Dog Breed Guide

Old English Sheepdog

Profile

Size

Large

Country of origin

United Kingdom

Origin

18th century

Bred for

Sheep herding, Cattle herding

Height

male 61cm (24in) and over, female 56cm (22in) and over

Weight

27 - 45kg (60 - 99lb)

Life span

10 - 12 years

A profuse, fluffy coat covering the whole body, a fringe falling over the face and a bear-like, rolling gait are its trademarks. Colors are dark shades such as gray, grizzle and blue, with white on the head, neck and forelegs. Puppies are born black and white, and the color changes as they grow.

Cheerful and easygoing, the Old English Sheepdog is a favorite that is very gentle with children. It has a lovable clownish side and makes its family laugh with its humorous antics. Smart like any herding dog, it can also be a bit independent and stubborn.

It needs plenty of exercise, so give it good walks every day. The biggest challenge is the coat, which tangles easily and needs thorough brushing several times a week. It suffers badly in heat.

Good to know

In 18th-century southwest England, these dogs worked for drovers, driving sheep and cattle to market. Dogs were taxed in Britain at the time, but working dogs were exempt, and as proof their tails were docked short. This is said to be the origin of the nickname "Bobtail."

Paul McCartney of the Beatles adored his Old English Sheepdog, Martha. "Martha My Dear," on the 1968 album The Beatles (the White Album), sounds like a love song to a woman but was actually inspired by Martha.

Since 1961 the breed has appeared in advertising for the paint brand Dulux in Britain and elsewhere, so much so that some people simply call it "the Dulux dog."