Old English shepherd dog in England is among the first sheep dogs. This breed of dogs is loved for their friendliness. They are especially friendly with children who like the kind nature and fluffy wool of this breed of dogs.
Historical reference
In the west of England, the Old English Shepherd Bobtail was bred to catch sheep, which broke away from the herd, as well as to protect the cattle. In the old days the owners of the shepherds' dogs were burdened with the established tax, so the hacked tail of the dog served as a certificate of tax payment. That's why this dog breed was called "Bobtail" (Bobtail), which means a short tail or tail, short cut. About 150 years ago, the formation of the breed ended, today we can see what this breed has become.
There have been attempts to make old English shepherd's sheepskin threads for yarn, but all attempts have failed, as the sheepdog's fur, although abundant, is too harsh. In order to get yarn from the shepherd's wool, industrial production has spent a lot of effort and money on pre-treatment and further softening. Not suitable for yarn and undercoat, as it also has a fairly dense structure.
Character
I wanted to note the unique look of the shepherds, which, of course, attracts attention. This shaggy sheepdog seems homely, sweet and cozy! Indeed, the shepherd's shepherd is not only the favorite of the whole family, but also an ideal companion. This is because the dog has a balanced temperament and a truly ideal character.
With the breeding of this breed, the original goal was to bring out an obedient, easily managed shepherd dog. In addition, the shepherd must have developed intelligence, could independently take a number of decisions. At the present time, bobtails are not used as cattle and shepherd dogs. Already many generations of sheep-dogs have grown up, who do not know what pasture is and who did not see sheep. Despite this factor, some dogs have preserved the shepherd's excellent instinct.
This breed of dogs has truly limitless possibilities. A strong desire to work is one of the main characteristics of a sheepdog. And even when whole generations of "exhibition dogs" were planted, this natural intelligence was observed in dogs, although they were not focused on breeding skills. Practically all dogs of this breed are easily trained, as they grasp and remember everything quickly enough, you can say "on the fly." Its perfect obedience to the Old English Shepherd even shows on the busy and crowded streets of the city. For Bobtails, as well as for other sheep-dogs, there is a strong desire to "please" the owner. This breed always closely watches everything that is happening around it, besides this, it is able to independently assess the situation without explanations and motivations for action. Many owners of sheep-dogs notice that their pets always listen attentively to people's speech and from what has been said, people can understand very much, because they have a high natural intellectual potential.
If the Old English sheepdog is properly trained, then she will become an excellent protector and guardian of her master. Old English Sheepdogs retained not only a highly developed intellect, but also the ability to make decisions independently of the hosts. And this is despite the fact that there is no selection for the ability of the dog to learn and special training.
Main characteristics
The Old English Shepherd is an ardent hard worker, despite the fact that she looks like a fluffy pet. The breed has a strong, strong body with a short back. Because of the abundant wool cover, the breed's representatives seem to be much larger than they really are. The loin is located slightly above the shoulder girdle, the limbs are thick and short, the chest is wide and heavy. Head large, slightly angular in shape. On the head there are a black big nose, ears of medium size, dark eyes. The color of the eyes depends on the coat color of the representative. The coat is thick and long, the dog covers completely, around the nose and on the head, the coat is slightly longer than on the body, often covers the eyes. Wool is mostly gray (the color of gray hair), sometimes there are transitions from white to blue, sometimes dark blue with spots of white. According to breed standards, wool can not be brown and brown.
Physical development and care
Shepherd dogs need a thick coat - in the cold season the wool keeps the heat well, in a hot time it provides excellent air ventilation, in rainy and wet weather the undercoat is a waterproof cover. Thus, it turns out that thick wool, this is a necessary attribute for each representative of this breed.
If the dog is kept at home, the haircut can facilitate not only the care of the coat, but also the life of the sheep dog at low physical loads. Long coat usually collects a lot of dust, so the dog should be combed every week for 30 minutes. Combing is carried out from the tail, heading to the head. It is recommended to load the dog physically at least twice a day. Shepherd's shepherd Bobtail is able to adapt to the apartment life, but at the same time there should be everyday long walks. Dogs of this breed do not tolerate loneliness. Shepherd's sheepdogs are smart enough, so they are easily amenable to different training.
Training and puppies
A bobtail bitch can bring 5-8 puppies. If the puppy was born with a tail, then in a couple of days it must be docked. Old English Sheepdogs are referred to dogs that mature for about two years. However, they give in to training at an earlier age.