Bobtail dog

The Old English Sheepdog, sometimes called the Bobtail, is a breed that draws attention right away with its fluffy coat and amiable disposition. This dog, well-known for its disheveled, shaggy appearance, has a long history of serving as a herding dog for farmers in rural England, assisting them in managing livestock.

Bobtails are massive, strong creatures, but they are also gentle giants. They become very close to their families and are very affectionate. Both adults and children find them to be excellent companions due to their playful and loyal nature.

Aside from their unusual appearance, Bobtails are notable for their intelligence. If they receive enough exercise and mental stimulation, these dogs are quick learners and can easily adapt to a variety of environments, whether they live in a rural or more urban setting.

In search of a canine companion that is amiable, versatile, and devoted, the Bobtail may be the ideal choice. This breed brightens any home and provides endless happiness and companionship when given the right care.

Characteristic	Description
Origin	The Bobtail dog, also known as the Old English Sheepdog, originated in England.
Appearance	This breed is known for its shaggy coat, large size, and bear-like face.
Temperament	Bobtails are friendly, social, and protective, making them great family dogs.
Exercise needs	They need regular walks and playtime to stay healthy and happy.
Coat care	Their thick coat requires frequent brushing to avoid matting.
Size	Typically, a Bobtail can weigh between 60-100 pounds.
Life expectancy	They usually live for about 10-12 years.

History of the breed

This species originated long ago. According to British cynologists, the bobtail was deliberately bred to protect pricey merinos through a cross between the South Russian Shepherd Dog, whose ancestors were Hungarian shepherd dogs, and the Briard. Their traits are readily apparent in the bobtail breed’s characteristics. Simultaneously, several specialists surmise that bobtails can be descended from unidentified ancient herding dog species introduced by European traders.

The English name for this breed is "bob-tailed sheep-dog," which translates to "short-tailed shepherd" or "shepherd’s dog with a cropped tail." "Short-tailed" is another colloquial moniker. The unusual shape of its tail—very short and thickened at the end—is linked to the origin of the name "bobtail." In the first four days of the animal’s life, docking occurs, leaving only 5 cm.

The origin of the name "bobtail" is associated with the unusual shape of its tail

This characteristic was established in the past. A dog tax, the amount of which was determined by the length of the dog’s tail, was imposed on shepherds during one of the eras of ancient Britain. This law caused farmers to dock the tails of guard dogs in an effort to save money, which had a genetic impact on how this part of the body formed.

Citation! Bobtails were displayed as a separate dog breed in 1865 at the English exhibition Islingtoe in London, and the species’ official standard was accepted in 1888. They were unknown for a considerable amount of time in Russia. The first bobtails were imported to the USSR in the 70s of the 20th century.

Hardy Old English Sheepdogs were employed in pastures and were trained to guard sheep in the past. The animals’ unwavering loyalty enabled them to defend sizable herds against wolves in the wild.

Bobtails were once employed in pastures and were specifically trained to guard sheep.

These days, shepherds no longer favor this breed. Owing to their amiable disposition, bobtails are frequently used as guide dogs, "healers" for kids with physical and mental developmental delays, and performers in circus shows.

Description of the breed standard, main characteristics

According to the FCI classification, bobtails are shepherd and cattle dogs. It is a big, powerful dog with square proportions, short legs, and a sturdy skeleton. Long, thick, curly hair covered her. The animal has an amazing and remarkable appearance. Some liken it to a bear, while others compare it to a mound of soft hay.

The bobtail is likened to a pile of soft hay or a bear.

Growth standards

Males	Females
From 54 to 61 cm and more	From 52 to 57 cm

Weight standards

Males	Females
From 30 to 45 kg	From 27 to 30 kg

Head

The bobtail has an impressively large square head that is harmoniously proportionate to the rest of the body. Well-formed superciliary arches and a prominent forehead define the voluminous, wide skull. There is no tapering of the long muzzle towards the nose. Its dimensions are half that of the head. The nose’s bridge is uniformly broad. The bobtail should have a black nose (brown is viewed as a flaw). The dog is distinguished by its strong jaws and thick black lips. Big white teeth arranged in a scissors-like bite.

The bobtail has an impressively large square head.

Eyes

The medium-sized, oval-shaped eyes of the bobtail are evenly spaced and wide apart, as per breed characteristics. Under the long bangs, they are not very noticeable, and the expression is upbeat and alert. Although blue is permitted in the blue merle coloring, the eyes are typically dark brown or black in color. An abnormality would be excessively large, multicolored, or protruding eyes with a pink lip border.

Ears

The medium-sized, moderately hair-covered ears of the bobtail hang downward.

Neck

Strong muscles support and strengthen the medium-length neck.

Body

The body of the bobtail is robust and sizable. The back is short but broad, with a distinct wither. large chest and short, projecting loins. The Old English Sheepdog has a rounded high croup that gives it a high-backed appearance.

