OLD ENGLISH SHEEPDOG PUPPY TRAINING & GROOMING 101
Hair, glorious hair...
The Old English Sheepdog has a magnificent coat. Unlike some breeds, the Old English Sheepdog's coat continues to grow so it must be brushed and trimmed to keep it in good condition. When well groomed, an OESs long coat both insulates and protects the dog from the weather... though that coat can also hold IN heat and take a dog longer to cool down so extra care must be taken in warmer weather. If coat care is neglected, the hair will mat and become a source of pain. To help avoid this, Old English Sheepdogs' coats can be trimmed shorter using scissors or electric clippers.
Puppy grooming and conditioning to handling...
So much about a puppy forms during the first 8-12 weeks with the breeder. Puppies from caring breeders will have experienced baths, nail trims, fanny trims, ear cleaning and general handling. We need to continue with this conditioning when our new puppy arrives. This breed must be tolerant of handling because their hair continues to grow and will require lifelong care. We will either spend 3-4 hours brushing each week or we'll need to trim the hair to a shorter, more manageable length. Spending time now will help mold our puppy into a more compliant adult. The idea is to get the puppy to willingly comply so as an adult, he or she will look forward to these one-on-one sessions with us.
* There are OESs that have to be sedated by a vet for grooming or nail trims. This can be so easily avoided by conditioning them to handling as new puppies. It isn't something that can be put off.
I start a play-grooming routine the day I bring home a new puppy. The key is to make it something the pup will look forward to rather than dread. While it's usually unnecessary to comb out an 8-10 week old OES daily, play-grooming gets a puppy used to the handling that will be required throughout his/her lifetime. Puppies first grooming tools I use are simple and inexpensive... a wide tooth, gentle comb; a cardboard finger nail file; some tasty treats and a special chew toy that the puppy only gets during "grooming sessions". When grooming is done, the toy is put away so it will stay special longer.
I soothingly stroke the comb over the puppy's entire body... long, slow strokes. I flip up ear flaps and take a quick look inside the ears and gently touch. I do a quick lift of the lips to check teeth and tell the puppy he/she has pretty teeth and what a good dog they are. Puppies often try to mouth the grooming tools... I try to redirect the puppy's attention by placing the special toy in their mouth. I do not stop grooming just because a puppy chooses to be a brat... even if I have to groom a little longer. I handle the puppy everywhere, even the private areas because as they grow up, I need to clean and trim those area for cleanliness. I don't want a dog to swing around startled when I have to shave or wash these areas so I begin getting the puppy used to this handling early on. Another thing we do with puppies is get them used to the vibration of electric clippers. My husband did an interesting thing with our first OES puppies. He shaves every morning with an electric razor... when our puppy would go over to see him, he would take the back of the razor and run it over the puppy's body. They startled at first but he got them so they enjoyed the morning routine. By the time the were old enough to require a shave down, it was no big deal because they were used to it. You can also do this with a small palm clipper. If the puppy's nails need to be trimmed, I'll use a regular nail clipper to shorten them. Be very careful not to trim them back too short. Better to leave them little longer than to ever give a puppy a negative experience.
The Old English Sheepdog has a magnificent coat. Unlike some breeds, the Old English Sheepdog's coat continues to grow so it must be brushed and trimmed to keep it in good condition. When well groomed, an OESs long coat both insulates and protects the dog from the weather... though that coat can also hold IN heat and take a dog longer to cool down so extra care must be taken in warmer weather. If coat care is neglected, the hair will mat and become a source of pain. To help avoid this, Old English Sheepdogs' coats can be trimmed shorter using scissors or electric clippers.
Puppy grooming and conditioning to handling...
So much about a puppy forms during the first 8-12 weeks with the breeder. Puppies from caring breeders will have experienced baths, nail trims, fanny trims, ear cleaning and general handling. We need to continue with this conditioning when our new puppy arrives. This breed must be tolerant of handling because their hair continues to grow and will require lifelong care. We will either spend 3-4 hours brushing each week or we'll need to trim the hair to a shorter, more manageable length. Spending time now will help mold our puppy into a more compliant adult. The idea is to get the puppy to willingly comply so as an adult, he or she will look forward to these one-on-one sessions with us.
* There are OESs that have to be sedated by a vet for grooming or nail trims. This can be so easily avoided by conditioning them to handling as new puppies. It isn't something that can be put off.
I start a play-grooming routine the day I bring home a new puppy. The key is to make it something the pup will look forward to rather than dread. While it's usually unnecessary to comb out an 8-10 week old OES daily, play-grooming gets a puppy used to the handling that will be required throughout his/her lifetime. Puppies first grooming tools I use are simple and inexpensive... a wide tooth, gentle comb; a cardboard finger nail file; some tasty treats and a special chew toy that the puppy only gets during "grooming sessions". When grooming is done, the toy is put away so it will stay special longer.
I soothingly stroke the comb over the puppy's entire body... long, slow strokes. I flip up ear flaps and take a quick look inside the ears and gently touch. I do a quick lift of the lips to check teeth and tell the puppy he/she has pretty teeth and what a good dog they are. Puppies often try to mouth the grooming tools... I try to redirect the puppy's attention by placing the special toy in their mouth. I do not stop grooming just because a puppy chooses to be a brat... even if I have to groom a little longer. I handle the puppy everywhere, even the private areas because as they grow up, I need to clean and trim those area for cleanliness. I don't want a dog to swing around startled when I have to shave or wash these areas so I begin getting the puppy used to this handling early on. Another thing we do with puppies is get them used to the vibration of electric clippers. My husband did an interesting thing with our first OES puppies. He shaves every morning with an electric razor... when our puppy would go over to see him, he would take the back of the razor and run it over the puppy's body. They startled at first but he got them so they enjoyed the morning routine. By the time the were old enough to require a shave down, it was no big deal because they were used to it. You can also do this with a small palm clipper. If the puppy's nails need to be trimmed, I'll use a regular nail clipper to shorten them. Be very careful not to trim them back too short. Better to leave them little longer than to ever give a puppy a negative experience.