History Of The Old English Sheepdog

 

 The origin of the Old English Sheepdog remains a question of keen interest to Bobtail fanciers, and is still open to new theories and discoveries.  However, there are traces of evidence which place its origin in the early nineteenth century, centered in the Southwestern Counties of England.  Some maintain that the Scottish Bearded Collie had a large part in its making; others claim the Russian Owtchar as one of the progenitors of the Old English Sheepdog.
Writings of that time refer to a "drovers dog" which was used primarily for driving sheep and cattle to market, and it is speculated that these drover's dogs were exempt from taxes due to their working status.  To prove their occupation, their tails were docked...leading to the custom of calling the sheepdog by the nickname "Bob" or "Bobtail".  Since this dog has been used more for driving than for herding, the lack of a tail to serve as a rudder, so to speak, has in no way affected its ability to work with heavier kinds of sheep or cattle.
 The Old English Sheepdog was first promoted in the U.S. by Pittsburgh industrialist Wm. Wade in the late 1880's, and by the turn of the century, five of the ten wealthiest American families--the Morgans, Vanderbilts, Goulds, Harrisons and Guggenheims--all owned, bred and exhibited the Old English Sheepdog.  In fact, the social prominence and importance of the owners and spectators at the Old English ring in the 1904 Westminster Show in New York prompted the show superintendent to discreetly advise the judge to "take plenty of time; the dogs in the ring are the property of some of our leading Americans". It should be noted here, that these prominent families also had kennel managers and staff to care for and groom their OES!!!!!

This is an illustration from The Old English Sheep Dog, by Henry Arthur Tilley, Revised Edition 1937.  The caption is from Mr. Tilley.
This book is one of the most important ever published about the Old English Sheepdog and is still regarded by many as the definitive work in the breed.  Henry Arthur Tilley was a President of the Old English Sheepdog Club (England) and founded the Old English Sheepdog Club of America in 1904.  Mr. Tilley and his brother William Steeds Tilley were proprietors of the famous "Shepton" kennels of Shepton Mallet, Somerset, England, and pioneers in raising the standards for the breed, producing many great dogs that can be found in many, many of the pedigrees of today's Old English Sheepdogs all over the world.
The dog pictured is from the early 20th Century--compare this dog to the present Standard for the breed!  If you find his duplicate in your ring someday, you will be the envy of all who breed, show, and judge Old English Sheepdogs!
"As his name appears in so many of the present-day pedigrees, it may interest readers to see a photograph of him.  This unfortunately does not do him justice as he was out of coat;  it shows him with a dark coat, whereas he was a beautiful blue grizzle.  Still, it does reveal many of his good points, e.g. spring of ribs, shortness of back, length of neck, beautiful hocks, and length from hip to hock; but far more important was his grand character and strong constitution--which features were transmitted to his offspring"
Some excerpts from an article entitled "The Working Old English Sheepdog" by Nick Waters, as printed in the August, 2002, Issue of Dog News.
"Supporters of working dogs and those of show dogs have frequently never been good bedfellows.  Both sides have their devotees who argue that each have ruined certain breeds."
"The Old English Sheepdog is one of the most ancient of British working breeds and has become one of the most instantly reconizable breeds of dog in the world and one of the most popular show dogs.  Breeding for coat, which to a great degree defines the breed, now serves as a disadvantage to the breed as a working dog.  Those familiar with working cattle and sheepdogs say its excessive length and softer texture renders it largely unsuitable to work in the weather, terrain and conditions in which the breed originally worked."
"Although most working Old English did not have the coats of their counterparts in the show-ring, many were kept cut short and it was the practice with sheep farmers to shear and dip their dogs with the sheep."
"Many would argue that the name is a misnomer as the breed was originally and until comparatively recently, an all-round versatile stock dog.  .........Driving milking cows they would go steadily as they would with calves, but young spirited stock they would make move fast.  One particular dog that sometimes worked horses soon learnt to get down flat after they had gone through a gate, to avoid any kickback from any of the horses.  .....Some working Old English Sheepdogs were known to take on the trait of a Corgi when working stubborn moorland sheep and have a nip at their heels......."
"The history of the Old English Sheepdog is intertwined with the bygone days of the drovers.........The type of dog a drover needed was one with stamina, steadiness and the temperament that would see off any predators, would stand its ground against any rogue beast and would see off man attack by a bull or ox intent on mischief towards the drovers."
"In 1891 Drovers' Dog Shows were inaugurated, the purpose of this being for the improvement of the breeds drovers used and of their treatment.  In 1894 the show was held at the Metropolitan Cattle Market and of the 78 dogs entered 20 were Old English Sheepdogs and Best Dog and Best Bitch in show were both Old English;........"

