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Minnesota-Midwest Old English Sheepdog Rescue~* Volunteers Serving OES in the Midwest *~
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Please Let Us Know You Were Here & Sign Our New Guest Book!
Donations can be made directly to:
Wolff Animal Hospital (Please let them know it's a donation for a MOESR
pet),
9201 Penn Avenue South, Bloomington, MN 55431, (952) 884-4353
Checks can be mailed directly to the animal hospital and credit card
donations can be taken over the telephone.
Please give the receptionist your name, address and telephone number. Please
include your pet's names, if you have them, so we can recognize them
as sponsors too!
Our Mission:
Minnesota-Midwest Old English Sheepdog Rescue
"Volunteers Dedicated to OES and Their Families"
Contact:
Nancy Hakala - Minnesota:
nancyhakala@aol.com 952-831-5415
Nita McCreary - Indiana:
812-527-2955"nita.mccreary@mac.com812-527-2955
Cindy Klossner:
MnRescuedFriends@aol.com 952-933-9079
As a not-for-profit rescue our mission is to rescue stray, abandoned or
neglected dogs along with dogs whose families can no longer care for
them (at times bad things happen to good people & their pets) and
place these pets into loving, permanent homes.
We strive to promote and encourage responsible pet ownership. To ensure
humane treatment, compassion and respect for all dogs. We also
strive to make a difference in pet over-population by ensuring all
dogs adopted from MOESR are altered prior to adoption. Please read our pages to learn more.
It is love.
Adoption is an Act of Kindness.
"Why Should I Adopt an OES or Other Homeless Canine?"
There is a wonderful dog in need of a home waiting for you!
By adopting, you are helping to save the life of a dog in need of a forever
home.
Dogs purchased from a commercial kennel, pet store, puppy mill, or backyard
breeder perpetuates the "puppies-for-profit" industry.
Rescue organizations are not against all breeding. There are a few high
quality, conscientious, reputable breeders who understand the need to continue
the breed without contributing to the countless number of homeless pets each
year.
~*~Surrendering a Pet to Minnesota-Midwest Old English Sheepdog Rescue? ~*~
Have you or someone you know found yourself in a position where you can no longer care for your companion? Please call Nancy at 952-831-5415 or e-mail Nancy . She will help you -- Your anonymity is always respected. *Feel free to ask about our PAWS Program -- Pets Adoptable Without Surrender - where you assist in the placement of your pet. Or, if you need immediate assistance, your pet can enter our foster care program where it wil live comfortably in a foster home best suited for it's needs until it is adopted.
Adoption Process
Our adoption process is very similar to the procedures of a reputable breeder:
1) Fill out an
This helps us find the best match for you and your lifestyle.
2) We share a telephone interview. You interview us as we interview you.
Please feel free to ask lots of questions! You will want to learn as much as
possible about the animal you are looking to adopt.
3) Agent from MOESR will complete a reference check, including your
veterinarian.
4) If all are in agreement to go forward with an adoption, we then match you
with the rescue OES that best fits your family and lifestyle.
If you have any questions during the process, please call our Placement
Director. Thank you!
* Please e-mail us for a list of OES rescues in your area!! * Simply leave
your name & contact information. We will forward it to the OES rescues in your
area. -- There are many OES across the country in need of your love. Please
note: Not all OES rescues have a space on the Internet. Many operate by word of
mouth and/or by referrals only. There may be an OES looking for a home very near
your own -- Waiting just for you!!
; Dogs Deserve Better
; Deaf Dog Education Action Fund
Dog Years - Age Converter
To Live With an Old English Sheepdog Requires
PATIENCE and a GOOD SENSE of
HUMOR.
This breed can be bumptious and flighty, and can become restless
and flaky if confined too much. They can also be STUBBORN, and can become
aggressive if treated harshly. A trainer who is familiar with Old English
Sheepdog behavior and who works only in POSITIVE reinforcement training is
strongly recommended! Daily walks and play time help the OES work off some of
their energy and they return home a tired couch or doggy-bed potato!
'maggie'
An OES who is trained with positive reinforcement training can likely be the greatest dog you'll come across. Personality plus. They thrive on being with their people, "in on the action" and being the object of your affection. A properly trained OES is a best friend for life and will return your affection ten fold.
