BREED DESCRIPTION & INFORMATION
BIS, BISS, BPIS, Can, Mex, Americas, World '99,
Ch Woolliwoof Miracle Man (Aust imp) Proudly owned by Diane Buckland, Tarawood, OES (Perm.Reg.) E-mail: Tarawood@vianet.ca |
Breed Registries:
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Note: The breed registries indicated above are the most recognized all-breed registries. The breed may also be recognized by other registries not indicated here. For further details about dog registries, please see the document: Dog Breed Registries in North America.
* — The FCI is the World Canine Organization, which includes 84 members and contract partners (one member per country) that each issue their own pedigrees and train their own judges. The FCI recognizes 339 breeds, with each being the "property" of a specific country. The "owner" countries of the breeds write the standards of these breeds in co-operation with the Standards and Scientific Commissions of the FCI, and the translation and updating are carried out by the FCI. The FCI is not a breed registry nor does it issue pedigrees.
Origin:
Great Britain
Height:
Males: 22 inches (55.8 cm) and up
Females: 21 inches (53.3 cm) and up
Weight:
Males: 80 to 100 lbs.
Females: 60 to 85 lbs.
Breed Profile:
The Old English Sheepdog, or the Bobtail, is believed to have descended from a variety of European herding breeds and was developed by English sheep farmers to herd and drive sheep to market. The breed can be traced back over 200 years. The first Old English Sheepdog Club was founded in 1888.
He is a playful, agile dog, excellent with children and a dependable family protector. He is intelligent, adaptable and good-natured with no signs of agression, shyness or nervousness. The Old English Sheepdog is very affectionate and makes an ideal companion in the home.
Physically, he is a muscular, compact-looking dog with a very intelligent expression. The OES's most distinctive feature is his profuse coat. It is of a fairly hard texture, shaggy but not curly. The undercoat is a waterproof pile. He may be any shade of grey, grizzle, blue or blue merle, with or without white markings.
Health Issues
Like all breeds of dogs, the Old English Sheepdog is susceptible to certain health problems, including:
- Hip Dysplasia
- Eye Disorders including Cataracts and Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA)
- Deafness
- Hypothyroidism
If you are considering the adoption of a Old English Sheepdog puppy, or any breed, it is very important to be selective in choosing a responsible and reputable breeder. Ensure that the prospective puppy's parents have all health clearances. Breeding of any dog should not be done until after they have been proven to be free of evidence of significant hereditary diseases. For the Old English Sheepdog, breeding stock should have been x-rayed for hip dysplasia and certified by the OFA, PennHip or OVA as normal prior to breeding. In addition, males and females used for breeding should have CERF certificates indicating that they are clear of hereditary eye disorders — eye exams should be repeated every two years and recertified by CERF. BAER testing is also recommended for the Old English Sheepdog as there is a high incidence of hereditary deafness in the breed. (For more information on selecting a breeder, see the articles on the main Breed Listing and Breeders page.)
Additional Health Resources:
- OESCA Health and Research
- Health and Nutrition — Growing section of the Canada's Guide to Dogs website which includes information on several health and nutrition related issues.
- Canine Health Information Center (CHIC) — Providing a source of health information for owners, breeders, and scientists that will assist in breeding healthy dogs. CHIC is a centralized canine health database jointly sponsored by the AKC/Canine Health Foundation (AKC/CHF) and the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA).
- AKC Canine Health Foundation — Working towards developing scientific advances in canine health.
- Canine Eye Registration Foundation (CERF)
- Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA)
- Ontario Veterinary College (OVC)
- University of Pennsylvania Hip Improvement Program (PennHip)
- HealthGene — HealthGene Corporation is the leading provider of veterinary DNA diagnostic services in Canada.
Breed Standards
- CKC Breed Standard
- AKC Breed Standard
- UKC Breed Standard
- The Kennel Club (U.K.) Breed Standard
- FCI Breed Standard No. 16
- AKC Old English Sheepdog DVD
19 Min. Video Edition, published by the American Kennel Club
Discussion of the breed standard: good structure and movement, acceptable colors, correct head, size. Developed for breeders, exhibitors and judges.
— Available from Dogwise.com
Grooming Information
The Old English Sheepdog's coat is known to shed and can take three to four hours per week to groom but this should suffice to help maintain a mat-free coat. If left uncombed, however, the coat will quickly become dirty and matted.
- Helpful Hints on Grooming the Old English Sheepdog
- Grooming Tips — Another good site for "pet" grooming tips for the Old English Sheepdog
- Grooming — This section of the Canada's Guide to Dogs website includes tips, articles and information covering all aspects of dog grooming along with a listing of Groomers from across Canada.
Training Resources
- Training — For training information, see this growing section of the Canada's Guide to Dogs website for tips, articles, as well as listings of training centres across Canada.
Additional Information
- Herding Dogs — A section of the Canada's Guide to Dogs website which includes training and general information about Herding/Stock Dogs; listing of Stock Dog Clubs and Associations; listing of upcoming shows and events; and more.
- Clubs, Sports & Activities — For information on the many sports and activities you can get involved in with your dog.
- Working Dogs — The Working Dogs section of the Canada's Guide to Dogs website provides information and listings of organizations that are involved in various dog jobs, such as Guide Dogs, Therapy Dogs, Police Dogs, Protection Dogs, and much more.
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Select from the following links to view Breeder listings; Breed Clubs; Rescue Organizations; as well as Books and other Merchandise specific to the breed: |