 

Breed Standard (1986)

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.

 Size, Proportion, Substance

Type, character and balance are of greater importance and are on no account to be sacrificed to size alone.


Size-- Height (measured from top of withers to the ground), Dogs: 22 inches (55.8 cm) and upward.
Bitches: 21 inches (53.3 cm) and upward.


Proportion-- Length (measured from point of shoulder to point of ischium [tuberosity]) practically the same as the height. Absolutely free from legginess or weaselness.


Substance-- Well muscled with plenty of bone.

Head-- A most intelligent expression.
 

Eyes-- Brown, blue or one of each. If brown, very dark is preferred. If blue, a pearl, china or wall-eye is considered typical. An amber or yellow eye is most objectionable.


Ears-- Medium sized and carried flat to the side of the head.


Skull-- Capacious and rather squarely formed giving plenty of room for brain power. The parts over the eyes (supra-orbital ridges) are well arched. The whole well covered with hair.
 

Stop-- Well defined.
 

Jaw Fairly long, strong, square and truncated. Attention is particularly called to the above properties as a long, narrow head or snipy muzzle is a deformity.


Nose-- Always black, large and capacious.


Teeth-- Strong, large and evenly placed. The bite is level or tight scissors.

Neck, Topline, Body

Neck-- Fairly long and arched gracefully.


Topline-- Stands lower at the withers than at the loin with no indication of softness or weakness. Attention is particularly called to this topline as it is a distinguishing characteristic of the breed.
 

Body-- Rather short and very compact, broader at the rump than at the shoulders, ribs well sprung and brisket deep and capacious. Neither slab-sided nor barrel-chested. The loin is very stout and gently arched.
 

Tail-- Docked close to the body, when not naturally bob tailed.

Forequarters

Shoulders well laid back and narrow at the points. The forelegs dead straight with plenty of bone. The measurements from the withers to the elbow and from the elbow to the ground are practically the same.

Hindquarters
Round and muscular with well let down hocks. When standing, the metatarses are perpendicular to the ground when viewed from any angle.

Feet
Small and round, toes well arched, pads thick and hard, feet pointing straight ahead.

Coat
Profuse, but not so excessive as to give the impression of the dog being overly fat, and of a good hard texture; not straight, but shaggy and free from curl. Quality and texture of coat to be considered above mere profuseness. Softness or flatness of coat to be considered a fault. The undercoat is a waterproof pile when not removed by grooming or season. Ears coated moderately. The whole skull well covered with hair. The neck well coated with hair. The forelegs well coated all around. The hams densely coated with a thick, long jacket in excess of any other part. Neither the natural outline nor the natural texture of the coat may be changed by any artificial means except that the feet and rear may be trimmed for cleanliness.

Color
Any shade of gray, grizzle, blue or blue merle with or without white markings or in reverse. Any shade of brown or fawn to be considered distinctly objectionable and not to be encouraged.

Gait
When trotting, movement is free and powerful, seemingly effortless, with good reach and drive, and covering maximum ground with minimum steps. Very elastic at a gallop. May amble or pace at slower speeds.

Temperament
An adaptable, intelligent dog of even disposition, with no sign of aggression, shyness or nervousness.