Grooming:
*OES require a great amount of grooming time and attention or their coat will become matted, and possibly odorous. A matted OES is at great risk for skin conditions and hot spots "moist dermatitis". A matted OES has no isolation from the elements of either heat or cold. This can be prevented with care and regular grooming. *OES also need special attention paid to their paw pads. The fur between the pads must be clipped very short or clippered to prevent dirt and debris from injuring the paw pad. In winter months, snow and ice can pack into the pads causing frost bite and permanent injury to the pad. During all months, an OES is at risk of picking up toxins on the their pads such as oil, antifreeze, salt, debris, etc. Special care and attention must be paid to avoid injury to your bobtails pads. * OES grow hair in and deep inside their ear canal. Along with the wax build up, this can be a breeding ground for bacteria and infection. The ears of an OES should be cleaned weekly with ear cleaner and dried thoroughly. At the same time - all hair inside should be pulled (removed) to prevent possible infection or hearing loss. Look inside your dogs ears. Are they clean? Dirt, wax, debris and hair free? *We will help you with ANY grooming questions you might come across with your OES. *Please be prepared to spend hours at home grooming along with trips to a professional groomer regularly. Grooming can be a wonderful bonding experience between you and your rescued friend. A well groomed OES is a happy OES and a happy family!
'maisie, spenser 'n fletcher'
Chewing:
In addition, OES like to chew. Please be prepared with healthy chews and healthy chew toys like Pizzles AKA Bully Bones, Booda bones, some Nylabones, stuffed - then frozen Kongs, etc. to satisfy this need. Pressed rawhide or a rawhide chips (in moderation!) and 'Made in the USA' (rawhides made outside of the USA are not regulated and may contain formaldehyde) With the possible exception of a stuffed Kong or Nylabone for strong chewers, please do not leave your dog unattended with it's chews.
'louie, grover 'n sophie (deaf)'
Have small children?
While some believe that OES are good with small children and the thought of having a "Nanny" companion for your little ones sounds romantic -- Please remember that the NUMBER ONE reason OES get SURRENDERED to pounds, shelters and rescue is because the OES grows too large for the children and their family. OES are rambunctious and have been known to knock down children in play. They are only doing what their herding instincts are telling them to do ... but the dog gets blamed for accidents that could have been prevented by waiting just a little longer until your child(ren) are a little older. Remember! That cute little puppy you see will be a LARGE puppy in just a few short months. They grow big very quickly. ** Please ask us how to get answers, daily support and other advice from OES owners with lots of experience in this regard before considering adding an OES to your family. *An older OES with a proven sound temperament amongst children may be a better option for your family *
'sammi and her pal'
Interested in meeting a dog listed here?
We do not have a commercial facility. Sheepies like (NEED) to be
part of a family, "in on the action" and with their person(s). They do NOT do
well at all when left out alone. In kennels, runs, etc. All dogs in MOESR are
fostered in private homes for the pet's emotional well being and physical
safety. The dogs live with a foster family until adopted. * You can meet a dog
you're interested in once you've submitted an application, and by appointment
only. *
Please note: Although you may have submitted an application with a
specific rescue dog in mind because of an adorable picture or interesting bio,
we DO review your application to help decide which rescued OES is best suited
for your family and needs of the rescued dog.
Again, thank you for your patience while we find your forever best friend
and family member.
"Uh ohh! Someone needs training!"
Some uprights (humans) need to be trained not to leave food items on
counters.
NOTE: This pair was fostered with MN OES Rescue.
... their foster mum has since been trained!
'harlow 'n lily'
POSSITIVE REINFORCEMENT TRAINING
We all like to be praised rather than punished. The same is true
for your dog, and that's the theory behind positive reinforcement. Positive
reinforcement means giving your pet something pleasant or rewarding immediately
after she does something you want her to do. Because your praise or reward makes
her more likely to repeat that behavior in the future, it is one of your most
powerful tools for shaping or changing your dog's behavior.
Correct timing is essential when using positive reinforcement. The reward must
occur immediately—within seconds—or your pet may not associate it with the
proper action. For example, if you have your dog "sit" but reward her after
she's already stood back up, she'll think she's being rewarded for standing up.
