The Old English Sheepdog (OES) is a large breed of herding dog that originated from England. This dog is easily recognizable for its fluffy grey coat that drapes its body all over, making him incredibly adorable in the eyes of many people. From herding flocks to being a popular companion dog, to being a famous television star to being a print ads model, the Old English Sheepdog dominates almost every aspect of people's lives.
Moreover, those who have seen the Dulux paint commercials without question have already seen what the OES looks like. This product has utilized the OES as the star of its many commercials that people began tagging this dog as the Dulux dog. But not only in commercials does the OES appears but in movies like 101 Dalmatians and shows like the Simpsons, the OES has been visible, too.
The body of this breed is compact and sturdy while its coat is very long, as puffy as a cotton ball, low set and thick. It completely covers up the dogs body, even the eyes so it is no longer visible on the face. This dog is also double-coated and that its undercoat serves as protection against water and temperature.
The coat of this breed may appear in colors of grey, blue, blue merle, or grizzle and all of them may have white markings. Upon birth, this breed has a black and white coat but after it has been shed, the natural colors of grey or silver appear. Usually, the OES weigh as much as 101 lbs and stand up to 24 inches in height.
Bobtail is one of the funny nicknames for this dog as it is common for the breed to have their tails docked and this has been the tradition for many decades. There are countries, however, that ban tail docking but good thing is, some OES are born with docked tails naturally. Tail docking for the OES has been the standard but there are some countries that restrict this practice.
According to the Kennel Club (UK), the tail of the OES may be docked or not. On the other hand, for the American Kennel Club, the tail should be docked as close to the body. For the Australian Kennel Council, the standard states that the tail of the OES is preferably docked.
Health-wise, the OES is prone to conditions such as cataracts, glaucoma, deafness, hip dysplasia, allergies and diabetes. Additionally, one major cause of death for the breed is cancer while it is prone to heatstroke, a condition that afflicts full coated dogs in majority. Before purchasing an Old English Sheepdog, make sure that the seller or breeder abides with the Code of Ethics of kennel clubs or dog clubs such as the Old English Sheepdog of America.
In keeping the OES clean, once a week thorough hair brushing is needed and this may take up to three hours to do. If not cared for properly, the OES's coat may trap dirt, dust, urine and moisture. Additionally, as early as possible, it is best to accustom the OES to the tedious task of coat grooming.
Related posts:
- The Elegant English Setter As One of the Most Popular Gun Dogs
- English Cocker Spaniel: The World’s Merry Cocker
- Black Cocker Spaniel – Important Information
Customers Recently Purchased:
|
|
|
|
