Old English Sheepdog

A mellow, agreeable, and loyal companion known for its distinctive shaggy coat, peak-a-boo hairdo, and bear-like gait. This big, agile dog enjoys exploring and a good romp, and thrives as an affectionate family member for older children and adults.

Temperament

The Old English Sheepdog is a placid, adaptable dog who is loving and loyal to his chosen people. His nature is mellow and agreeable, and he is a big, agile companion who enjoys exploring and a good romp. Older children and adults will find this dog to be an affectionate, shaggy family member. His exuberance may be too much for little children to handle, so households with very young kids should factor that in. This dog needs daily exercise to be a happy and well-behaved companion, and he will not take that exercise by himself. He needs his people to join him and provide exercise opportunities. Like many herding breeds, the Old English Sheepdog may chase other animals and children and nip at their heels. Consistent, firm, but positive training that redirects this herding instinct to another activity helps manage the behavior. The breed can be stubborn, so training should be positive, confident, and consistent to help the dog understand and conform to the agenda of his people.

“A well-bred Old English Sheepdog is a placid, adaptable individual who is loving and loyal to his chosen people.”

VCA Animal Hospitals

Daily needs and attention

The Old English Sheepdog is a big, agile dog who enjoys exploring and a good romp. This dog needs daily exercise to be a happy and well-behaved companion, but he won't take that exercise by himself. He needs his people to join him and provide exercise opportunities. A well-bred Old English Sheepdog is a placid, adaptable individual who is loving and loyal to his chosen people, and older children and adults will find this dog to be an affectionate, shaggy, family member.

Caring for the dog's shaggy coat can consume anywhere from four to six hours or more of patient brushing and combing each week. Many owners choose to either have the dog clipped a few times a year, or have a grooming pro take over.

Like many herding breeds, the Old English Sheepdog likes to chase other animals and children, and may even nip at their heels sometimes. Redirecting the dog's herding to another activity helps. The breed can be stubborn, so any trainer should be not only positive, but also confident and consistent.

“This dog needs daily exercise to be a happy and well-behaved, but he won't take that exercise by himself.”

VCA Animal Hospitals

Health and lifespan

The Old English Sheepdog typically lives 10 to 12 years. As a large, muscular breed standing 22 to 26 inches tall and weighing 70 to 100 pounds, the OES is a sturdy dog, but like all purebreds it carries some genetic health considerations. The most commonly seen conditions include hip dysplasia, glaucoma, cataracts, progressive retinal atrophy, entropion (inward-turning eyelids), hypothyroidism, and wobblers, a malformation of the lower spine that can make walking difficult. Responsible breeders should have dogs screened by OFA and CERF before breeding. For an adopter, this means budgeting for routine veterinary checkups and being attentive to changes in mobility, vision, or energy as the dog ages. A working household with a yard and a partner willing to share daily exercise can meet this dog's needs, but the grooming commitment of four to six hours of brushing and combing per week should be factored into the household schedule from the start.

“Like all purebred dogs, the Old English Sheepdog has some genetic health issues.”

VCA Animal Hospitals

Habits and behavior

The Old English Sheepdog is a placid, adaptable dog who is loving and loyal to his chosen people. He is a big, agile dog who enjoys exploring and a good romp, and his mellow, agreeable nature makes him a steady presence in the home. Older children and adults will find him an affectionate, shaggy family member; his exuberance may be too much for little children to handle.

This dog needs daily exercise to be a happy and well-behaved companion, but he will not take that exercise by himself. He needs his people to join him and provide exercise opportunities. For a working household, that means building in a walk, a yard romp, or a structured outing each day.

Like many herding breeds, the Old English Sheepdog likes to chase other animals and children and may nip at their heels. Consistent, firm, but positive training that redirects that herding instinct to another activity helps. The breed can be stubborn, so a trainer should be positive, confident, and consistent to help the dog conform to the agenda of his people.

“A well-bred Old English Sheepdog is a placid, adaptable individual who is loving and loyal to his chosen people.”

