|
 |
 |  |
|
About the Old English Sheepdog |
 |
History
The Old English Sheepdog is believed to be a descendent of the Bearded Collie and possibly the French Briard. It is thought to have been developed in the south and west of England.
For centuries the Old English Sheepdog was bred for guarding flocks of sheep, which at the time would be kept in makeshift pens and moved around each day to new grazing ground, therefore the dog needed to be a good driver rather than a herder. It was also used as a guard dog on the farm.
The dog has a docked tail, which is extremely short; because of this it has been nicknamed the 'Bobtail'.
Today the Old English Sheepdog is no longer used as a working dog, but it has become a very popular show dog, and a favoured pet, particularly in America.
The Old English Sheepdog as a pet
The Old English Sheepdog is a friendly and intelligent dog. It makes a good guard dog and is generally very gentle with children. It is a very affectionate animal and loves human companionship. Because of its thick coat it requires extensive grooming. |
|
Height:
56-61cms
Weight:
29.5-30.5kg
Lifespan:
12-13 yrs |
|
Colour:
any shade of blue, grey or grizzle, with or without white markings |
|
Coat:
Double coat. The undercoat should be dense. The top coat should be weather-resistant, abundant, shaggy and free from any curl. The tail is always docked extremely short. |
| |
Click photo for product guide |
 |
Lawrence Slicker
Large Tender Care
The classic soft slicker brush. Light aluminium construction with cushioned pad for gentle grooming.
Made in England |
Sterling price: £4.50
Dollar price: $6.52 |
 |
|
 |
Lawrence Shedder
Standard Size
Serrated stainless steel blade removes dead and loose hair.
Made in England |
Sterling price: £5.50
Dollar price: $7.97 |
|
|
|
 |
Braun-Wettberg Brush
Pure Bristle Standard
Using only pure bristle with a pneumatic rubber pad. All wood from managed forests. Made in Germany |
Sterling price: £6.25
Dollar price: $9.06 |
|
|
|
 |
Spratts Comb
No.72
22mm medium tooth comb. Made from solid brass with heavy duty chrome plating. Made in Sheffield, England |
Sterling price: £6.50
Dollar price: $9.42 |
|
|
|
Grooming your Old English Sheepdog
Grooming requirements: The coat of this dog requires a great deal of attention. The coat should be brushed approximately once a week, more if required, with a long-bristle brush. The coat needs to be worked at in sections, starting at the extremities by holding up a section at a time with one hand and brushing it down again with the brush in the other hand. The coat on the back is brushed upwards and forwards from the bobtail to the withers. When these dogs moult the old coat needs to be removed in order to make way for the new growth. The hair between the pads on the feet should be scissored on a regular basis to stop them from matting and getting dirty. From a hygiene point of view, the anal area should also be trimmed on a regular basis. The hair around the eyes should be trimmed short to allow the dog to see. The ears need to be cleaned out regularly, and should be kept free from hair.
Tools required:
Large slicker brush, bristle brush, wide tooth comb and scissors.
|
