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Breed Characteristics
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Old English Sheepdog
| Other Names | Altenglischer Schaeferhund, Altenglischer Schäferhund, Antiguo Perro pastor Inglés |
| Nicknames | Bobtail, Bob, OES |
| Country of Origin | Great Britain |
| Weight | Males: from 65 lbs. (29 kg) Females: from 60 lbs. (27 kg) Some can grow to over 100 lbs. (45 kg) |
| Height (at withers) | Males: 22 - 24 in. (56 - 61 cm) Females: 20 - 22 in. (51 cm) |
| Coat | The coat of the Old English Sheepdog is thick, soft, and dense; it has a fairly thick texture and soft undercoat. It can look quite unkempt at most times, and is often considered a "shaggy" dog. Still, with regular brushing and grooming, the coat can become quite smooth. |
| Colour | The most common colours of this dog are white, grey, and black. |
| Litter Size | 4 - 8 puppies, average 6 |
| Life Span | 10 - 12 years |
| Origin & History | The Old English Sheepdog has been used as a herding dog and pet for thousands of years in Europe. There are many theories as to the true origin of this dog, and many believe that it is related to the Barbone and the Deerhound. Others think that it may be related to the Briard or Bergamasco, as well as being a descendant of the hairy Russian dog known as "Owtchar" that was brought to the United Kingdom from the Baltic region. It is likely that cross breeding occurred throughout England and Russia, especially with the Bearded Collies and other animals brought in from France and the Baltics. The Old English Sheepdog was first used by many farmers in England's West Country, the groups of people in need of cattle drivers and natural sheep herders. The breed became very common in the 19th century, and has been used widely in many agricultural areas. The dog has often been called the "Bobtail" because of it's lack of a tail or short stump. The dog's tail was customarily docked as a way to identify tax-exempt herding dogs during the 18th century. In the spring time, farmers often sheared this dog along with the sheep and then used the dog hair to make blankets. Clothing and blankets trading were another part of the old English economy, and the prevalence of the Old English Sheepdog made this a natural commodity. The Old English Sheepdog has also become famous for herding, watch dogging, and retrieving. Still, it is a fine herding dog and one that has even been used for reindeer herding because of its ability to tolerate cold weather. Show dogs are another popular activity for these dogs; they were first shown in Britain in 1873, and are well-received in a variety of competitions and show dog circles. |
| Personality | The Old English Sheepdog is stable and happy-go-lucky. It is able to adjust oneself readily to different conditions, is loving and friendly. Loyal, protective and intelligent, it makes a fine family companion. Friendly and gentle, this breed loves and is good with children and is very much part of the family. They have a strong herding instinct and may try to herd people by bumping, not nipping, and need to be taught not to herd humans. Meek or passive owners or those that do not make the rules of the home clear in a way the dog can understand will cause the dog to become strong-willed. This breed needs firm, but calm, confident and consistent leadership. The Old English Sheepdog is a very good worker and is able to follow commands, but will ignore the instruction if it thinks it is stronger minded than its human pack members. The bark of the Old English Sheepdog sounds like a cracked bell. This breed remains puppy-like for many years, and age tends to hit it suddenly. |
Care Requirements
| Health | The Old English Sheepdog is a naturally healthy and hardy breed, and fares well with an ample amount of Exercise and fresh air. Still, the dog is prone to some special medical conditions including: Hip Dysplasia: Canine hip dysplasia (CHD) can cause mild to severe lameness. Cataracts: problems with the eyes and vision IMHA: Immune Mediated Hemolytic Anemia. Epilepsy: a neurological seizure disorder. There is no test for this. |
| Grooming | The coarse, longhaired coat needs constant care to keep it in top condition. Unless it is combed and brushed right through to the dense, waterproof undercoat at least three times per week, it will become matted and the dog may develop skin problems, making it prone to host parasites. Clip out any tangles carefully so as not to nick the skin. A grooming table will make the whole job easier. If the dog is not being shown, the coat can be professionally machine-clipped every two months or so, about one inch all the way around. In former times these dogs were shorn along with sheep. Trim around the eyes and rear-end with blunt-nosed scissors. This breed sheds like a human—not a lot, but in small amounts. |
| Exercise | These dogs were developed for hard work and love a good run. They need to be taken on a daily walk, jog or run. While out on the walk the dog must be made to heel beside or behind the person holding the lead, as in a dog's mind the leader leads the way, and that leader needs to be the human. |
| Other Considerations | The Old English Sheepdog will do okay in an apartment if it is sufficiently exercised. These dogs are fairly active indoors and will do best with at least an average-sized yard. Famous Old English Sheepdogs: Ambrosius in Labyrinth (film) Barney in Barney (TV series) Barkley in Sesame Street "Big Dog" in 2 Stupid Dogs Boot in The Perishers Broo in The Raccoons The Colonel in One Hundred and One Dalmatians Digby in Digby, the Biggest Dog in the World Edison in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang Elwood in The Shaggy D.A. Farley in For Better or For Worse Hot Dog in Archie Comics Martha, Paul McCartney's Old English Sheepdog was said to be the namesake of Martha My Dear. Max in The Little Mermaid and The Little Mermaid II: Return to the Sea Mooch in Lady and the Tramp II: Scamp's Adventure Muffin Mclay in Hairy Maclary from Donaldson's Dairy, the first book in a series of children's picture books featuring Hairy Maclary Nana in Hook (film) Nate in Open Season 3 Niblet and Rebound in Pound Puppies Sam in Cats & Dogs and Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore Samson in Samson en Gert (TV series) Schaeffer in The Raccoons Tiger in The Patty Duke Show Wordsworth in Jamie and the Magic Torch Dulux Dog; The Old English Sheepdog is the brand mascot for Dulux paint. The dog was first introduced in Australian advertising campaigns in the 1960s. Since then they have been a constant and highly popular feature of Dulux television and print advertisements in both Australia and the UK, and people in those markets refer colloquially to the breed as a "Dulux dog". Over the years, different dogs have appeared in the advertisements, all very similar in appearance, as most of them have been selected from a closely related line of pedigree dogs. The first Dulux dog was Shepton Dash, who held the role for eight years. His successor, Fernville Lord Digby, was the most famous Dulux dog and also made his owner, Cynthia Harrison, famous. When filming commercials, Digby was treated like a star and was driven to the studio by a chauffeur. Barbara Woodhouse was employed to train Digby and his three stunt doubles, who were used whenever specific tricks or actions needed to be filmed. Apart from Dash, all the Dulux dogs have been breed champions. Five of them have won 'Best of Show' prizes. The most recent Dulux Dog, Don, is Crufts Qualified. |
