Old English Sheepdog Breed Introduction
Old English Sheepdog ( affectionately referred to as OES) is a large dog breed that was developed in England from the early herding dog types. Traditionally, this dog had its tail docked earning the nickname Bobtail. Most likely the tails were docked to evade taxes since this was a working breed that drove cattle to the market. Currently, tail docking has been banned in several countries.
Old English Sheepdogs are popular for their long, thick, and shaggy coat that has fur covering the face and the eyes. This is an alert and watchful dog that makes an excellent watchdog. Old English Sheepdogs are known for their loud ringing bark. This is an excellent family dog. However, it might not be an ideal choice for families with small children. Most Old English Sheepdogs have a tendency of herding children and their friends.
Old English Sheepdog Origin | History
Old English Sheepdogs were developed in the late 18th century from the long lines of herding and working dogs of the British Isles. Therefore, this is not a particularly old dog by the canine standards. The Old English Sheepdog name is a misnomer. The name of this breed suggests that it was used for herding flocks, although, this is not the case. Old English Sheepdogs were used as drovers who moved cattle from the pasture to town markets.
Technically, this is not a sheepdog with genetics tracing to dogs of European, Scotch, and Russian ancestry. With their warm personality, free and powerful gait, and a full coat, Old English Sheepdogs have been showing off their unique appearance in exhibitions and stock shows since the late 1860s. The first Old English Sheepdog was registered with AKC in 1888. This breed made its debut appearance in the Westminster Kennel Club in 1914.
Old English Sheepdog Lifespan | Life Expectancy
The Old English Sheepdogs have a lifespan of 10 to 12 years. Although, the UK and US survey put the average life expectancy of this breed at 12 to 15 years.
Old English Sheepdog Grooming
An Old English Sheepdog has a profuse, long, thick, and shaggy coat that attracts most people. However, this is a high maintenance coat. Potential pet parents should prepare to spend time to groom the coat regularly or pay for a professional groomer for several sessions each month for the entire lifespan of the dog. Old English sheepdogs have a double coat that requires thorough brushing down to skin, over the entire dog at least once a week which may take 1 to 3 hours.
Use a pin brush, a comb, and a small slicker brush. Start brushing the coat from the base of the hair to keep the thick undercoat tangle and mat-free. Introduce the pup to brushing immediately it comes home from the age of 8 weeks so that it may get used to it. Irregular grooming makes the coat to trap moisture, urine, fecal matter, debris, and a trap for dust. Occasional brushing can result to matting which is painful for the dog especially between the toes, which can restrict the movement in severe cases.
Potential owners may be deterred by the level of care needed if the long coat is desired. Therefore, most owners trim the coat to a more manageable length. Although, regular brushing and bathing is still required. The long fur on the face may be kept out of the eyes by using a hairband. Dogs that participate in Conformation shows must retain their natural coats. Bath an Old English Sheepdog every 4 to 6 weeks using a hypoallergenic shampoo and conditioner.
Before bathing the dog, brush the coat to remove mats, dirt, and loose hair. Mats or tangles tend to get messier and wet when they get wet. After a bath, thoroughly rinse off the grooming products from the coat using lukewarm water to prevent skin irritation. Use a damp washcloth or a friendly canine wipes to wipe the face instead of using soapy water that irritates the eyes. Dry off the coat after a bath, before line brushing the coat with a slicker brush to prevent matting.
Clip the hair on the feet to minimize problems. The rear end should also be trimmed for sanitary purposes. Trim or clip the nails every 3 to 5 weeks to prevent splitting, cracking, and overgrowth. Brush the teeth of an Old English Sheepdog at least twice a week if not daily to remove excess tartar. Use a dog-formulated toothpaste and shampoo. Weekly ear cleaning is recommended using an ear cleanser solution and cotton balls to remove excess dirt, wax, or debris.
Old English Sheepdog Short Hair | Haircut | Grooming Styles
Owners who have pet dogs may trim the coat to a more manageable length to have a short haired coat. Some of the grooming styles or haircuts suitable for Old English sheepdogs include:
Puppy trim or cut – To achieve this haircut, the fur on the body is trimmed close to the body to about an inch or half an inch. The hair on the face and tail is left a little bit longer than the body hair. This haircut can be maintained by the parents at home.
