Old English Sheepdogs are not seen much in Texas, but they’re my favorite breed. The OES loves people and can be quite the clown. They are good-natured and sociable, enthusiastic and bumptious.
Our first OES, Obadiah came to live with us after our move from New England back to Texas and we’ve had one ever since.
Obie never quite understood he was a dog. Our daughter treated him like the little brother she never had. Such a kind gentle soul. He never once complained or growled.
The sad part of owning an OES is their short life span of ten to twelve years.
When we lost Obie, we found Micah at a breeder in Colorado. Our furry bundle of energy arrived for Christmas and filled our sad hearts with fun and laughter.
Micah took it in stride when our granddog Bernie came to live with us when our son went off to seminary. A short time later, a rescue OES, Rhinestone, joined us. They made quite the trio walking through our neighborhood. 
We lost Micah and Bernie (at age 17) close to the same time. Rhinestone, already skittish from her early life, became even more attached to me. When we had hardwood floors installed, she went to stay with my sister-in-law, who had recently lost her dog. Two lovely ladies found one another and became best buds. Rhinestone went to live with Keta.
I wrote about their story in The Dog Next Door.
After Rhinestone, we were dog-less for a time. we hated it and began yet another OES search.
Finally, we found a breeder in Florida with a litter ready to go to furever homes.
Tobias (Toby) arrived one hot summer day. It was love at first sight.
A couple of years later Buster, a twelve-pound Maltese, came to live with us. And once again we were a big happy family. Buster loved to sit on my lap and help me write.
When Toby crossed the rainbow bridge, we thought Buster would be a fine only dog. But the three of us missed having a big guy around.
After another OES search, we found Micah’s breeder in Colorado had puppies ready. We picked up Finnegan MacCool on a crisp October day. Buster was delighted to share his bean bag again.
Sadly, we lost Buster in 2021 and now Finn is an only dog. It’s working fine. Finn misses Buster but Buster bossed him around and wouldn’t share my lap willingly. Now Finn has my lap all to himself. He’s a happy dog.
Love the story. As the daughter of a veterinarian I had lots of dogs but never a sheep dog. Great Danes, cocker spaniels, pugs, boxers, a Saint Bernard. Never an OES.
What fun getting to have lots of different breeds as pets.
For a big, lovely dog, I believe an OES is the best. Our Toby had a pair of Great Dane friends and a friend raised Saint Bernards-too sloppery for me. ;) If we get another dog, I’m thinking it will be a Maltese.
I’m the daughter of a veterinarian and had lots of pets growing up butnever a sheep dog. What a lovely story.
Bruce Cameron, a kindred soul, writes about dogs coming back to us again and again. It’s a beautiful thought and your lovely and loving dogs seem to prove it.