At a glance the quick version
Breed standards give no weight; figures are from Wikipedia.
Coat and looks how to spot one
long double coat
A thick, shaggy outer coat of harsh hair, neither straight nor curly, over a weatherproof undercoat. The body looks square and sturdy, heavier-coated at the rear, and the dog moves with a rolling, bear-like gait when walking.143
Personality what they are like
A steady, good-natured dog that is easy to live with and willing to please. It is bold and loyal, with no nervous or sharp edge, and keeps plenty of working drive under its famous coat.142
Daily activity how busy a day looks
High. The Royal Kennel Club suggests more than two hours of exercise a day; the breed also enjoys agility, obedience, herding, flyball and tracking.23
Grooming and care the hands-on bits
A big grooming commitment: the Royal Kennel Club advises daily brushing to keep the long double coat free of mats, and the coat sheds heavily.2
Home where they are happiest
Suits a home with space and an owner prepared for daily exercise and coat care.2
Company who they like around
A people-oriented family dog of even disposition that likes to be involved in daily life.14
The story where it all began
The breed grew out of English herding and droving dogs, with the Bearded Collie or Scottish collie types often suggested as contributors. It first appeared at a show in Birmingham in 1873 with only three entries, and reached America in the 1880s, where it became a favourite of wealthy families.23
Fun facts for the dinner table
- 1
The nickname Bobtail comes from the old habit of docking these dogs' tails, which some say was done to dodge a tax on working drovers' dogs.2
- 2
An Old English Sheepdog has been the mascot of the Dulux paint brand since 1961.3
- 3
Paul McCartney's Old English Sheepdog Martha inspired the Beatles song 'Martha My Dear'.3
- 4
Puppies are born black and white; the grey or silver shades come in only after the puppy coat is shed.3
- 5
The breed took Reserve Best in Show at the 2013 Westminster Kennel Club show.3
Recognised by the official bits
- FCI
- Standard no. 16, Group 1 (Sheepdogs and Cattle Dogs), Section 1 Sheepdogs; standard dated 13.10.2010.1
- The Royal Kennel Club
- Pastoral group; the breed page lists it as a vulnerable native breed.2
- AKC
- Herding breed; current standard approved 10 February 1990, effective 28 March 1990.4
The care rhythm Furry Diary remembers it for you
A typical home-care rhythm for a Old English Sheepdog. It is our own starting plan, not a vet's advice, and you can change every line in the app.
- BrushingDaily during heavy sheddingevery 3 days
- Double coats insulate against cold and heat, so shaving is not recommended
- Bathevery 10 weeks
- Nail trimSooner if you hear clicking on the floorevery month
- Ear checkevery 2 weeks
- Teeth brushingDaily brushing is idealevery 2 days
- ExerciseDaily walks and playevery day
- Flea, tick and worm protectionSchedule as your vet recommendsas your vet recommends
- Vet check-upSenior years usually start around age 7every year
You might also like
Bearded Collie
Polish Lowland Sheepdog
South Russian OvcharkaLike what we are building? Buy us a coffee.
The breed atlas is free for everyone, with a source on every fact, and it will never show ads. If it helped you, a small tip keeps the research going. Any amount is lovely, and no is a perfectly fine answer too.
Where this comes from
Every breed page shows where each fact comes from. If we got something wrong, sorry, we are pet people, not a science magazine. Tell us at [email protected] and we will fix it.
- FCI Standard N° 16 Old English Sheepdog fci.beused for recognition, height, coat, colours, temperament
- Old English Sheepdog - The Royal Kennel Club royalkennelclub.comused for group, exercise, grooming, lifespan, history
- Old English Sheepdog - Wikipedia en.wikipedia.orgused for weight, lifespan, history, fun facts
- AKC Official Standard of the Old English Sheepdog images.akc.orgused for height, coat, colour, temperament
Checked 2026-09-30. Text is written in our own words from these sources.