The origin of the Old English sheepdog is a subject of speculation among experts, who debate its European ancestry and the potential influence of breeds such as the Scotch bearded collie and French briard. However, a conclusive bloodline for the sheepdog has yet to be determined.
First appearing in England during the 1800s, the Old English sheepdog is a breed that can be considered relatively recent. These dogs were primarily utilized by farmers as “drover dogs,” responsible for herding livestock to the market and even pulling carts and wagons. Renowned for their endurance, reliability, and bravery, drover dogs possess notable characteristics.
Old English sheepdogs were given the nickname “bob” or “bobtail” because their owners would commonly dock their tails in order to demonstrate their status as working dogs. Despite being born with a tail, breeders would often remove it within a few days after birth. In 1888, the American Kennel Club officially recognized Old English sheepdogs as a part of the herding group, leading to their rapid rise in popularity as both show dogs and cherished pets.
Old English Sheepdog Care
Old English sheepdogs are known for their excellent indoor behavior, which means their playful nature doesn’t usually cause any issues when it’s time to unwind inside. These dogs are well aware of the distinction between playtime and relaxation and they adhere to it. They have a pleasant temperament and are not usually inclined to bark or exhibit territorial behavior, although they can be protective if the situation calls for it. Nevertheless, potential owners of Old English sheepdogs should be aware of the grooming responsibilities that come with having this breed.
Exercise
Old English sheepdogs have different exercise needs. Although they do enjoy relaxing most of the time, they still require regular exercise of at least an hour once a day. Taking them for daily walks will suffice, but engaging them in outdoor playtime is even more beneficial for their energetic nature. Since they have a strong inclination for working and herding, playing fetch or keep away is a favorite pastime for them.
Grooming
Simply observing the extensive mass of fur on an Old English sheepdog is sufficient to cause a groomer to tremble. In reality, grooming these canines is equally challenging compared to grooming other breeds with long hair. Their fur requires significant upkeep and the grooming process can be time-consuming, yet it is essential in order to ensure the well-being and contentment of the sheepdog.
It is advisable to brush your dog’s long and easily tangled hair on a daily basis to maintain a healthy coat and prevent the accumulation of dirt and bacteria. Additionally, regular brushing will assist in managing their excessive shedding and avoid the need for costly professional grooming in the future. In the event that mats do form, it is often necessary to have them professionally removed or shaved, as these tasks can be potentially hazardous and are better handled by experts.
Bathing these large pups can feel intimidating, so many owners opt for a skilled professional groomer who specializes in long-haired dogs for their Old English sheepdogs.
Training
If Old English sheepdogs receive positive reinforcement such as treats or affection, they tend to show good responsiveness to behavior training. When appropriately socialized during their early years, these dogs can get along well with children and other animals.
Being alert and responsive, this breed is easy to train; however, they are also independent thinkers. Old English sheepdogs have a tendency to find their own way of behaving instead of following the training they have received. To properly train an Old English sheepdog, it is crucial to establish strong leadership and maintain consistency during exercises to reduce the likelihood of independent behavior.
Common Health Problems
Old English sheepdogs can experience certain health issues including:
- Hip dysplasia : This is the abnormal formation of the hip joint that can lead to lameness.
- Cataracts: Cloudy eye lenses may afflict your Old English sheepdog and cause blindness.
- Hypothyroidism : Low thyroid function can cause problems with a dog’s coat, skin, and activity level.
- Bloat : This is a condition that causes a dog’s stomach to twist and contract, leading to death.
When selecting an Old English sheepdog, it is crucial to consider the screening of these conditions and the certification of the dog’s parents’ health, which good breeders will provide.
Keeping your sheepdog clean and brushed is crucial as it can help to prevent various health problems such as joint issues and infections. Additionally, it is important to ensure that their hair does not obstruct their vision by trimming the area as necessary.
Selecting a breeder committed to the health of their puppies is crucial in ensuring that your Old English sheepdog is in optimal condition, as health issues can be challenging to identify during their growing phase.
Diet and Nutrition
It is of utmost importance to remain aware of the diet of an Old English sheepdog. Due to the dog’s dense and shaggy fur, it may be challenging to detect any weight gain. Therefore, maintaining a stable and nourishing diet for them will greatly assist in the prevention of obesity and other negative health consequences associated with gaining excessive weight.
If your pet tends to eat too quickly, it can be beneficial to feed them properly in order to prevent problems. If you observe that fast eating is a concern, you may want to explore slow feeder bowls or think about feeding them smaller, more frequent meals to facilitate slower digestion.
It can be intimidating to browse through the dog food aisle due to the abundance of brands, making it challenging and time-consuming to decide which one is most suitable for your furry buddy. To determine if a specific food is appropriate for your Old English sheepdog, examine the ingredients and protein levels. Ideally, a well-balanced diet for your dog should consist of high-protein lean meats such as chicken or turkey, along with other wholesome foods. Since Old English sheepdogs are not overly active, it is advisable to choose options with minimal fat content.
Deciding whether to feed your dog wet or dry food can pose a difficulty. Dry kibble aids in dental health through chewing and can clean your dog’s teeth during meals, whereas wet food in cans is gentler on their digestion and effectively ensures hydration for your pet. Veterinarians frequently suggest adding canned wet food to dry kibble for a balanced approach, keeping your furry companion satisfied and in good health.