VCA Animal Hospitals

Housing: apartment, house, yard and crate

The Old English Sheepdog is a large, muscular dog, standing 22 to 26 inches and weighing 60 to 100 pounds. Its mellow, agreeable nature and placid, adaptable temperament make it a workable fit for a house or an apartment, provided the household can meet its exercise needs. The breed enjoys exploring and a good romp, but it will not take that exercise on its own; it needs its people to join it and provide daily activity. A yard offers space for a romp, yet it is not a substitute for time spent with a person. In the home, plan for coat maintenance: brushing and combing the shaggy coat can take four to six hours or more each week, and many owners opt for professional clipping a few times a year. At 60 to 100 pounds, the dog's size is a practical consideration for any confined space, including a crate.

“This dog needs daily exercise to be a happy and well-behaved, but he won't take that exercise by himself.”

VCA Animal Hospitals

Challenges

An Old English Sheepdog is a large, agile dog that enjoys exploring and a good romp. It needs daily exercise and will not take that exercise on its own. The dog requires its people to join it and provide exercise opportunities each day. For a household where both partners work full-time, this is the first thing to weigh honestly.

The coat demands significant upkeep. Brushing and combing can take four to six hours or more each week, and many owners opt for professional clipping or grooming a few times a year.

Training requires patience. The breed can be stubborn, and like other herding dogs, it may chase or nip at the heels of children and other animals. Consistent, firm, positive redirection is essential, and a trainer should be confident and consistent.

Genetic health concerns to screen for include hip dysplasia, glaucoma, cataracts, progressive retinal atrophy, entropion, hypothyroidism, and a spinal condition called wobblers.

The dog's exuberance may be too much for little children, though older children and adults tend to find it an affectionate family member.

“This dog needs daily exercise to be a happy and well-behaved, but he won't take that exercise by himself.”

VCA Animal Hospitals

The fun part

The Old English Sheepdog is the archetypical shaggy dog, famous for his profuse coat and peak-a-boo hairdo, a distinctive bear-like gait, and a mellow, agreeable nature. The OES is a big, agile dog who enjoys exploring and a good romp. A well-bred Old English Sheepdog is a placid, adaptable individual who is loving and loyal to his chosen people. Older children and adults will find this dog to be an affectionate, shaggy, family member. His copious coat comes in shades of blue, grey, and merle, and probably has white markings. To this day, the Old English Sheepdog is known affectionately as the "Bobtail." This dog needs daily exercise to be a happy and well-behaved, but he won't take that exercise by himself. He needs his people to join him and provide exercise opportunities. Caring for the shaggy coat can consume anywhere from four to six hours or more of patient brushing and combing each week. Many owners choose to have the dog clipped a few times a year, or have a grooming pro take over.

“The OES is a big, agile dog who enjoys exploring and a good romp.”

AKC

Living with kids, cats and other dogs

The Old English Sheepdog is a placid, adaptable dog who is loving and loyal to his chosen people. Older children and adults will find this dog to be an affectionate, shaggy family member. The dog's exuberance may be too much for little children to handle, so extra care is warranted around very young kids.

Like many herding breeds, the Old English Sheepdog likes to chase other animals and children, and may nip at their heels. Consistent, firm, but positive training that redirects the herding to another activity helps manage this tendency. The breed can be stubborn, so any trainer should be positive, confident, and consistent.

This dog needs daily exercise to be a happy and well-behaved companion, but he won't take that exercise by himself. He needs his people to join him and provide exercise opportunities. A working household should build in dedicated time each day for walks, play, or exploration together.

“The dog's exuberance may be too much for little children to handle, but older children and adults will find this dog to be an affectionate, shaggy, family member.”

VCA Animal Hospitals

What to ask the rescue

Before bringing an Old English Sheepdog home, ask the rescue about the dog's daily exercise routine and whether the dog has established a pattern for walks or play sessions. This breed needs its people to join in exercise; it will not take that activity on its own. Ask about the dog's grooming history and whether the coat has been clipped or brushed regularly, since weekly maintenance can take four to six hours or more. Inquire about any health screenings the dog has received, particularly for hip dysplasia, glaucoma, cataracts, progressive retinal atrophy, entroption, hypothyroidism, or wobblers. Ask how the dog responds to consistent, positive training and whether it shows herding behaviors such as chasing or nipping at heels around children or other animals. Finally, ask about the dog's temperament with adults and older children, since the breed's exuberance may be too much for little children to handle.

“This dog needs daily exercise to be a happy and well-behaved, but he won't take that exercise by himself.”

VCA Animal Hospitals

Sources

• American Kennel Club
• VCA Animal Hospitals