Teddy bear cut – To achieve this look, the fur on the face is trimmed in a circular shape to get a teddy bear look. Whereas the body fur is trimmed to at least two inches. This haircut is particularly suitable for Old English sheepdogs since they have a distinctive bear-like gait.
Lion Cut – for this grooming style, the fur on the body is clipped short while the hair on the neck, face, and shoulders is left in its natural length to give a ruff-like appearance. The tail is also trimmed leaving 1/3 of the tip with the natural hair.
Old English Sheepdog Shaved
Owners should trim the coat to a desirable length if they are not able to maintain it in its natural length. However, they are cautioned against shaving the coat of an Old English Sheepdog. This is because it will lead to coat damage to the extend that it is no longer balanced to provide adequate protection and insulation against extreme weather.
Old English Sheepdog Shedding
The Old English Sheepdogs have a double-layered coat that sheds moderately all-year round and heavily when experiencing seasonal change in Spring and/or Fall.
Old English Sheepdog Coat
An Old English sheepdog has a profuse double-layered coat that is long, thick, and shaggy.
Old English Sheepdog Hypoallergenic
Old English Sheepdogs are not hypoallergenic. They shed at moderate levels throughout the year and heavily while blowing off their coats. Shedding releases hair and dander into the environment which triggers allergic reactions. Dog’s saliva, urine, and mucus also contain a protein allergen that aggravates allergies.
Old English Sheepdog Training
Old English Sheepdogs are adaptable, sociable, intelligent, and agreeable. This makes training a bit easier. An Old English Sheepdog does not forget something that they learn. However, they get bored with repetitive and predictable training exercises. Early puppy training is recommended in order to teach the pup the desirable behaviors that you want in a canine friend. Do not allow a puppy to do something that you will be against once the dog matures up.
To set an Old English Sheepdog for a successful training, create a functional pecking order. This is where the owner identifies him or her self as the pack leader by making the dog wait for the food and join them in their personal space after an invite. Naturally, dogs are sociable creatures that excel where a hierarchy has been established. Socialization is key in raising a well-mannered and well-adjusted Old English Sheepdog. This training starts from the age of 3 weeks while the pet is with the breeder until the age of 16 weeks after the pup has settled in its new home.
Normally, pet parents take their puppies home from the age of 8 weeks. To socialize an Old English Sheepdog, expose it to a wide variety of people, animals, situations, smell, experiences, sight, and sounds such as lawn mowers, baby crying sounds, washing machine, sirens, vacuum cleaners, and whistles. Enrolling Old English sheepdogs in a puppy class will also serve as a form of socialization. These classes ensure puppies interact in a controlled environment. Puppy classes not only assist pet parent to identify and correct bad habits but also have access to training information and assistance.
Use positive reinforcement methods such as petting, playtime, verbal praise, treats, and toys to encourage good behaviors. Avoid use of harsh correction methods such as biting, shoving, kicking, and use of prong or choke collars. These methods strain the relationship between humans and dogs. Negative training methods also makes an Old English Sheepdog to develop fear aggression. Keep the training sessions short, challenging, and fan for a period of 5 to 10 minutes distributed throughout the day to avoid boredom and distraction.
Start teaching basic command words that are potentially life saving immediately the pet joins your home. Teach one basic command at a time until the dog is well acquainted before proceeding to the next command word. Some of the basic command words that Old English Sheepdogs learn include come, sit, lie down, heel, stay, leave it, etc. Owners are cautioned against issuing a command word while too excited or frustrated since they don’t sound the same for your pooch. Effectively house break an Old English Sheepdog by creating a feeding schedule, potty training, and crate training.
To get positive outcomes while potty training, take a pet to the designated toilet area immediately it wakes up, after naptime, 20 minutes after meals and drinks, every 2 to 3 hours, following an exciting activity, and before bedtime. The bladder and bowel muscles of Old English Sheepdogs puppies increase as the puppy matures. Therefore, after the age of 8 months, the potty breaks are after every 6 to 8 hours. A crate is an indispensable device while potty training a puppy.
