Old English Sheepdog
A big, shaggy English drover with a clownish streak and a coat that needs serious daily care.
At a glance
- Size
- Large
- Height at the withers
- Males 61–66 cm · Females 56–61 cm
- Weight
- Males 32–45 kg · Females 27–36 kg
- Life expectancy
- 10–12 years
- Exercise
- 60–90 min a day
- Grooming
- Every day
- Coat
- Double coat, long
- Colours
- Grey, Blue, White
- Bred for
- Herding, Companionship
- Country of origin
- United Kingdom
- FCI
- Group 1, no. 16 · Sheepdogs & cattle dogs
Breeders on Kuldo
No breeders on Kuldo have this breed yet.
Living with the breed
| Affectionate with family | 5/5 – Very high |
|---|---|
| Good with children | 4/5 – High |
| Good with other dogs | 4/5 – High |
| Good with cats | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Open to strangers | 4/5 – High |
| Energy | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Playfulness | 4/5 – High |
| Needs mental stimulation | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Easy to train | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Prey drive | 2/5 – Low |
| Watchful and protective | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Barking | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Shedding | 4/5 – High |
| Grooming effort | 5/5 – Very high |
| Drooling | 2/5 – Low |
| Good for first-time owners | 2/5 – Low |
| Suits apartment living | 1/5 – Very low |
| Adaptability | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Copes with being alone | 2/5 – Low |
| Copes with heat | 1/5 – Very low |
| Copes with cold | 5/5 – Very high |
Kuldo's own guidance from the breed's typical traits. Every dog is an individual, so talk to the breeder.
Is it the right breed for you?
Great if you …
- love grooming or will budget for a groomer
- want a friendly, sociable large dog
- live in a cool climate with space
Think twice if you …
- live in a hot climate
- want a tidy, low-shedding dog
- have limited space or time for coat care
Care
Temperament
Old English Sheepdogs are affable, sociable and generally good-natured with people and dogs. They can be boisterous and occasionally stubborn. Some keep a mild herding urge to nudge or round up.
Exercise
Around an hour or more a day of walks and play keeps them fit. They enjoy herding, rally and steady hikes in cooler weather.
Grooming
The full coat needs daily brushing and frequent bathing to stay mat-free; many owners keep pets in a shorter clip by a groomer. Shedding is moderate to heavy.
Training
Willing but can be strong-minded. Start early with lead manners and recall, and use patient, reward-based methods.
Health
Hip dysplasia, some eye conditions, hypothyroidism and sensitivity to certain drugs (MDR1) are known in the breed. Breeding dogs are usually hip and eye screened and MDR1 tested, so ask the breeder for results.
Health tests breeders usually do
- Hips (HD)
- Eye examination
DNA tests
- MDR1
Ask the breeder to show you the parents' results.
About the breed
The Old English Sheepdog was developed in south-west England to drive sheep and cattle to market. Its tail was traditionally docked, which gave rise to the nickname Bobtail. Its distinctive rolling gait and profuse grey-and-white coat made it a popular show and family dog in the 20th century.
At home it is friendly, playful and sometimes comical, with a loud, rather deep bark. It is a sizeable dog that keeps a puppyish streak for years. The biggest commitment is the coat: without regular brushing or clipping it mats quickly, and the dog is not well suited to hot weather.
Did you know?
Because their tails were traditionally docked, Old English Sheepdogs are still widely known by the nickname Bobtail.