New England Old English Sheepdog Rescue, Inc.

Update:  Jan. 2008  

Can you believe it has been 5 years since Sebby’s homecoming ? Looking back, we can honestly say it was one of the best decisions we made. He is such a huge part of our family that we can’t imagine life without him.

Sebastian was always a bit of a barker, but now he seems to bark as if he is talking to us. When Sir Sebastian is displeased, which can encompass a great many situations, he barks. When he is outside and wants in and has waited longer than 15 seconds, he barks. When he is inside and wants out, he barks. When He thinks it is dinner time, which is based on his internal stomach clock and not necessary on the number of hours, or light of day, he barks. He barks when Ken and I kiss, because he is being left out. He barks when Nikki is getting attention, because he is waiting for his. He has also developed the “whine” to a fine art. The whine generally happens when he knows we are in the house, but he can’t get to us. For example: we are in the bathroom, and really don’t need his assistance; we are changing in the bedroom, and would like to put on a pair of pants that at least started the day without dog hair. And you should hear him when I say, “Soup’s On..”

Funny thing though. When Ken feeds them, Sebby is as quiet as a mouse. Not even a whimper. He claims it is because he is Alpha and the dogs know it. They also know that I am not Alpha, and I am really okay with this.
Once in an email, I said that “he is a brat!” and it still stands. Yes Grannie Annie, your grand-dog is a brat!

But we love him dearly. During this time of year I work late and don’t always get to spend as much time around them and Sebbie becomes more clingy. The phrase “Velcro dog” was definitely written about this sheepie. He tends to lay at my feet wherever I am. Yes, you guessed it, I currently have a foot warmer. One weekend, I was sitting on the loveseat reading a book and couldn’t put the footrest up because His Highness was laying in front of the chair. So I got up and moved to a chair across the room. I hadn’t even gotten comfortable, when he got up and moved to lay against the chair. Then the phone rang and I was straddling the footrest and a very large dog in order to run to answer it.

Sebby does enjoy his lap-sitting time, both with Ken and me. When we are sitting down in the evenings, he will usually end up on one of our laps. It’s funny, any other dog I’ve had will sit on my lap for a few minutes, maybe 10 or 15 minutes if it is particularly cold. Sebby crawls up, makes himself comfortable, and then falls asleep. He has slept on my lap, snoring, dreaming, and chasing rabbits, for 2 hours and seems rather perturbed when I finally have to get him off to get my circulation back.

Sebastian is a healthy, normal dog. His sense of hearing and sense of smell has more than made up for his loss of eyesight. His dosage of phenobarb was increased to 100mg twice a day, and since then (almost 2 years ago), he has not (touch wood) had a seizure. Every now and then I think he might have one coming on, as I notice little changes in his personality, but they have not materialized. He runs and jumps and plays just like any dog, and seems to be quite contented as long as he has Nikki or his peoples nearby. He does love his affections … when I am sitting on the floor, he will walk over and basically fall on me to get my attention. No, not because he is blind and didn’t see me. He likes to fall on my lap and then lifts up one front paw as if to say, “Aw, ain’t I cute.” Of course he is, and He knows it.
I have discovered the miracle tooth cleaning tool, “Raw Bones,” and they each got a new one last Sunday. Sebby goes out and chews for hours. These have surpassed his other favourite treat ­ Snow Cones. When I call them in for bed, Sebby is sometimes reluctant to leave his bone, and has managed to “sneak” it into the house and onto the carpet a half dozen times. You would think I would catch on, wouldn’t you ? I check when he comes in but he sometimes holds his head down and I just don’t see it.

Life just wouldn’t be the same without Sebby’s sheepie antics. Thank-you NEOESR for this amazing gift.

Ken & Kathy Shumard

Update:  Dec. 2005

Well, in short, HE'S A BRAT.  This big love-bug is in his glory with the snow.  He goes outside and chomps on his own personal icicles (being the mounds of snow shovelled off the deck) and forgets to pee while he's out there.  On the weekend, I let them both out to do their thing and then went and folded laundry.  I went back to the door and called them both in.  Not a half hour later, Sebby's doing the "pee pee dance" and when I let him out, he created his own personal lake !

