General Appearance

A strong, compact, square, balanced dog. Taking him all around, he is profusely, but not excessively coated, thickset, muscular and able-bodied. These qualities, combined with his agility, fit him for the demanding tasks required of a shepherd's or drover's dog. Therefore, soundness is of the greatest importance. His bark is loud with a distinctive ''pot-casse'' ring in it.

Owning

The Old English Sheepdog's coat is one of his most distinctive features. The coat is profuse, but not excessive, and may take three to four hours a week to groom. The Old English Sheepdog is known to shed, so if you have an aversion to dog hair, you may want to consider another breed. The Old English Sheepdog loves his home and family. He is an extremely affectionate dog who makes an ideal house-dog.

Did You Know

The Old English Sheepdog Club of America was started by W.A. Tilley in 1904, and received official recognition by AKC the following year. The Old English Sheepdog can reach between 60-100 pounds as an adult and 23-26 inches at the shoulders. In 1995, the Old English Sheepdog ranked 55th in registration statistics and 56th in litter registration statistics.