The quantity of food that you can give to your pet can differ. Certain owners follow a schedule of feeding their pets once a day, while others prefer providing multiple small meals throughout the day. This choice will rely on the specific preferences of your individual dog. Few dogs may experience vomit due to hunger if they are fed only once daily, while others may choose not to eat as frequently. Consult your veterinarian to determine the most suitable routine for your dog and conduct trials to ensure their diet suits them well.
Ensure a gradual transition over several weeks when changing your dog’s food in order to allow their digestive system enough time to adapt.
BONUS: How to Choose the Best Dog Food
If the world were perfect, all dog food would be identical. However, dog owners are faced with an extensive range of choices, each proclaiming to be the supreme dog food available. Sorting through these alternatives to find a dog food brand that is both beneficial for your pet and reasonably priced can often be exasperating. To assist you in narrowing down your options, we have gathered advice from experts.
What Makes a Dog Food “Good”?
What exactly makes up the contents of these dog foods, which are regulated and thoroughly tested by veterinary specialists, even though they may not be appetizing to us, but provide all the necessary nutrients for dogs to maintain good health?
Unlike cats, dogs are not exclusively carnivorous. Although meat is the primary component of their diet, domestic dogs can also obtain nutrients from grains, fruits, and vegetables. These non-meat foods are not merely additives, but rather serve as a valuable source of vital vitamins, minerals, and fiber. An ideal dog food will incorporate a combination of meat, vegetables, grains, and fruits. The top-notch dog foods consist of high-quality variations of these ingredients that align with the specific needs of your dog’s digestive system.
Dog Food Nutrition
It is important to remember that while most commercial dog food brands are formulated to meet the minimum nutritional requirements for dogs, the best dog food for your canine companion should cater to his specific nutritional needs, as not all dogs have identical requirements.
Dogs have varying nutritional needs that change throughout their lives, needing different quantities of nutrients. It is beneficial to feed a puppy formula or an “all life stages” food to a young dog because their nutritional needs differ from that of an adult dog. If you are unsure about the disparities in nutritional requirements between puppies and adults, the Merck Veterinary Manual provides a list of recommended nutrients for dogs based on their weight and age. Large breed dogs and puppies have distinct nutritional needs compared to small breed dogs and puppies.
Dog Food Myths and Misinformation
On the Internet, there is an abundance of false information and false beliefs about dog nutrition. To navigate through this, you just need to remember one basic guideline: verify your sources. Numerous individuals who mean well tend to assert aspects of dog nutrition without any scientific proof. Therefore, when conducting your research, verify the information with reliable sources such as veterinarians, canine nutritionists, or scientific studies. It is also advisable to have a skeptical approach. If something appears overly positive, it is likely not accurate.
Many individuals have inquiries regarding dog food that either includes grains, does not contain peas, or contains animal byproducts. If your dog has a grain allergy diagnosed by a veterinarian, you may opt for a grain-free diet under their guidance. In reality, grains are a valuable source of nutrients for most dogs. Additionally, quality animal byproducts, such as organ meats and entrails, are nutritious and often provide more nutrients than the muscle meat consumed by humans. It is important to note that regulated byproducts exclude hooves, hair, floor sweepings, intestinal contents, or manure. If you have any concerns about your dog’s food, please do not hesitate to discuss them with your veterinarian.
How to Read a Dog Food Label
Decoding whether a dog food is of good quality or not can be achieved by reading the label, although this can be challenging due to small print and the inconvenience of handling large bags of dog food in the store. Furthermore, it should be noted that labels can sometimes be misleading, as stated in the Merck Veterinary Manual. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) mandates that dog food labels must provide eight essential details, and specific states may also have their own labeling regulations.
- Product name
- Net weight of the product
- Name and address of the manufacturer
- Guaranteed analysis
- List of ingredients
- Intended animal species (i.e. dog or cat)
- Statement of nutritional adequacy
- Feeding guidelines
Product Name
Just by looking at the product name, you can gain considerable information about its contents. For instance, when a product is labeled as “beef,” it means that beef must constitute a minimum of 70 percent of the entire product. However, if the product is labeled as “beef dinner,” “beef entrée,” or “beef platter,” the requirement is reduced to at least 10 percent beef. A label stating “with beef” only necessitates 3 percent of the total product to be beef, while “beef flavor” suggests that there is enough beef present to provide flavoring (less than 3 percent). The same principle applies to other named ingredients such as “chicken.”
Ingredients
The quality and origin of ingredients cannot be determined from the ingredient list on a dog food label, and some manufacturers divide the ingredients to ensure equal distribution. For example, various types of corn like flaked corn, ground corn, or kibbled corn may be listed separately. This results in a lower position on the ingredient list for corn, despite its high actual content in the food. Meat is also a complex ingredient. Whole meats have a high percentage of water weight, which ultimately lowers the overall meat percentage after processing. On the contrary, meat meal may seem less appealing to humans, but it actually contains more meat than “whole meats” as it doesn’t include any water weight that affects the calculation.
Although the quality of the ingredients may not be indicated by the ingredient list, it does provide information about the food’s contents. This is particularly crucial for dogs with dietary restrictions or allergies and can be helpful for owners who want to provide their dogs with particular sources of fiber, protein, and carbohydrates.