Consistency is also essential. Everyone in the family should use the same
commands. It might help to post these where everyone can become familiar with
them.
The most commonly used commands for dogs are:
"watch me"
"sit"
"stay"
"down" (which means "lie down")
"off" (which means "get off of me" or "get off the furniture")
"stand"
"come"
"heel" or "let's go"
"leave it"
"settle"
'bobtails in foster care'
Consistency means always rewarding the desired behavior and never rewarding
undesired behavior.
Using Positive Reinforcement
For your pet, positive reinforcement may include food treats,
praise, petting, or a favorite toy or game. Food treats work especially well for
training your dog. A treat should be enticing and irresistible to your pet. It
should be a very small, soft piece of food, so that she will immediately gulp it
down and look to you for more. If you give her something she has to chew or that
breaks into bits and falls on the floor, she'll be looking around the floor, not
at you. Small pieces of soft commercial treats, hot dogs, cheese, or cooked
chicken or beef have all proven successful. Experiment a bit to see what works
best for your pet. You can carry the treats in a pocket or fanny pack. Each time
you use a food reward, you should couple it with a verbal reward (praise). Say
something like, "Good dog," in a positive, happy tone of voice.
Some pets may not be interested in food treats. For those pets, the reward could
be in the form of a toy or brief play.
When your pet is learning a new behavior, she should be rewarded every time she
does the behavior, which means continuous reinforcement. It may be necessary to
use a technique called "shaping" with your pet, which means reinforcing
something close to the desired response and then gradually requiring more from
your dog before she gets the treat. For example, if you're teaching your dog to
"shake hands," you may initially reward her for lifting her paw off the ground,
then for lifting it higher, then for touching your hand, then for letting you
hold her paw, and finally, for actually "shaking hands" with you.
Intermittent reinforcement can be used once your pet has reliably learned the
behavior. At first, reward her with the treat three out of every four times she
does the behavior. Then, over time, reward her about half the time, then about a
third of the time, and so on, until you're only rewarding her occasionally with
the treat. Continue to praise her every time—although once your dog has learned
the behavior, your praise can be less effusive, such as a quiet, but positive,
"Good dog." Use a variable schedule of reinforcement so that she doesn't catch
on that she only has to respond every other time. Your pet will soon learn that
if she keeps responding, eventually she'll get what she wants—your praise and an
occasional treat.
By understanding reinforcement, you'll see that you're not forever bound to
carry a pocketful of goodies. Your dog will soon be working for your verbal
praise, because she really does want to please you and knows that, occasionally,
she'll get a treat, too. There are many small opportunities to reinforce her
behavior. You may have her "sit" before letting her out the door (which helps
prevent door-darting), before petting her (which helps prevent jumping up on
people), or before feeding her. Give her a pat or a "Good dog" for lying quietly
by your feet, or slip a treat into a Kong®-type toy when she's chewing it
instead of your shoe.
The Pros and Cons of Punishment
Punishment can be verbal, postural, or physical, and it means
giving your pet something unpleasant immediately after she does something you
don't want her to do. The punishment makes it less likely that the behavior will
occur again. To be effective, punishment must be delivered while your pet is
engaged in the undesirable behavior—in other words, "caught in the act." If the
punishment is delivered too late, even seconds later, your pet will not
associate the punishment with the undesired behavior.
Punishment delivered by you may erode your dog's trust. That's why punishment is
most effective when it does not come directly from you. For example, after your
dog acts in an undesirable way, use a shake can, an air horn, or keys—but don't
draw attention to the fact that the noise comes from you. If your dog perceives
her "environment," instead of you, to be delivering the punishment, she'll be
more likely to avoid the behavior even when you're not around.
In addition, if you're too late in administering it, punishment will
seem totally unpredictable to your dog. She's likely to become fearful,
distrustful, and/or aggressive, which will only lead to more behavior problems.
What we humans often interpret as "guilty" looks are actually submissive
postures by our pets. Animals don't have a moral sense of right and wrong, but
they are adept at associating your presence, and the presence of a mess, with
punishment. If you've tried punishment and it hasn't worked, you should
definitely stop using punishment and use only positive reinforcement instead.
And never use physical punishment that involves some level of
discomfort or even pain, which may cause your pet to bite to defend herself.