It allows the owner to closely monitor an Old English Sheepdog for signs that it wants to eliminate outside such as whining, sniffing, squatting, circling, restlessness, and trying to lift a leg against the crate door. Crate training is also essential for Old English Sheepdogs since they are prone to suffer from separation anxiety if they are left alone for long periods of time. A crate teaches this breed to be confident in staying alone for a few hours reducing the severity of separation anxiety. However, a dog should not be crated for more than 4 hours at a time.
Old English Sheepdog Temperament | Traits
- Adaptable.
- Sociable.
- Intelligent.
- Biddable.
- Playful.
- Affectionate.
- Kind.
- Good-natured.
- Watchful.
- Sensible.
- Alert.
- Bold.
Old English Sheepdog Exercise
An Old English Sheepdog has moderate energy levels. It requires daily exercise such as long walks and play sessions to stay happy and healthy.
Old English Sheepdog Barking
This is a watchful and alert breed that is well known for its loud distinctive warning bark.
Old English Sheepdog Height
According to AKC, female Old English Sheepdogs should have a height of at least 21 inches ( approx.53.3 cm) while their male counterparts should have a minimal height of 22 inches ( approx. 55.8 cm ).
Old English Sheepdog Weight
A male Old English Sheepdog has a weight of 79 to 101 pounds ( approx. 36 to 46 kg) while its female counterpart should have a weight of 66 to 88 pounds ( approx. 30 to 40 kg ).
Old English Sheepdog Size
Old English Sheepdogs are large-sized dog breed. However, male Old English Sheepdogs are slightly bigger as compared to their female counterparts in terms of height and weight. A Male Old English Sheepdog has a weight of 79 to 101 pounds ( approx. 36 to 46 kg) and a minimal height of 22 inches ( approx. 55.8 cm ) while its female counterpart has a weight of 66 to 88 pounds ( approx. 30 to 40 kg ).
Old English Sheepdog Aggressive
An Old English Sheepdog is neither aggressive or nervous. However, this breed may develop fear aggression if they are poorly socialized and harsh correction methods has been used on them.
Old English Sheepdog Health Issues | Health Problems
This is a relatively healthy breed that lives up to the age of 12 years. However, Old English Sheepdogs suffer from certain health issues including hypothyroidism, diabetes, deafness, eye problems like entropion, glaucoma, cataracts, and progressive retinal atrophy, primary ciliary dyskinesia, and cerebellar ataxia.
Old English Sheepdog Names
Old English Sheepdogs parents may decide to find a name for the pet before it comes home or a few days after the pup joins them home to understand more about the personality of a particular dog. Pet owners may get name inspirations from the heritage of the breed, coat color, personality, celebrity Old English Sheepdogs, music, movies, books, historical figures, and nature.
Regardless of where they find their inspiration, owners should ensure the name chosen freely rolls off their tongue and will not make them embarrassed if uttered out loud in the public places. Old English Sheepdogs and other dog breeds better understand a name that has vowels. Avoid giving your pet a name that rhymes with command words to avoid confusion.
Parents should find a cute nickname for pup if they chose a long and tedious name. If an Old English Sheepdog shares a name with any family member or guest who frequent your home, it may result to confusion. Some of the names that Old English Sheepdog parents give to their pets include Cooper, Milo, Beau, Lola, Daisy, Phoebe, Penny, Coco, Malone, Kiki, Leo, Sasha, etc.
Apart from Old English Sheepdogs, other dog breeds include:
Old English Sheepdog Food
The amount of food that an Old English Sheepdog feeds on depends on its age, activity level, metabolism, size, and body build. Old English Sheepdogs puppies tend to have a high metabolism rate as compared to adults and seniors. Therefore, puppies eat small portions of food 3 or 4 times a day from when they start weaning until the age of 6 months. From the age of 6 months, Old English Sheepdogs feed a total of two meals in a day for the rest of their lives.