After a seizure earlier this year, he seemed to be walking stiff-legged and his hips were clicking.  I suspect he put something out of place when he was coming out of the seizure during the disorientation faze.  We didn't notice anything until a couple days afterwards.  We found a wonderful chiropractor and saw a difference after the first treatment.  Afterwards, she gave Sebby a treat and a hug.  I was really impressed and he really doesn't seem to mind the process either.

The people at work all think I'm crazy (not a completely inaccurate diagnosis) with my singing Christmas Sheepie on my desk.  I love it when someone comes by who hasn't seen him before because I get to make him sing. Then we get talking about real sheepdogs and I show them my computer desktop with Sebby's picture.

I don't know about any of you, but I have been to 2 Christmas functions at peoples homes this year.  In both cases, the ladies keep elegant, immaculate homes and they collect antiques and have beautiful crystal and knick knack collections.  Every table and stand has something on it.  The homes are beautiful, but the first thing I realized is that they don't have a dog (or a cat).  I came home and gave both my guys big hugs, and told them I wouldn't trade them for all the dust collectors in the world.

Ken, Kathy, Nikki, and Sebastian
gone-to-the-dogs@telus.net

Update:  May 2005

Hello.  Grannie Annie forwarded an e-mail enquiring about Sebastian (aka Sebby).  I wanted to respond personally as we have been so happy with this pup, and have been amazed over the last couple of years by the number of people who have been touched by his story.

    He is doing very well and is living a true "dog's life."  About a month before he was to come home to us, we were informed by Grannie Annie that Sebby had experienced a seizure.  She was very good at informing us of his condition and allowing us to "rethink" our adoption.  I am sure she was worried about our reaction, and really wanted him to find his furr-ever home -- once.  We talked about this and I did a lot of reading on seizures.  But our hearts were already given to this sweet bundle and there was no turning back.   We still comment on what a great addition to our family he has been

    He has had further seizures, and is on 60mg of phenobarb 2x per day (apparently a fairly low dose), which seems to have limited the seizures to once a year.  He is blind, but most people who meet him have no idea.  The way he moves around the house and tears around the back yard you would never know.  Every now and again he will bump into a wall or a piece of furniture in the house if he gets disoriented (usually in one of his round-and-round play sessions with his brother Nikki).  Otherwise, he is a perfectly normal (STUBBORN) clown.

    When he first came home, his stubby didn't move much, and he wasn't a very "kissy" dog -- at least compared to the Wigglebum we had previously.  We have discovered recently that yes, his wiggle does work and when we get a kiss, we know it is truly special (we must have been especially good.)

    Did I mention he is Stubborn ?  Yes, I know this is an OES trait, but this fellow has it in spades.  We have an "out of the kitchen" rule when I am working back and forth between the sink and stove, and usually in a hurry to get dinner on.  I don't want to step on him.  He has decided that as long as he leaves, he can come back in whenever he wants.  "Well, I did get out, you know !"  He will often stand just outside of the kitchen and then inch his way back into the kitchen until he is laying behind my heels.  He has got "the creep" down to a science.  He stretches and gains 2 feet each time until he is where he wants to be.

    When we go for a W-A-L-K, I swear he is training for the Yukon Quest (Canadian version of the Iditarod).  At times, I swear my arm disengages from my shoulder.  He loves walking but his nose and ears take over and he has to experience EVERYTHING.  We are working with a wonderful trainer and with a different collar and a different technique, we are improving.  I am waiting for the new Gentle Leader Easy Walk harness to be available -- should have it in a couple more weeks.  We have had great success with a similar one being borrowed from the trainer.

    I have attached recent picture of him being a "lap dog" with our daughter.

    It is wonderful that so many people have been so concerned about this guy.  He's truly a special pup.  And he is loved -- which is the most important thing.

Ken, Kathy, Nikki, and Sebastian

See 2005 video clip - N&S playing  Click for movie clip  (7,623KB)        Need Quicktime?