The ideal master

In a society where everything and everyone must be cost-effective, the OES seems to be part of another era, the era when we knew (when we will know?) how to smile to a stranger, to like pretty things, even if they weren’t useful.

The OES is not an aggressive dog. He will surely warn you by barking if someone comes into your place, but he won’t be prejudiced against anyone. He has a healthy mind. Why should he think that this person can represent a danger simply because he doesn’t know him/her? He is above all a friendly dog but also ready to defend his family if needs be.

Having said that, he is not a « lapdog » either. Let’s not forget his sheepdog origins. Don’t worry, he will enjoy taking a nap on your sofa (he has an innate sense of comfort), but he will also be looking forward to his daily walk which will enable him to run and free his energy.

Finally, even though he is a gorgeous dog, he is not a “show-off” dog. Don’t try to impress your neighbour with your dog, you would lose your composure when he decides to lick him hello!

So if the OES is NOT all of this, what is he? He is a “cool” dog who loves you above everything, who sticks like glue and follows every one of your steps, who is always ready to be stroked. He knows how to adapt to your mood, and to comfort you when you need it. His best reward? Making you laugh! He loves it ! He is definitely not a serious dog. He takes every opportunity to act like a clown ! He is also your children’s friend: He will look after them and play with them at the same time. In the USA, the OES are called “nanny dogs”.

So you may wonder who the ideal master for an OES is. Well, he needs a “cool” master who only asks his dog to be a good company dog (and who will also be good company for his dog). No need to run a marathon every day, but a daily walk will be welcome (Isn’t it what your own doctor recommends anyway??!!). He also likes to go and get the bread!

But don’t be mistaken, as nice as he can be, he is also extremely stubborn. As a consequence, the second quality (?) of a good master is to be even more stubborn than his dog! An OES needs a real education, but a gentle one. Without this education, when you give him an order, he will look at you, will “smile” at you because he loves you but won’t obey you. You will sometimes find some OES who have a very selective hearing, they will always hear such words as “biscuit” for example but not “go back home now”. This education is not so difficult to give because an OES loves his master and is happy to please him. The only thing he asks for is coherence which is essential to trust. His family means everything to him so it must be worthy.

Last but not least, he needs a patient master. First because his master needs to pay attention to him clowning around then because when he will walk him in the streets, a lot of people will go into great raptures about his dog but also because an OES needs regular grooming. This grooming is a moment of pleasure because it means complicity nevertheless it is also a lot of work.

Nowadays, most of the OES puppies are adopted by families who have already had one before (or knowing somebody that has). When we know them, we love them. When we love them, we want to live with them!