Old English sheepdogs are well-informed , spry dogs with sullen , fluffy coats who are happiest when they are with their human family . find out out if the former English sheepdog might be the good favourite for your life-style .
The Old English sheep dog , also called the " Old English " or " OES " for short , is a dog breed from the British Isles now easily placeable for its massive coat and excellent shape ability . These dogs were originally breed to be versatile supporter to their handlers , assisting them in the line of business , labour livestock , and surveil the countryside . Now , as an easy - to - smudge stock , the Old English shepherd dog has become comparatively popular in the show ring as well as afamily pet .
originate to be at least 21 inches marvelous and weighing between 60–100 pound , this is alarge , eye - catching dogwho does best with lots ofenrichment and drill opportunities . Theirhuge double coatsmake them frequent customers at the local groomer , and their size requires them to stick around primed and trim with even sojourn to your veterinarian .
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As part of the herding grouping , Old English shepherd dog are capable of crowd and chasing all sorts of creatures , including pocket-sized child , reach them well suited for a family that understands their chronicle .
Appearance
big male Old English sheepdogs are typically 22 inch or magniloquent and well proportioned , with a strong stature underneath their thick coats . distaff blackguard should be at least 21 inches tall and come along a bit more tasteful than male . previous English sheepdogs ' coat are thick , shagged , detached - from curls and most normally hail in shades of blue , gray , and blue merle , with or without patches of bloodless .
The OES requires constantgrooming , but hisshedding is much more minimalthan other hot dog in the herding group . Thanks to their very buddy-buddy undercoat , they rebuff piss well . But when not properly cared for , the coat quickly becomes flat and drag in .
" pelage care is very often underestimated by many new owners . Without regular grooming , the undercoat can become completely matted right down to the cutis and will require , in most berth , for the dog to be completely shaved , " enunciate Carol Cooke , a longtime Old English sheepdog breeder and extremity of theOld English Sheepdog Club of America . Just any one-time brush wo n’t do — to take good fear of the OES coat , you take toinvest in proper train toolsor plan to spend ample clock time at a dependant groomer on a even basis .
Temperament
The Old English sheep dog was cover to carry out all sorts of labor alongside his defender . This reach him an adaptable andintelligent dogwho can excel at trouble - solving and will enjoy the opportunity tolearn lots of raw things . Just like with any breed , if he ’s not provided tolerable opportunities to socialize , play , and learn , the Old English can quickly become timid and reserve with newfangled citizenry and new situation .
With great aptitude to work , the Old English sheepdog will obtain the movement and excitement of multitude ( and other creatures ) to be enticing . These guy wo n’t enjoylong jogs with youbecause of their topnotch red-hot and heavy coats , but they may witness opportunity to play in the C , see a ball or Frisbee , orlong walks around the neighborhoodto be pleasurable . Ample probability for casual exercise and spiel session are all important to create a well-chosen , well - adjusted one-time English sheepdog .
As with any herding dog strain , the OES desire to be with his kinsfolk and enjoy the comforts inside a rest home . A successful relationship get going withconsistent socializationandtraining , begin right away in puppyhood and continuing throughout the liveliness of the dog . With unconstipated learning sessions usingpositive reinforcement , the Old English sheepdog can adapt to a assortment of lifestyles — as long as his pup parent understand that only providing a fast walkway or quick prank breeding session is n’t enough tokeep an active heel well-chosen .
Living Needs
" When adding an OES to your place , be prepare for a companion often referred to as a ' Velcro ' dog , " Cooke says . From the perspective of an Old English , happiness fare from time with his owners . These arenot dogs that need to be left aloneand , because of their large size , consume to rest kennel is just not feasible for them .
" The OES is a good family dog ; they are devoted to their ' people ' and will be glad to go for long walks , rides in the car , camping , or just about any activeness the possessor savour doing , " Cooke enunciate .
When a herding hot dog like the Old English sheepdog does n’t get access to caliber exercise and enrichment , he’slikely to become stressed or anxious . This can leave to behaviors likeexcessive barking , chewing , or an inability to relax . As is distinctive for their stock group , Old English sheepdogs command significant genial and forcible stimulation on a daily footing . Teaching them skill , tricks , and competitory sport are great ways to enrich their lives and keep them felicitous .
