OLD ENGLISH SHEEPDOG — BREED DESCRIPTION & INFORMATION Breed Description / Health Issues / Breed Standards / Grooming / Training / Additional Information Breed Description
Breed Registries:	Canadian Kennel Club (CKC) - Herding Dogs American Kennel Club (AKC) - Herding Group United Kennel Club (UKC) - Herding Dog Breeds The Kennel Club [U.K.] (KC) - Pastoral Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI) * - Standard No. 16
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 Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI) is the World Canine Organisation, which includes members (one member per country) that each issue their own pedigrees and train their own judges. The FCI recognizes 332 breeds, with each being the "property" of a specific country. 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.
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. For additional books, gifts & merchandise, CLICK HERE TOP Health Issues: Like all breeds of dogs, the Old English Sheepdog is susceptible to certain health problems of a hereditary nature, 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 — Canada's Guide to Dogs growing section on several health and nutrition related issues. Canine Eye Registration Foundation (CERF) Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) Ontario Veterinary College (OVC) University of Pennsylvania Hip Improvement Program (PennHip) QuickCare Pet Insurance Programs TOP Breed Standards: Official Canadian Breed Standard AKC Breed Standard UKC Breed Standard The Kennel Club (U.K.) Breed Standard FCI Breed Standard No. 16 / 28.11.2003 / GB AKC Old English Sheepdog Video 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 TOP 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 — Provided as an aid, particulary for novice groomers and covers pet grooming, show grooming and ring presentation. Grooming Tips — Another good site for "pet" grooming tips for the Old English Sheepdog Grooming — This section of Canada's Guide to Dogs includes tips, articles and information covering all aspects of dog grooming along with a listing of Groomers from across Canada. TOP Training Resources: Training Tools & Equipment Choose from a wide variety of items from Dogwise.com Training — For information on training your Old English Sheepdog, see this growing section of Canada's Guide to Dogs for tips, articles, as well as listings of training centres across Canada. TOP Additional Information: Herding Dogs — A new 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 — This section of Canada's Guide to Dogs includes information on several dog sports and activities as well as listings of non-breed specific clubs from across Canada. (Note: For breed specific clubs, see the Breed Clubs section.) Working Dogs — Dedicated to the working dog. This section includes tributes, information on various dog jobs, and listings of organizations from across Canada.

Select from the following links to view Old English Sheepdog Breeder listings; Breed Clubs; Shows and Events; Rescue Organizations; as well as Books and Merchandise specific to the Old English Sheepdog breed: OES Breeders  /  Clubs & Events  /  Rescue Organizations  /  Books & Merchandise