An Old English Sheepdog may feed on a raw diet, home made, dry food, or wet food depending on the budget of the owner and the time of preparation needed. Regardless of the food that the pet feeds on, owners should ensure that Old English sheepdogs feed on the right amount of proteins, carbohydrates, minerals, fats, amino acids, and fatty acids to maintain a healthy bone structure and weight. Ensure the dog has access to fresh water at all times.
If the dog is feeding on dry or wet commercial food, owners should ensure that the first three listed ingredients are proteins from a known source. Commercial food should neither have meat by-products, fillers, preservatives, chemicals, additives, nor generic meat products. The commercial dog food should also be formulated for large-sized puppies, adults, and seniors depending on the age of your Old English Sheepdog. Check the physique of your pooch to tell whether it is underweight or overweight.
The dog is underweight if the ribs are visible. However, if the ribs are not visible but can be felt without pressing hard, an Old English sheepdog has an ideal weight. However, if the ribs cannot be felt after pressing, the dog is overweight and should be exercised. Owners who want to switch to another pet food should gradually do this over a period of one month by mixing old food with new food. As the week progresses, the amount of old food decreases as the amount of the new food increases until the Old English Sheepdog is only feeding on the new food.
Old English Sheepdog Colors
An Old English Sheepdog may have a coat color that is either grey, black, grizzle, blue, or blue merle with optional white markings.
Old English Sheepdog Allergies
An Old English Sheepdog may suffer from various forms of allergies including:
Food allergies – Rarely, Old English Sheepdogs suffer from a true food allergy that results in an immune response which is normally accompanied with a wide range of symptoms from skin issues conditions such as hives, hot spots, dermatitis, pruritus, and crusting lesions to gastrointestinal stress including weigh loss and acute vomiting and diarrhea. Apart from food allergies, this breed may also be affected by food intolerance. This is the response to a gradual offending ingredient in the diet of the dog.
Skin allergies – Old English Sheepdogs are predisposed to skin allergies due to food, skin, and contact allergies.
Environmental allergies – One of the environmental allergies flea, cause flea allergy dermatitis. This insect normally bites the back legs and underneath the tail causing excessive scratching and biting until the skin around the bite area is raw. Other environmental allergies that affect Old English sheepdogs include ragweed, pollen, grass, trees, dust and dust mites, and house molds.
Contact allergies – This allergy causes inflammation once the skin of the pooch comes in contact with the allergen. Some of the contact allergens that affect Old English Sheepdogs include plastics, lawn chemicals, bed linens, carpet cleaning detergents, latex, grooming products, and medications.
Old English Sheepdog Eyes
An Old English Sheepdog may either have brown or blue colored eyes. However, some dogs have heterochromia hence one eye may be blue and the other eye may be brown.
Old English Sheepdog With Tail
Traditionally, Old English Sheepdogs had their tails docked since they were a working breed to evade taxes. Therefore, tail docking earned this breed the name Bobtail. Currently, tail docking has been prohibited in several countries. Therefore, it is normal to find some Old English Sheepdogs with a natural tail.
Are Old English Sheepdog Hypoallergenic
No. Old English Sheepdogs are not hypoallergenic. This breed sheds all-year round at moderate levels and heavily while experiencing seasonal change. A moulting coat allows dander and fur to spread around the house aggravating allergies.
Are Old English Sheepdogs Smart
Yes. Old English Sheepdogs are smart and biddable dogs which makes them highly trainable.
Are Old English Sheepdogs Good Guard Dogs
No. However, Old English Sheepdogs are alert, watchful, and possess a loud distinctive bark which makes them excellent watchdogs.
Do Old English Sheepdog Shed | Does Old English Sheepdog Shed
Yes. Old English Sheepdogs have a double coat that sheds at moderate levels throughout the year and heavily while experiencing seasonal change.
Old English Sheepdogs Quick Facts
- They have a loud ringing bark which makes them great watchdogs.
- Old English Sheepdogs have a distinctive bear-like gait.
- These are herding dogs that may try to herd children by gently bumping them.