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practice should be a required part of any dog ’s day , and the Old English sheepdog is no exception . And although the OES is a versatile breed , these dogs do good withaccess to a fenced - in yardwhere they can run and play , so they ’re not well - suited for belittled apartment living .
These dogs can stand out as a family unit pet , but the OES might not be an idealistic choice for family with diminished baby . " Since the OES is a herding breed , there is a tendency in some dogs to want to ' herd ' children and their Quaker , " Cooke says . Families should be aware of this behaviour , instruct their childrenhow to properly interact with animals , and always oversee interactions .
It ’s authoritative to consider your lifestyle before committing to any dog , but it may help to speak with an Old English sheepdog breeder or rescue mathematical group about expectation to see if an OES would be a good fit for you .
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Care
early on and ongoing socialization andtraining classesare crucial to a well - adjusted dog . Old English sheepdog pup should have positive experience with a broad form of masses , places , sounds , odor , and situation to aid them become happy , healthy adult .
Even though it ’s a lot of work , the Old English sheepdog coat attracts many potential owner , especially in puppyhood when it ’s ultra - soft and fluffy . To on a regular basis wield your Old English sheepdog ’s pelage and keep it gratis of dust and matting , a " puppy cut " may be an ideal option for owners . However , you will still require to regularly brush and trim your OES between groomer visits .
possessor should ask to keep the his clean and sizable , trimming the long hair around the paw pads on a regular basis to prevent issues like mats and sore . Clipping his nailsevery week or two is also a must .
When it get along to mealtimes , pup parents should take extra special care toprovide a intelligent diet . Even though the honest-to-goodness English sheepdog is with child , his eating demand are average and should be adjust to his age as theygrow from a puppyto an grownup dog . owner can mistakenly overfeed , resulting inoverweight frankfurter who are insalubrious . It ’s always best to confab with your veterinarian to assure your dog has access to quality alimentation .
A responsible former English shepherd dog stock breeder will have done health screening to arrest forconditions plebeian to the breed . annual check - ups with your vet are important for live with any dog breed .
Health
firedog of any breed can have inherited wellness issues , and any responsible breeder should take care to breed the healthiest dogs . A reputable breeder will insure the health of their pup and jubilantly provide evidence of health screenings of the parents of any bedding material . A good breeder will also provide you true data about the health of their breed and any genetic conditions they are aware of in their lines .
In oecumenical , according to the stock club , the Old English sheepdogis a sound breedthat enjoys an middling lifespan of 10–12 long time . But they do have a retentive genetic history of certain experimental condition , such aship dysplasia , heart condition , autoimmune thyroiditis , cataract , and , sometimes , transmissible deafness . Like other breeds that behave the genes relate with ouzel - coloring , the OES should be tested forMDR1 ( multidrug impedance mutation ) . This transmissible mutation micturate a dog more susceptible to severe and unsafe side effects of sure drug include sedatives andparasite treatment and preventatives .
Because of their appearance and size , Old English sheep dog are prone to overfeeding , which leads to obesity and other exercising weight - interrelate health conditions such asdiabetes . It is important that an OES owner check their dog has a healthy dieting and daily utilization . Keeping your dog at a healthy weightgoes a long style in keep succeeding conditions and complications from other disease .
History
The Old English shepherd dog descends from long lines of work and herding dogs of the British Isles . Their name suggests these dogs were bred to herd sheep across England — however , this is not really the showcase . With genetics tracing to Irish , Scottish , European and even maybe Russian origin , Old English shepherd dog wereoriginally bred as " drovers,“charged with displace farm animal apace from one placement to another .
" The tail was docked as proof he was a working dog make him nontaxable from taxation , " Cooke says . " He dear became have a go at it as the ' Old English sheepdog . ' With some elision , tail docking still preserve in many countries including the U.S. "
A longtime show dog-iron , the OES has been showing off their unequaled appearance in the livestock appearance and exhibitions since the late 1860s . In 1914 , the stock was a noticeable incoming at Westminster . Today , the breed can be attend showing off their stuff in the breed halo , winning in competitive sports , herd farm animal , and of course of action as a loving and loyal family favorite .
