Information on
Old English Sheepdogs
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Old English Sheepdog Complete Profile
by Dooziedog.com
http://dooziedog.com/dog_breeds/old_english_sheepdog/
Key Facts about Old English Sheepdogs:
Size: Large
Height: Above 54 cm (21 inches)
Weight: About 30 kg (66 lb)
Life Span: 13 years
Grooming: Very demanding
Exercise: Medium
Feeding: Medium
Temperament: Friendly & outgoing
Country of Origin: England
AKC Group: Herding
Other Names: Bobtail
Physical Characteristics of Old English Sheepdogs:
General Appearance: Ambling walk, shaggy, strong and compact.
Color: Grey, grizzle, blue or blue merle, with or without white
markings.
Coat: The outer coat is shaggy, hard in texture and harsh. The
undercoat is waterproof.
Tail: Commonly docked completely or from the first joint.
Ears: Small and carried flat against the side of the head.
Body: The body is quite short and compact. The loins are strong
and slightly arched and the shoulders are sloping. The chest is
well developed and the brisket is deep and full.
Temperament of Old English Sheepdogs:
Trustworthy, bold, agile, active and good-natured. Old English
Sheepdogs love being part of a family and are a very adaptable
breed. They socialize well with other dogs, children and family
pets. They greet strangers warmly and are not particularly alert.
They can be boisterous in nature and will join in every possible
activity with great enthusiasm. Old English Sheepdogs want to
please their handlers and rarely show dominant behavior, however
training can be slow.
Grooming of Old English Sheepdogs:
Grooming with these dogs is very demanding. They require regular,
thorough brushing as least once a week. When the coat is molting
its quite possible that a rubbish bag full of hair can be
collected after a brush. If the coat is left ungroomed for a
length of time it will quickly become matted to a degree that
leaves little alternative but to clip. Old English Sheepdogs that
are being shown should have a higher rear than the shoulders,
which is achieved when the hair is groomed upwards. It is also
important that the ears are kept free of dirt and hair and that
the nails are trimmed. The excess hair between the pads of the
feet should also be clipped short.
Exercise for Old English Sheepdogs:
Old English Sheepdogs need a fair amount of exercise, but will
not grumble if a day goes by without any. They love playing with
a ball or similar activities and are best suited for rural homes
with a spacious backyard. This breed can do well in various dog
sports.
History of Old English Sheepdogs:
This breed has not been around as long as many other dog breeds.
It is thought that they evolved from the Bearded Collie in the
early 19th century and possibly with crosses from the Briard and
the Hungarian sheepdog. Farmers commonly docked this breeds tails
in the early 19th century to claim exemption from English taxes.
This was because the longer haired 'luxury' dogs only qualified
as working dogs if the tails were docked.
Additional Comments:
The Old English Sheepdogs have been nicknamed the Bobtail,
because their tails are customarily docked.
If the coat is not properly cared for and well-groomed, it can
cause skin parasites.
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