Holding the neck skin and shaking your dog, or performing "alpha rolls" (forcing
your dog onto her back and pinning her on the floor), are both likely to result
in bites.
Also, punishment might be associated with other stimuli,
including people, that are present at the time the punishment occurs. For
example, a pet who is punished for getting too close to a small child may become
fearful of, or aggressive to, that child—or to other children. That's why
physical punishment is not only bad for your pet, it's also bad for you and
others.
©2002. Adapted from material originally developed by applied animal behaviorists
at the Dumb Friends League, Denver, Colorado. All rights reserved.
'annie with her mum and angel, susan and their fabulous trainer'
At Minnesota-Midwest Old English Sheepdog Rescue, we strongly
encourage adopters to enroll their new family member in a Positive Reinforcement
Obedience Training Class. It will not only help you and your dog understand one
another better -- but it will build the bond between you and your family member
stronger and sooner. There's nothing better than working with and understanding
your best friend.
Foster Homes & Volunteers Needed
If you have space in your heart and home, please consider fostering! It's a great way to help with rescue, and a great way to know if an OES/dog is really going to fit into your lifestyle. Administrative help is always needed -- even a little of your time helps a LOT!.
Interested in joining the MOESR team and volunteering?
Please e-mail
MOESRr or phone: 952-831-5415
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Are you feeding Puff to Spot and visa versa?
Feeding a pet food that is the equivalent to fast food for humans?
Please take the time to educate yourself and others about what
is in your pet's food. What ARE those mysterious ingredients?! What does it all
mean? Please stay away from Wheat/Corn fillers, By-Products, Rendered Fats. What
you feed your pet is *very* important. It can decrease or PROLONG your "best
friend's" life! Please remember that your veterinarian is a veterinarian,
respectfully. However, the best person to consult in choosing a pet food is a
Pet Nutrionist. Your rescued pet deserves a healthy diet, and you deserve to
have your companion to be with you for a very long time. Please consider premium
pet foods for your pet(s)!
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From the "Whole Dog Journal"
Currently the WDJ has decided that it is unable to rank in
order, but has listed the following as the best premium pet foods in
alphabetical order. (The location of the manufacturer is also included, yet
these premium pet foods can be found all across the country.)
Artemis (Artemis Pet Foods- CA)
Azmira (Azmira Holistic Animal Care -AZ)
Back to Basics (Beowulf Natural Foods - Syracuse NY)
Bench & Field (Bench & Filed Pet Foods - IN)
Blue Buffalo (The Blue Buffalo Company -CT)
Burns (Burns Pet Nutrition - IN)
California Natural (Natura Pet Products - CA)
Canidae (Canidae Corp. -CA)
Chicken Soup for the Pet Lover's Soul (Diamond Pet Products - MO)
Drs. Foster & Smith (Dr Foster & Smith - WI)
Eagle Pack Holistic Select (Eagle Pet Products, Inc.- IN)
Flint River (Flint River Ranch - CA)
Fromm 4 Star Nutritionals (Fromm Family Foods - WI)
Hund-N-Flocken (Solid Gold Health Prodcuts - CA)
Innova (Natura Pet Products - CA)
Karma (Natura pet Prodcuts - CA)
Lifespan (Petguard - FL)
Limited Diets (Innovative Veterinary Diets - PA)
Millennia (Solid Gold Health Products - CA)
Natural Balance Ultra Premium (Dick Van Patten's Natural Balance - CA)
Newman's Own (Newman's Own Organics - CA)
PHD (Perfect Health Diet Products - White Plains, NY)
Organix (Casotr & Pollux Pet Works - OR)
Pinnacle (Breeder's Choice Pet Foods - CA)
Prairie (Nature's Variety - NE)
Prime Life (Owen & Mnadeville Pet Products - CT)
Royal Canin Natural Blend (Royal Canin USA Inc. - MO)
Showbound Naturals (Integrated Pet Products - PA)
Timberwolf Organics (Yukon Nutritional Corp. - FL)
Verus (VeRus Pet Foods, Inc. - MD)
Wellness (Old Mother Hubbard -MA)
Wysong (Wysong Corporation - MI)
Please call your local pet or feed store to see what premium pet foods they
carry. Please note: Grocery stores, Most large pet store chains carry no
premium pet foods. * We can help find a pet store in your area who carries
premium pet foods.
