One of the larger teddy bears of the dog
world, the Old English Sheepdog is a wonderful pet as well
as a capable working dog. With his long and fuzzy coat
obscuring all but this personable fellow’s black nose, he
remains one of the most easily recognizable breeds of dogs
in the world and a favorite amongst those who actually get
to know the breed. While some are put off by these loveable
giants’ thick furry coats, the Old English Sheepdog is
really no more work than any other long-haired breed of dog,
and fanciers are sure to tell you that this fuzz ball’s
great personality makes any amount of upkeep well worth it.
The true origins of this magnificent
breed have been lost in the turn of centuries, though it
is believed that the Old English Sheepdog can be traced
back to the early parts of the nineteenth century. In
the counties of Southwestern England, there were
references made to a large animal, known as the “drovers
dog,” a breed which may have been a descendant of the
Scottish Bearded Collie or a dog known as the Russian
Owtchar. This large canine was used for driving cattle
and sheep to market and, due to the fact that their
working status made them exempt from taxes, their tails
were cut off (a practice known as “docking”) in order to
identify them as such. The practice of docking the tail
remains in effect in these modern times, the breed
having earned the nickname of “Bobtail” or “Bobs”
because of this.
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Square-bodied and
sturdily-built, the Old English Sheepdog is
easily recognized by his shaggy waterproof coat
and large size. Standing a minimum of 21
inches at the shoulder, this hardy working breed
was bred large enough to handle the cattle that
had to be driven to market, and yet agile enough
to handle the sheep in the fields. Also
unique to the breed is their strange shuffling
gait, not unlike the movements of a bear.
The Old English Sheepdog is also known to have a
distinctive bark, known to have a “pot-casse”
tone.
The Old English Sheepdog can be
found in any shade of blue, gray, grizzle, or blue merle
and can be found either with or without white markings.
Their eyes are intelligent and bright, found in shades
of blue, dark brown, or an eye of each color.
Additionally, the blue-colored Sheepdogs typically have
one pale eye, known as a pearl, china, or wall-eye.
While some people think that this pale eye is due to a
defect and is a sign of blindness it is, in fact, just a
normal eye and considered to be perfectly acceptable.
Yellow or amber eyes are considered a fault, however.
The Old English Sheepdog is a loving and
friendly fuzz ball that tends to get along well with
other dogs, children, and a variety of other pets. While
keenly intelligent, they can have a bit of a stubborn
streak and their bull-headed determination can make them
a challenge to train, but they remain a steadfast and
loyal companion to those who take the time with them.
Well known for their stable disposition, the Old English
Sheepdog may make a good watchdog, but is not known for
being shy, nervous, nor is he an aggressive dog.
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Due to his size, many think that the
stout Old English Sheepdog is a lazy dog that does not
require much exercise. In truth, however, he is an
athletic giant, bred for the purpose of working for a
living. While he doesn’t mind the opportunity to nap in
the shade, the Sheepdog does enjoy a healthy amount of
exercise and can be prone to obesity if he does not
receive it.
Should you choose an Old English Sheepdog as your ideal
pet, you will probably want a large back yard where
younger dogs have plenty of room to run, frolic, and
race around. If you don’t have this, the new Sheepdog
owner had best be prepared to go for frequent walks or
to take regular trips down to the dog park.
For many years, the Old English Sheepdog
was shunned by the mainstream public, due to a
misinterpretation of the term “profuseness of coat,”
which caused many to believe that this meant that the
breed had an excessive coat which required an abnormal
amount of maintenance. In truth, the ideal Bobtail’s
coat requires no more upkeep than any other breed of
long-haired dog. For those who don’t wish to groom their
dog every couple of weeks, a simple trip to the groomers
for a clip-down may be in order, allowing the dog to
enjoy the hot and humid days in a short-shorn coat.
Don’t be fooled, however - the Old English Sheepdog coat
actually serves to insulate the dog, helping to keep him
cooler on hot days, warm on cold days, and protection
from the damp.
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The Old English Sheepdog is a
notoriously clever dog with a strong mind of his
own. They rarely react to loud voices and will
come downright belligerent if any type of
physical reprimands are used against them. When
training the Old English Sheepdog, it’s
important to bring a great deal of patience, and
to stock to routine. Most dogs are creatures of
habit and will learn through positive
reinforcement - the Sheepdog is no exception. In
fact, it’s important to realize that edible
treats aren’t the only kind of “reward” that a
dog can receive. If you’re not careful, you can
reward him in a negative fashion, such as
chasing after him in an attempts to retrieve a
slipper that he was chewing on. Instead of
teaching him this behavior is “bad,” he learns
that he can get his owner to come and enjoy a
great game of tag simply by stealing the
slipper.
It’s also equally important to teach your Old
English Sheepdog how to respond to non-physical
cues. When teaching him to sit, try taking a
tasty-smelling treat and hold it in your hand,
letting him smell it. Instead of pressing down
on your dog’s hindquarters or patting him on the
back, instead tell him to “sit,” in a firm tone
as you slowly raise the treat up over your dog’s
head and in the direction of his back several
inches over his head. Ideally, your dog will
raise his head to try and see the treat and will
instinctively sit down so that he can look up.
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Despite being a younger breed as well as
a breed that suffered from population decline and what
one might suspect would be a limited gene pool, the Old
English Sheepdog is, in fact, a very healthy breed. Like
any breed of dog, however, Sheepdogs still suffer from
several hereditary health problems.
