The Old English Sheepdog
“The Bobtail”

Dog breed info
Old English Sheepdog (Bobtail)
Weight: 60 — 90 lbs
Height: 21” — 22”
AKC Rank 2008 #73
Lifespan: 10—12 yrs
Group Herding
Origin England

• Breeders And Rescue Groups
• Dog Health, Dog Illness, Medical Problems

Dog Breed Info – The Old English Sheepdog

A playful Old English, racing across
the landscape with NO paws on the ground!

Breed Overview

Origin 1800’s. Original function: Sheep herding. Today, Herding trials, Companion. Colors: Grey, grizzle, blue, blue merle, all with white and at one time brown but no longer.

The exact origin of this breed is not certain. The Old English, in the 1800’s was used to drive cattle and sheep to market. They were considered “working class” dogs and thus were exempt from dog taxes. To prove they were not ordinary dogs, they had to have their tails docked. From that, they got the nickname “bobtail.” This was a strong dog, able to protect the sheep from predators such as wolves, keep them in line and drive them to market. The Old English Sheepdog was recognized by the AKC in 1905. Present dogs have a compact body and profusely dense coat. At one time, their coat was sheared in the spring and used for clothing, much the same as the sheep the dog herded. During the 1970 the Old English became a star in the media and popularity as a companion pet increased. It has since backed off quite a bit but not completely.

Not easy.—a bit stubborn and headstrong here. Patience and a clicker are needed. The dog might be a little sensitive so keep training positive and stay with it. They can learn, but in their own time. clicker training is tailor made for difficult and sensitive dogs and goes along with positive reinforcement. The whole process is simple and natural to the dog.

Crate Training
Want to crate train your Bobtail? Here’s a link if you’re interested in crate training your pup.

Potty Training

Old English Sheepdogs and puppies are generally fairly easy to house train, potty train, toilet train, housebreak or whatever you want to call it. If you have a puppy, decide if you want to crate or paper potty train it. For the best results, we have a page at Crate vs Paper Potty Training which will help you decide and from there you can get all the information you need to get the job done. Always praise the pup profusely when she goes potty in the RIGHT PLACE so she knows she has done a good thing. Either method will work for this breed.

If you have an older dog, take the dog outside every two hours until she gets the idea which door leads to her potty area. Older dogs catch on to the potty or housebreaking pretty fast once they are shown what to do.

The Old English Sheepdog is not just a superb herding dog. At home, she’s a fun-loving, playful, gentle and affectionate ton of fuzz. She is well-behaved and tolerant with children, other pets and people she doesn’t know. The Old English can be fun and even funny. One walked up to me recently and put her huge paw out for me to shake but I was holding a box. She started pounding my leg and hopping around to get my attention. I put the box down and shook her paw. Once satisfied, she rolled on her back, kicking her enormous legs. A silly dog and I was a total stranger. The Old English Sheepdog thrives on human companionship and must be kept in the house with her family as the dog is very devoted and protective. The dog looks at children as her “flock” and might try to herd them if not trained properly. Some can be stubborn and headstrong when they want.

If you happen to get an OED with separation anxiety problem, that can be dealt with by investing a few hours of work on your part and some “tough love.”

Friendly Toward Other Dogs

Yes, usually good with other dogs. Not really aggressive.

Friendly Toward Other Pets

Yes, very good. Friendly, no aggression, gets along with everything. May want to “herd” your rabbits around a bit.

Friendly Toward Strangers

Yes, likes people. Bring on the relatives and neighbors.

Playfulness

Moderate to quite playful. The dog is bouncy and can act silly, even rambunctious.

Yes. Very affectionate big girl. One of her strongest qualities.

Good with children

Yes, very good. They love children and enjoy their company. Very tolerant and playful. Be careful, this heavy dog can do accidental harm to small children.

Yes, this big ball of fur is so affectionate and gentle that as long as the senior is onto walking and can drive a car to the vet’s office, the Old English Sheepdog would be a terrific companion and best buddy for seniors.

Living environment

Apartment, condo, house, farm as long as she gets her exercise and a daily outing or two.

The dog could use a medium size fenced yard where a ball could be thrown for exercise.

Energy level

Moderate energy. Rate this dog about 6 bars out of 10.

Moderate. One or two good walks or some vigorous outdoor play time will do it. I have also seen Old English Sheepdogs jogging with her human in a park and along hiking trails.

Fairly good. She’s so friendly it’s hard to say. A male would possibly be better.

Somewhat. The male would probably be, more protection. This just isn’t a dangerous breed.

Yes. I played with an Old English Sheepdog and ended up with fur all over me.

The Old English Sheepdog requires a lot of work. Brush at LEAST every other day. You may need to use a comb too. Brush and comb daily when shedding. The fur is very fine and long. It mats quickly; don’t let it get out of hand.

The book on the right is by the American Red Cross and deals with dog health, emergencies and injuries. It’s a valuable reference manual for all dog owners. Vol 21, 2008, includes a DVD. ________________________________________________

Old English Sheepdog Breeders

In the event you decide to go looking for Old English Sheepdog puppies, be SURE to find reputable breeders that really know what they are doing. Be sure the puppy has been well socialized and started in obedience training.
Old English Sheepdog Breeders with puppies for sale.

Old English Sheepdog Rescue

In the event you are seriously considering the adoption of an older dog and are looking for an Old English Sheepdog Rescue group or groups in your state, here are several links that might help:
Petfinder – Dog Rescue – (Nationwide) I just check Petfinder. They are only showing 43 Old English Sheepdogs available for adoption in the entire country. I’m sure there are more if you go online.
Adopt A Pet This seems to be a rare breed. Surf the web with “Old English Sheepdog Rescue” groups, kennels, adoption and any other words you can think of, as there must be more dogs available.

This is basically a healthy breed. Don’t let the list below scare you! Your own dog will probably never have ANY of these problems. These are dog illness and medical issues this breed is prone to that have been listed by various veterinarians at different times over the past decade or so and some pertain to puppies and very young dogs that a breeder would deal with.

The information contained herein has been gathered from numerous books by veterinarians and is intended as general information only. Every dog and situation is different. You must see your vet. Our information is for general interest only and not intended to replace the advice provided by your own veterinarian.