How to grade your dog's food: Start with a grade of 100:
1) For every listing of "by-product", subtract 10 points
2) For every non-specific animal source ("meat" or "poultry", meat, meal or fat)
reference, subtract 10 points
3) If the food contains BHA, BHT, or ethoxyquin, subtract 10 points
4) For every grain "mill run" or non-specific grain source,subtract 5 points
5) If the same grain ingredient is used 2 or more times in the first five
ingredients (i.e. "ground brown rice", "brewerâ?Ts rice", "rice flour" are all
the same grain), subtract 5 points
6) If the protein sources are not meat meal and there are less than 2 meats in
the top 3 ingredients, subtract 3 points
7) If it contains any artificial colorants, subtract 3 points
8 ) If it contains ground corn or whole grain corn, subtract 3points
9) If corn is listed in the top 5 ingredients, subtract 2 morepoints
10) If the food contains any animal fat other than fish oil,subtract 2 points
11) If lamb is the only animal protein source (unless your dog is allergic to
other protein sources), subtract 2 points
12) If it contains soy or soybeans, subtract 2 points
13) If it contains wheat (unless you know that your dog isnâ?Tt allergic to
wheat), subtract 2 points
14) If it contains beef (unless you know that your dog isnâ?Tt allergic to
beef), subtract 1 point
15) If it contains salt, subtract 1 point
Extra Credit:
1) If any of the meat sources are organic, add 5 points
2) If the food is endorsed by any major breed group or nutritionist, add 5
points
3) If the food is baked not extruded, add 5 points
4) If the food contains probiotics, add 3 points
5) If the food contains fruit, add 3 points
6) If the food contains vegetables (NOT corn or other grains), add 3 points
7) If the animal sources are hormone-free and antibiotic-free, add 2 points
8 ) If the food contains barley, add 2 points
9) If the food contains flax seed oil (not just the seeds), add 2 points
10) If the food contains oats or oatmeal, add 1 point
11) If the food contains sunflower oil, add 1 point
12) For every different specific animal protein source (other than the first
one; count "chicken" and "chicken meal" as only one protein source, but
"chicken" and "" as 2 different sources), add 1 point
13) If it contains glucosamine and chondroitin, add 1 point
14) If the vegetables have been tested for pesticides and are pesticide-free,
add 1 point
94-100+ = A
86-93 = B
78-85 = C
70-77 = D
69 = F
Already Tested & Scored
Authority Harvest Baked / Score 116 A+
Bil-Jac Select / Score 68 F
Canidae / Score 112 A+
Chicken Soup Senior / Score 115 A+
Diamond Maintenance / Score 64 F
Diamond Lamb Meal & Rice / Score 92 B
Diamond Large Breed 60+ Formula / Score 99 A
Dick Van Patten's Natural Balance Ultra Premium / Score 122 A+
Dick Van Patten's Duck and Potato / Score 106 A+
Foundations / Score 106 A+
Hund-n-Flocken Adult Dog (lamb) by Solid Gold / Score 93 D
Iams Lamb Meal & Rice Formula Premium / Score 73 D
Innova Dog / Score 114 A+
Innova Evo / Score 114 A+
Kirkland Signature Chicken, Rice, and Vegetables / Score 110 A+ Kirkland is Sold
Exclusively at Costco
Nutrisource Lamb and Rice / Score 87 B
Nutro Natural Choice Large Breed Puppy / Score 87 B
Pet Gold Adult with Lamb & Rice / Score 23 F
ProPlan Natural Turkey & Barley / Score 103 A+
Purina Beneful / Score 17 F
Purina Dog / Score 62 F
Purina Come-n-Get It / Score 16 F
Royal Canin Bulldog / Score 100 A+
Royal Canin Natural Blend Adult / Score 106 A+
Sensible Choice Chicken and Rice / Score 97 A
Science Diet Advanced Protein Senior 7+ / Score 63 F Science Diet for Large
Breed Puppies / Score 69 F
Wellness Super5 Mix Chicken / Score 110 A+
Wolfking Adult Dog (bison) by Solid Gold / Score 97 A
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