Yes, they can see through all that hair. Just wanted to get that out there.
And it certainly is a stunning head of hair, isn’t it? Perhaps the most striking feature of the Old English Sheepdog is the thick, fluffy coat. The general myth is that this dog will need a LOT of grooming. But really, an Old English Sheepdog isn’t any harder to care for than any of the other longhaired dog breeds. At the very least, you’ll need to do a thorough brushing once a week to keep the coat free of mats.
The nice thing about the coat is that it makes the Old English Sheepdog adaptable to a lot of different environments. The double coat helps insulate the dog against both heat and cold! But to be honest, your Old English Sheepdog is perfectly happy to live in your home or apartment.
DID YOU KNOW? Disney fans can spot an Old English Sheepdog as Prince Eric’s companion in the animated film The Little Mermaid.
Old English Sheepdogs are muscular and agile as a result of their origins – the demanding life of a shepherd or drover’s dog. Underneath the fluff, they are strong and balanced and intelligent. In terms of temperament, Old English Sheepdogs are very even-tempered. In general, they aren’t shy or nervous or aggressive. They tend to be homebodies, so you don’t have to worry about your Old English Sheepdog going roaming without you or starting fights with other neighborhood dogs.
Think that Old English Sheepdog walks kind of funny? Their gait is particular to the breed and is a lot like the shuffling step of a bear. They also have very distinctive barks.
Old English Sheepdogs, like other large breeds, run a higher risk of hip displaysia, a disease that deforms the hip joints, causing great pain for the dog.