Dog
Group:
Herding 
Old English Sheepdog Champions
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Pronunciation:
ohld ing-glish sheep-dawg
Breed Description:
The Old English Sheepdog breed of dog is a large sized breed that should be well-balanced and square in proportion. They should have a combact build that is the same length as it is tall and the top line should be angled with a higher back end than shoulder. The overall appearance should be of a strong breed with plenty of stamina. The head of the Old English Sheepdog should be round with a medium length muzzle. The ears should hang down the side of the head and should be medium in length while the tail should be naturally short or docked.
The coat of the Old English Sheepdog should consist of a double coat with a soft, short undercoat and a long topcoat. The top coat should be rough in texture and the overall appearance should be very shaggy. The breed can be found in a range of gray colors with white, including blue gray and white, blue and white, grizzled and white, blue merle and white and gray and white.
Temperament:
The Old English Sheepdog breed of dog is known for their happy nature and their clown like zest for life. There is little doubt that this is an outgoing breed that is very affectionate and friendly. They are usually the life of the party in their own home but their natural suspicion of strangers can make them seem very reserved. The breed is very good with children and tend to be very gentle and patient with them and they are usually good with other pets and dogs. The breed will herd members of their family and they can be very protective of them as well.
Height:
The average height for an Old English Sheepdog is between 20 to 22 inches for a female and 22 to 24 inches for a male.
Weight:
The average weight for an Old English Sheepdog is between 60 to 100 pounds for a female and 65 to 105 pounds for a male.
Health Problems:
The Old English Sheepdog breed of dog is considered to be a healthy breed but they do have some health problems, including Hip Dysplasia, Cataracts, Immune Mediated Hemolytic Anemia, Progressive retinal atrophy, Deafness and Hypothyroidism.
Living Conditions:
The Old English Sheepdog breed of dog can do well in apartments if they are given ample exercise, however, the ideal dwelling for this breed is a home with a large fenced yard or even acreage.
Exercise:
The Old English Sheepdog breed of dog is a very energetic breed and you should expect to give them between 45 to 60 minutes of exercise each day. This is a breed that needs both on leash and off leash exercise and they can make excellent jogging companions.
Life Expectancy:
10 to 12 years
Grooming:
The Old English Sheepdog breed of dog can be a very difficult breed to groom and you should expect to brush the coat three or four times a week to keep it free of dirt and mats. Generally, even a quick brushing can take a long time since the breed has lots of hair. They should only be brushed when their coats are damp since brushing a dry coat will only cause breakage to the hair. The Old English Sheepdog only needs to be bathed when it is necessary and many can go through the year with only one or two baths. Ears should be cleaned on a weekly basis and nails should be trimmed once or twice a year. Many owners opt to have the coat clipped every six to eight weeks to make the breed easier to maintain.
Origin:
The Old English Sheepdog breed of dog was developed in the early 1800's in England and while it is unclear if this is the actual time and place of development, it is the common belief. In fact, it is also believed that the breed was developed by crossing the Russian Owtchar with the Bearded Collie to produce a bob-tailed breed that became known as the Old English Sheepdog. Although the breed shone as a herding and guarding breed, the Old English Sheepdog did not see any popularity until the late 1800's and early 1900's. During that time, the breed became the symbol of wealthy families in the United States, however, their symbolism soon changed to the symbol of the ideal family pet. The breed can attribute much of its development in the United States to Henry Arthur Tilley and his family along with the Old English Sheepdog Club of America. Comments
The standards for all the breeds accepted to the AKC are used here for breed information, and those not part of the AKC are resourced from FCI standard information, where it is written and coded into the club rules for those breeds.
