Sheepdog

The Old English Sheepdog is a big dog breed that originated in England from early herding sheepdog breeds. Shepherd's Dog and bob-tailed sheepdog are two old names for the breed. The term Bob-tail (or Bobtail) comes from how the breed's canines used to have their tails docked. Old English Sheepdogs have long coats that hide their faces and eyes and do not shed unless they are groomed.

As a herding sheepdog, this breed evolved in the 19th century in the Cornwall region of southwestern England. It does not frequently herd sheep, despite its name. Instead, it was bred to transport cattle between pasture and market along country roads.  It's also a great show dog that enjoys putting on a show for the crowd. The Old English Sheepdog is one of the most identifiable breeds in the world, with its shaggy coat, hidden eyes, and white and grey colour scheme. Its very appearance gives off a welcoming and approachable vibe.

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Sheepdogs Scientific Classification

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Class: Mammalia

Order: Carnivora

Family: Canidae

Genus: Canis

Scientific Name: Canis Lupus

Origin and History

The Old English Sheepdog is a breed of pastoral dogs native to England. Some believe a little drop-eared dog depicted in a Gainsborough painting from 1771 represents the early variety of the Old English Sheepdog. A bobtailed drovers dog known as the Smithfield or Cotswold Cor was discovered in the southwestern counties of England in the early 1800s and may have been an ancestor. The Bearded Collie was one of the original stock utilised in the development of today's breed, according to most fanciers. Some believe the Russian Owtchar was one of the breed's forefathers.

The Old English Sheepdog, formerly known as the "Shepherd's Dog," was first shown in 1873 at a show in Birmingham, England. There were just three entries, and the judge decided to award only a second-place because the canines' quality was so poor. The breed quickly gained popularity as a show dog, and while the dog's shape hasn't altered much through the years, sophisticated grooming techniques such as backcombing and powdering the fur have been documented as early as 1907. In the 1880s, the Old English Sheepdog was imported to the United States, and by the turn of the century, five of the ten wealthiest American households had bred and shown the breed.

Sheepdog Physical Description

The Old English Sheepdog is a huge dog with a long, thick, shaggy grey and white coat, as well as fur covering its face and eyes. The ears are perpendicular to the head. Historically, the breed's tail was widely docked (leading in a panda bear-like back end), but several nations have forbidden cosmetic docking, thus tailed Old English sheepdogs are now prevalent. When a dog has a tail, it usually has long fur (feathering), is positioned low, and hangs down. The Old English Sheepdog walks with a "bear-like roll from the back" and stands lower at the shoulder than at the loin.

Females are slightly smaller than males and stand at least 61 cm (24 in) tall at the withers. The body is short and compact, with optimal weights ranging from 46 kg (101 lb) for large males to 46 kg (101 lb) for little males.

The double coat colour can be any shade of grey, grizzle, black, blue, or blue merle, with white markings if desired. The undercoat is resistant to water. Puppies are born with a black and white coat, while the more usual grey or silver shaggy hair appears only after the puppy coat has been lost. Brushing Old English Sheepdogs is the only time they shed.

Sheepdogs Tail Docking

Undocked Because docking is now prohibited in many countries, Old English Sheepdogs are becoming more widespread. The Kennel Club of the United Kingdom and the Australian National Kennel Council have no preference for (legally) docked versus un-docked animals, and both can be shown. Even though the American Veterinary Medical Association officially opposes cosmetic docking, the American Kennel Club breed standard stipulates that the tail should be "docked close to the body, when not naturally bob tailed." Tail docking is thought to have started in the 18th century as a result of taxation rules requiring working dogs to have their tails docked as proof of their working status, but currently, in locations where it is still permissible, tail docking is mostly done for cosmetic reasons.

Sheepdogs: Behaviour and Temperament

The perfect Old English Sheepdog, according to the breed criteria, is never nervous or aggressive. "They are sometimes couch potatoes," according to the New Zealand Kennel Club, and "may even try to herd toddlers by gently bumping them." The temperament of this breed can be summarised as bright, social, and adaptable. The breed has "a clownish energy" and "may try to herd people or other objects," according to the American Kennel Club.

With large open spaces as their natural habitat, an Old English Sheepdog is a natural fit in a rural setting, such as working on a farm; yet, with adequate exercise and training, they may adapt to a suburban or urban lifestyle as well.

Old English Sheepdog Health

According to research in the United States and the United Kingdom, the typical lifespan of an Old English Sheepdog is 12–15 years. Breeders of Old English Sheepdogs who are members of the Old English Sheepdog Club of America must support its Code of Ethics in breeding and selling sheepdogs, and the Old English Sheepdog Club of America sponsors investigations into diseases encountered in the breed in order to assist breeders in selecting healthy dogs for breeding. Hip dysplasia, cataracts, glaucoma, entropion, thyroid disorders, deafness, diabetes, HD, PRA, allergies, and skin problems are among the ailments being researched. There is no information on how many dogs are affected or what percentage of the breed is impacted.

Food and Diet

To maintain its fairly active lifestyle, the Old English Sheepdog demands a high-quality dog diet. When it comes to selecting the type and brand of food for your dog, its age should not be a major consideration. Treats can be used to aid in the training of your dog. However, because this breed has a proclivity for becoming overweight, it's a good idea to keep calorie intake low throughout the day.

Maintenance and Grooming

The Old English Sheepdog is not a hypoallergenic breed due to its thick double coat. It sheds a fair bit, but not nearly as much as comparable long-haired or bob-tail breeds.

