OES R US
THE TALE OF THE DOGS
[Click the pictures to see more]
In the beginning there was a dream. A dream of fuzzy faces
and waggling butts. There were earlier pets, of course, but they weren't Old
English Sheepdogs.
Then there was Domino. What did I know? He was left on the
doorstep with the note "Here is the Sheepdog you always wanted!" He was
the right color, a cute little black and white puppy. So what if he had a tail, and
short wiry hair, and a cute little button nose and... Domino,
our "imitation Sheepdog" was with us for many years - he put up with
several OES foster kids, and those that became his siblings, Digby and
Dapple Ann. He was always "top-dog".
Next there was Digby Tuckerton Lick-a-lot.
I "just wanted to see the puppies" and carried him home in the palms of my
hands. He grew up to be over 100 pounds. We got him from a back-yard breeder.
Little did we know. We learned about hip displasia, hot-spots, and the courage
and nobility of the OES. He is greatly missed. He was the basketball player of
the family, very tall and long and lovable.
Dapple Ann Joined the family at seven months by way of New
York State. Dapple Ann is big for a bitch, larger than many dogs. She
was a standout in the obedience ring. Not many people had ever seen a large OES in
full show coat heeling, jumping, doing scent articles and retrieving. I was
the only one who would be there early for an obedience competition so I could brush out my
dog. Dapple Ann also got the family into movies and commercials through one of her
obedience contacts.
Dandi. Be careful what you wish for, you might just get it.
After Dapple Ann and her large size, I wanted a smaller dog. I got a smaller
dog. Dandi came home from Seattle, Washington with me five years ago. My
husband's (Bob) first sight of the dog was when she (in her crate of course) was coming up
the cargo belt at the airport. All he could see was the dog's head right at the
crate door, front legs spread for balance, with a real "Watch out South Jersey - Here
I Come!!!" look on her face. Dandi is smaller than most bitches, very
strong, determined, and fast. Agility is her love, with obedience (open and
utility) a close second. She loves to work, and although she is a champion, she
never really liked the shows. Dandi and her agility led to our first prime time TV
appearances in promos with our training club for the Philadelphia Dog
Show.
Brandon? Well, Brandon is Bob's
dog, at least that's what I keep telling them. Brandon came to us as a Rescue dog
from a city pound in December, 1997. He was found wandering the streets of the city.
He is over 5 feet long from tip of nose to tip of tail (that's right,
TAIL - big, bushy, and with a white tip) and weighs about 85 pounds. Bob liked him right
away, even though he was a "just a bit" wild. It must have been the tail.
We have bailed him out of rescue and he is now settling in well. Bob and
Brandon are learning Agility, basic obedience, and their place in the pack (Dapple,
and I, are helping).
