars to ensure your dog is comfortable and able to be active.
If you do get an old English it is important for you to make sure that you are feeding them properly. Because they are large breed dogs they need a food that will support rapid growth in their first year. A good quality large breed puppy food is essential and can ensure your puppy grows into a happy, healthy adult.
Although sheepdogs can be really fun and easygoing that doesn't mean you don't have to train them. They are fast learners and quite intelligent. This makes them great additions to puppy classes and obedience classes as well. You will be able to show your dog different dogs and people and train out bad habits like jumping and pulling before you have to deal with a large dog doing them.
A fully grown sheepdog can be quite big. A male will reach heights of up to twenty-two inches and may weigh a hundred pounds. This means that you will pay more for food and veterinary care. It may also make it difficult for you to fit your dog into a smaller car. They do well in apartments however, as long as they have a way to get exercise.
If you are looking for a dog that gets along well with people and is easy to socialize you will likely be in luck with an old English as these dogs tend to be quite outgoing and friendly. It is still important for you to introduce them to as many different people and situations as you can before they reach maturity. This way if you use positive reinforcement when they do meet new people you can help ensure that you have a friendly, non-aggressive canine companion.
One area where these dogs may be harder to deal with is their fur. They have a lot of it and it can be fluffy and hard to work with. If you don't care about having a dog with long hair you can keep your sheepdog clipped short but if you want it to be long you can expect to spend a lot of time clipping, brushing and washing your dog to keep mats and tangles from forming.
One advantage that this breed has is that they are often fairly quiet dogs. This is a fantastic advantage if you and your dog will live in close proximity to people who are not in your family. While you can expect them to sound an alert if they feel there is an intruder around they do not have the same tendency to be yappy that other dogs may have.
A good breeder will do their best to make sure that they are producing healthy puppies but there are some conditions that these dogs are prone to getting. Like many large breeds they may have bad hips and if this is the case it may cost thousands of dollars to ensure your dog is comfortable and able to be active.
If you do get an old English it is important for you to make sure that you are feeding them properly. Because they are large breed dogs they need a food that will support rapid growth in their first year. A good quality large breed puppy food is essential and can ensure your puppy grows into a happy, healthy adult.
Although sheepdogs can be really fun and easygoing that doesn't mean you don't have to train them. They are fast learners and quite intelligent. This makes them great additions to puppy classes and obedience classes as well. You will be able to show your dog different dogs and people and train out bad habits like jumping and pulling before you have to deal with a large dog doing them.
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You can get a summary of the things to consider before choosing an Old English Sheepdog breeder at http://www.shaggeybarkoes.com right now.
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