Old English Sheepdog

The Old English Sheepdog (OES) emerged in England in the early 19th century, developed as a working droving dog to move cattle and sheep to market across open country. The breed's exact ancestry is debated — the Bearded Collie, Russian Owtchar (Ovcharka) and other working herding breeds have been proposed as foundation stock. The OES was first exhibited at Birmingham in 1873 and the Old English Sheepdog Club was founded in 1888. The distinctively docked tail — traditionally the marker of a working dog exempt from dog tax in England — became the breed's signature, giving rise to the common nickname 'Bobtail'. Under the Australian National Kennel Council (ANKC), the Old English Sheepdog is classified in Group 5 (Working Dogs).

The Old English Sheepdog requires at least 60–90 minutes of vigorous daily exercise and is poorly suited to inactivity. This is a working breed that needs both physical exercise and mental engagement. Training should begin from puppyhood using positive, consistent reward-based methods; the OES is intelligent but independent and can be strong-willed. Puppy school followed by ongoing training is strongly recommended. The herding instinct may manifest as circling or pushing behaviour toward children or other animals — proactive management from puppyhood is important. For large individuals, bloat (GDV) is a genuine risk — feed two smaller meals daily and avoid exercise immediately around mealtimes. Annual vet checks, ear care, dental care and parasite prevention are essential.

The OES coat is one of the most demanding of any companion breed. Minimum three to four hours of grooming per week is required to maintain the coat mat-free. Daily brushing from skin to tip is the only effective approach — brushing only the surface of the coat allows mats to form invisibly underneath and eventually requires full shaving to correct. A pin brush, slicker brush and long-toothed metal comb are essential tools. Professional grooming every six to eight weeks is required. Many pet owners clip the coat short twice yearly — an 'all-over clip' — and maintain a shorter presentation that is significantly easier to manage between professional appointments. The dog's eyes are often obscured by the coat fall; trim or clip this back to allow clear forward vision. Bathe every four to six weeks. Check and clean ears weekly. Brush teeth regularly. Trim nails every three to four weeks. This breed's grooming must begin from the first week of ownership while the puppy is young and tractable — an adult OES that has not been conditioned to grooming is extremely difficult to manage.

Extensive socialisation from puppyhood is important — the OES can be reserved or reactive toward strangers without adequate early exposure. Puppy school followed by ongoing training classes is strongly recommended given the breed's size and working instinct. Positive, reward-based training works well; the OES responds to engagement and variety rather than repetitive drills. The breed's size and exuberance requires consistent training — an untrained adult OES is physically challenging to manage. Teach the herding instinct management from day one.

The OES needs both physical and mental enrichment. Long, varied walks in different environments; off-lead running in secure areas; fetch and interactive play are all ideal. Herding trials and dog sports that channel the working instinct are excellent enrichment for more active owners. Puzzle feeders and training sessions provide cognitive stimulation. This is a social breed that thrives on family involvement and should not be left alone for extended periods.

Hip and Elbow Dysplasia: Common in large breeds; source from hip- and elbow-scored parents.

Bloat (GDV): Deep-chested large breeds are at meaningful risk. Feed two smaller meals daily; avoid vigorous exercise immediately before and after eating; know the emergency signs (distended abdomen, unproductive retching, restlessness) and seek emergency veterinary care immediately.

Hereditary Cataracts: A hereditary eye condition documented in the breed; CAER eye testing of breeding dogs is recommended.

Hypothyroidism: Reduced thyroid function; causes weight gain, lethargy and coat changes.

Deafness: Reported in some OES lines; hearing testing of breeding dogs is beneficial.

Ear Infections: The heavy, pendulous ears trap moisture; weekly cleaning is important.

Obesity: Easy-keeping breed prone to weight gain; measure meals and monitor body condition.