The Old English Sheepdog (OES) is a large breed of dog which was developed in England from early herding dog dog type of dog. The Old English Sheepdog can grow a very long coat, with fur covering the face and eyes. Obsolete names of the breed include Shepherd’s Dog It is still nicknamed Bob-tail (or Bobtail) because historically, the tail was traditionally Docking in this breed.
History
The Old English Sheepdog comes from the very old pastoral type dogs of England, but no records were kept of the dogs, and everything about the earliest types is guesswork. A small drop-eared dog seen in a 1771 painting by Gainsborough is believed by some to represent the early type of the Old English Sheepdog. In the early 19th century a bobtailed drovers dog, called the Smithfield or Cotswold Cor, was noticed in the southwestern counties of England and may have been an ancestor. Most fanciers agree that the Bearded Collie was among the original stock used in developing today’s breed. Some speculate that the Russian Owtchar was among the breed’s ancestors. Some diseases being investigated include hip dysplasia (canine), Cancer is a major cause of death amongst Old English Sheepdogs.
