It wouldn’t be wrong to call Old English Sheepdogs the canine celebrities of Hollywood! And quite rightly so, as this adorable breed, with its signature shaggy fur and lovable personality, has stolen the limelight in films like ‘The Shaggy Dog’ and ‘Peter Pan.’ What makes them even more appealing is their gentle nature and their eagerness to please, which many view as essential traits for training purposes. But is it really easy to train an Old English Sheepdog? Let’s delve into this quest of understanding.
Old English Sheepdogs, or Bobtails as they are affectionately known, were originally bred in the 19th century to herd cattle and sheep in the Western counties of England. This prestigious pedigree implies that being work dogs, they’re intelligent and capable of independent thought. But intelligence doesn’t necessarily equate to easy trainability. It simply means they can learn and adapt to situations swiftly. A more astute question would be, are they willing to be trained easily?
Training a dog invariably involves a power dynamic. Traditionally, the human owner takes the lead, directing the dog’s conduct and leading them through commands. This works surprisingly well with breeds that have an innate propensity to follow, like Golden Retrievers or Labradors. However, with intelligent and self-reliant breeds like the Old English Sheepdog, this conventional approach may not always yield the desired results.
Don’t let this deter you, though! While it might sound intimidating, the truth is that these shaggy furballs are an absolute joy to train if you understand their psyche. They’re eager learners, but at the same time, their independent streak might cause them to weigh the worthiness of your commands. If they believe the effort outweighs the likely rewards, they might not comply. Consequently, as the trainer, you need to ensure that the training process is framed as a series of fun-filled, rewarding experiences for them.
Let’s take a moment to explore the smart strategies that make training an Old English Sheepdog a fulfilling journey, rather than a grueling task.
1. Start Early: Puppyhood is the golden period for training as it is easier to mold their behaviors. However, remember to keep the sessions short as puppies have a limited attention span.
2. Positive Reinforcement: Old English Sheepdogs respond best to positive reinforcement techniques. They love praise and attention, so don’t hesitate to lavish them with love when they do a good job.
3. Fun-filled Activities: Repetitive activities can bore your Bobtail. Make the training sessions vibrant with games and play-based learning. Fetching, finding hidden objects or playing tag are some of their favorites.
4. Patience: Remember, they have a mind of their own and might not always see the point in what you’re asking them to do. You need to have a lot of patience when training this breed.
5. Persistence: Consistency and persistence are key elements in dog training, especially with independent and intelligent breeds like the Old English Sheepdog.
6. Socialization: Socializing your Old English Sheepdog will not only make him happier, but it will also make him easier to train. Expose your pup to different environments, people, and animals.
Old English Sheepdogs are excellent dogs to own. They are loyal, loving, intelligent, and protective. They bring laughter, love, and a sense of security into your home. While training might require a little extra creativity, patience, and persistence, the effort is rewarded tenfold in the end. As renowned animal behaviorist Roger Abrantes once said “The time we win by hastily proceeding to action is easily lost in the long run”, so your patience and wisdom in training this breed will provide the best results.
In the end, whatever challenge the Old English Sheepdog training might pose is, in fact, the chance for building a unique, rewarding relationship. Once you’ve bonded with an Old English Sheepdog, they’ll do anything for you. Just remember, they want to learn. And once they trust you, they will go from being a stubborn, shaggy dog to a loving, well-behaved member of your family.
So with the initial question, “Is an Old English Sheepdog easy to train?” – even though the answer isn’t a simple ‘yes,’ the nuances that the process involves make it all more fascinating and worthwhile. Despite their independent nature, with a loving and consistent approach, these dogs are capable of being well trained and wonderfully behaved, proving themselves to be stalwarts among training successes.
In conclusion, the Old English Sheepdog’s trainability is an interesting journey rather than a stern classroom scenario, letting us understand that anything rewarding in life might take a while longer but is always worth the patient wait. That very parallels what Old English Sheepdogs offer – a love and loyalty that’s nothing short of extraordinary!
