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Old English Sheepdog Breed Information
Part of the Herding group and originally bred in Great Britain, the Old English Sheepdog, sometimes referred to as the bobtail due to his lack of one, is a large breed, standing between 21 - 27 inches tall at the shoulders (withers) and weighing between 60 - 90 pounds on average. This extremely fluffy coated dog is goofy, a bit of a ham, happy and very curious by nature. He is amusing, with a good sense of humor, very affectionate and loving.
Part of the Herding group and originally bred in Great Britain, the Old English Sheepdog, sometimes referred to as the bobtail due to his lack of one, is a large breed, standing between 21 - 27 inches tall at the shoulders (withers) and weighing between 60 - 90 pounds on average. This extremely fluffy coated dog is goofy, a bit of a ham, happy and very curious by nature. He is amusing, with a good sense of humor, very affectionate and loving.
The Old English is an active dog that is overly affectionate, requiring exercise of both the mind and body to keep him happy and content. He loves to play and enjoys both indoor and outdoor activities. He will happily play in mud or water, enjoys hiking, fetch, and wants nothing more at the end of a long activity filled day than to curl up next to you and cuddle. The breed is a good watch dog and generally enjoys children but doesn't understand his large size, supervision should be in place when he excitedly wants to engage in playtime. Early training and socialization should be in place to help him understand that bouncing and jumping will not be accepted. His kisses are sloppy, wet, and frequent. His zest for life and clumsy personality makes him both difficult and endearing to own. The breed is known to retain the behavior and personality of a puppy for many years. Certainly not the breed for everyone, if you choose to take the plunge, be ready with a brush and lots of patience for this shaggy and adorable fluff ball of a dog.
The coat of the Old English is thick, long, and shaggy. The coat continues to grow and grow and grow, until it is sometimes hard to tell which end is the head and which is the tail. Shedding if the coat is kept natural is heavy, brushing should be done frequently and consistently to prevent matting. Clipping the coat short to make it more manageable is popular with pet owners and allows for minimal shedding and brushing to maintain ease of care. The breed is considered by some to be low dander and hypo-allergenic, making him a good choice for some allergy sufferers. The coat can be any color of blue, gray, or grizzle with or without white markings. Blue, brown, or green eyes are common with many having two different colored eyes! They are known to be puppyish for many years and mature late in life. Average lifespan is 10 - 14 years.
