Old English Sheepdog-loves kids and kids love him!

Old English Sheepdog-loves kids and kids love him!

Old English sheepdogs at a Glance

“Big and Tall

A Regular Gym -Goer

The Babysitter

“Hip and Happening

Famous Owners

musician Paul McCartney (dog’s name: Martha)

U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt (dog’s name: Tiny).)

Old English sheepdogs Breed History

The Old English Sheepdog is just what its name implies, a sheepdog originating in Great Britain. His early ancestors probably included various sheepdogs, including the Briard. Sometime around the 1880s, enthusiasts of the Old English Sheepdog began selective breeding to create the dog we know today. He has also been called the “bob” or “bobtail” because of his docked tail, which signifies him as a working dog and made him tax-exempt in olden times.

The breed’s popularity skyrocketed in the 1960s when a paint manufacturer in Britain began a series of television advertisements featuring the Old English Sheepdog—fortunately for the company, paint sales increased as well!

Old English Sheepdogs Today

The Old English Sheepdog is a large and somewhat lumbering breed. He stands between 22 and 24 inches at the shoulder and weighs 65 to 67 pounds, though some larger specimens have been known to reach up to 100 pounds. He stands a bit higher in the rear than at the forelegs, which gives him his sloped appearance. His coat is thick, shaggy, and hard. He is gray, blue, or blue merle in color and may or may not have white markings. Typically, we are used to seeing him with a grayish body and a mostly white head. His chief purpose today is as a beloved family pet.

Personality and the Perfect Owner

The Old English Sheepdog is the proverbial nanny—he loves kids and kids love him. His overwhelming need for affection combined with his large body may sometimes make him a hazard to your household breakables, so it’s important that you begin training him to curb his enthusiasm early on in life. You’ll also want to get him used to groom at a young age since his coat will require 3 to 4 hours of work each week. Even with grooming, the Old English Sheepdog’s coat will shed, so if you’re averse to dog hair on your carpet and furniture, this may not be the dog for you.

Common health problems

Before adding an Old English Sheepdog to your home, ask your breeder about the dog’s health history. Common Old English Sheepdog ailments are:

· Hip dysplasia, cataracts, auto-immune disorders, skin conditions