This breed requires very careful and thorough grooming two or three times a week to avoid matting, tangles, and the accumulation of filth and grime. After outdoor activities, the fur has a tendency to grow quite dirty, necessitating bathing on a regular basis. To avoid any discomfort while walking or running, you should also cut your nails on a regular basis. If you don't want to deal with the hassle of grooming it yourself, take it to a professional groomer.

Training and Exercises

Basic commands such as sit, come, and stay will be taught through obedience training, which is a vital part of this breed's socialisation. Because the Old English Sheepdog has a good memory and a laid-back, cooperative temperament, training should be quite simple for it as long as you don't overwork it. You should not leave this breed in a box for lengthy periods of time because it does not accept confinement well.

The Old English Sheepdog requires one or two hours of moderate activity each day in the form of walks and playtime. It is not required to have a huge yard to keep this breed engaged, but you should ensure that there is enough area surrounding your home for everyday activities. Despite its high energy level, this breed knows when to unwind with the family after a long bout of exercise.

Types of Sheepdogs

1. Maremma Sheepdog

The Maremmano-Abruzzese Sheepdog, also known as the Maremma Sheepdog (Italian: Cane da pastore Maremmano-Abruzzese), is a livestock guardian dog native to central and northern Italy, mainly Abruzzo and the Maremma area of Tuscany and Lazio. It has been used by Italian shepherds to protect sheep from wolves for ages. "The dog of the shepherds of Maremma and Abruzzo," the term literally means "the dog of the shepherds of Maremma and Abruzzo." The breed's English name is derived from the Maremma marshlands, where shepherds, dogs, and hundreds of thousands of sheep overwinter until recently.

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Characteristics: The Maremmano has a huge head and a black snout, as well as a robust, muscular body and a thick white coat. Males should weigh 35–45 kg and stand 65–73 cm at the shoulder, while females should weigh 30–40 kg and stand 60–68 cm, according to the breed standard. Some dogs are much larger than others. The coat is long and thick, with a heavy collar around the neck. It is harsh to the touch. It should be completely white, with some little fading acceptable.

The Maremmano, the Marsicano, the Aquilano, the Pescocostanzo, the Maiella, and the Peligno are some of the subtype names for the breed, which are based on tiny changes in physical traits and subtype names based on village and provincial names where the dogs may be found.  Biologists, on the other hand, criticise this divide, as well as the over-reliance on tiny physical variations, because the dogs were bred for their behavioural qualities as flock protectors over millennia.

2. Bergamasco Sheepdog

The Bergamasco Shepherd (Cane da Pastore Bergamasco in Italian) is an Italian sheepdog breed. Its origins can be traced back to the Alpi e Prealpi Bergamasche, where it was used to herd sheep and cattle.

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Characteristics: The Bergamasco is a medium-sized, strong, and rustic canine with a sturdy build and well-proportioned body. When viewed from the side, it has a nearly square appearance, with the length of the body roughly equaling the height at the withers. Dogs stand 58–62 cm tall at the withers and weigh 32–38 kg; bitches are 4 cm shorter and weigh 6 kg less on average.

It is distinguished by a long, thick coat that covers the entire dog. The coat develops long matted locks that provide considerable protection from severe weather, especially on the hind portion of the body; the hair on the forepart of the body is coarse and creates wavy ringlets like those of a goat, while the hair on the head is finer. The coat may be any shade of grey, ranging from extremely light to matt black, with flecks of isabella or fulvous colour permitted.

3. Black Belgian Shepherd 

The Belgian Shepherd, also known as the Belgian Sheepdog or Chien de Berger Belge, is a medium-sized Belgian herding dog. The long-haired black Groenendael, the rough-haired fawn Laekenois, the short-haired fawn Malinois, and the long-haired fawn Tervuren are produced in four unique variants based on coat type and colour; in the United States, the American Kennel Club considers the four varieties to be independent breeds.

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Characteristics: The Groenendael dog is a square-shaped medium-sized long-haired breed with a square form. Although they are frequently confused with the Longhaired German Shepherd Dog, they have a squarer profile, lighter bone, and a more refined head, as well as a light, swift pace. Mature males should measure 56-61cm and adult females should measure 61-66cm in the Groenendael breed. They range in weight from 27.5-28.5kg.

4. Polish Sheepdog

The Polish Lowland Sheepdog (Polish: Polski Owczarek Nizinny, sometimes PON) is a shaggy-coated sheepdog breed that originated in Poland.

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Characteristics: The PON is a robust dog with a thick coat. The double coat can be any colour or pattern; the most common colours are white, grey, and brown, with black, grey, or brown markings. As the canines grow older, the hues of their coats tend to fade. The undercoat is dense and velvety, while the topcoat is coarse and straight or wavy but not curly. Hair around the head gives the impression that the head is larger than it is, and it usually hides the eyes.

Males stand 45–50 cm (18–20 inches) tall at the withers, while females are 42–47 cm tall (17 - 19 inches). Males weigh about 40 and 50 pounds, while females range between 30 and 40 pounds. The body is somewhat off the square, and because of the amount of coat on the chest and back, it appears rectangular; the height to body length ratio should be 9:10. (a 45 cm tall dog should have a body 50 cm long). In the United States, the tail is either very short or docked. Docking is prohibited in most European countries, therefore many PONs now have tails of varying lengths.