The bobtail has a powerful, large body.

Tail

A distinctive trait of the breed is the docking of this area of a newborn puppy’s body. An adult in this location has a small process that barely covers the anus and does not extend beyond 4-5 cm. In the first few days of a dog’s life, docking is done.

Paws

The medium-length, robust paws of the bobtail have large, dense pads and black claws. Nearer the tips of the paws, darker hair grows.

Bobtail way of life

Wool

The dog’s entire body is covered in thick, long hair. Although the animal’s hair structure is hard, its fur generally has a fluffy, slightly wavy appearance. There are no tangles, curls, or curls. It is observed that the animal has a thick undercoat that keeps it from freezing in both cold and wet weather.

Color

The breed standard states that the following hair colors are acceptable: blue, grayish-silver, grizzly (with gray hair), blue merle (gray-blue with multicolored spots, stripes, and specks), and various combinations of these shades.

Character

It is said that the Old English Sheepdog is a sensible, well-balanced, homebody dog. This patient pet is simple to train because of the brain’s many convolutions. A well-behaved and submissive pet can quickly pick up new skills, recall information with ease, and comprehend the owner’s commands perfectly. An affectionate animal will only become obstinate if its owner treats them unfairly.

Fascinating! It’s thought that bobtails don’t tend to be aggressive toward humans. They have no need of retaliation or anger management skills and are utterly non-conflicting and touchy.

Bobtails don’t usually act aggressively toward humans.

Although this dog gives off the impression of being a jerk, he actually has the ability to act quickly and energetically. The bobtail, like most large dogs, would rather conserve his energy and avoid needless fuss. He enjoys lounging on the couch the most, but he also likes to joke around with kids occasionally.

The bobtail has an intense love for people and essentially cannot stand being alone. It gets along with other pets and has a good understanding of its owner. Nonetheless, early socialization is crucial, ideally with the assistance of a knowledgeable dog handler. To raise this dog to be an excellent assistant, companion, or guide, you must be fairly strict when necessary and fair when demanding.

The bobtail is not a good breed to keep in an apartment because of its size, high level of activity, and grooming needs. But this won’t be an obstacle for those who lead active lives. This breed of animal thrives in households with young children.

The bobtail is appropriate for those who lead active lives.

Given their high level of energy and activity, bobtails require regular physical exercise from you. These dogs need to go for fairly lengthy walks—ideally, twice a day at least. Additionally, the animal gets socialized while out for a walk on a busy street. Consequently, it makes sense to go for occasional walks even if you have an animal that lives in the private sector. In this scenario, the bobtail will react to onlookers appropriately and won’t be scared of passing cars.

Fascinating! Even in extremely cold temperatures, the animal will feel comfortable walking down the street because of its thick hair. However, dog handlers recommend wearing a special cape that shields the bobtail’s coat from excessive wetness during rainy weather.

Even though it’s freezing outside, the dog is in great spirits.

In light of the unique features of the animal, routine fur maintenance is required. The dog will quickly lose its appeal if improper care is given. The dog should be trained to be clean from a young age. At least once a week, the bobtail’s thick fur should be meticulously combed to remove extra undercoat using a specialized comb or deshedder. Periodically, the hair must be trimmed, and the animal must be plucked out of the overgrown hair. There should be two or more of these procedures performed annually.

Given that Old English Sheepdog hair has a certain level of resistance to pollution, performing water procedures once every one to two months is sufficient. While frequent bathing is not advised, washing the Bobtail’s paws at the conclusion of a walk is highly recommended, particularly in the fall and winter. In order to prevent it from gathering snow and dirt, it is advisable to trim the hair in between the pads. While the dog is walking on asphalt, its claws will self-degrade.

Bobtail following grooming

Caring for the Bobtail’s ears requires extra consideration. It’s important to trim extra hair and keep an eye on their internal hygiene. In order to prevent the dog’s vision from declining, it is also advisable to trim the hair around the anus and in the groin area. Shorten the bangs.

Health

The eyes and ears of this breed are its weakest points. These organs require ongoing care for Old English Sheepdogs. They require supervision, spot cleaning with specialized wipes, and de-clogging of accumulated dirt. Neglecting the animal’s hygiene can result in the growth of pathogenic microorganisms, which can cause infectious diseases.

The bobtail’s eyes and ears are its weakest parts.

• ophthalmological;
• orthopedic;
• dermatological;
• immune;
• hormonal;
• otolaryngological.

You should familiarize yourself with the puppy’s pedigree beforehand and find out what illnesses his parents suffered from, as this can help prevent many hereditary diseases. The dog also needs to be fed properly, kept clean, have its hygiene under control, and receive its scheduled vaccinations on a regular basis.

Diet

A great deal of responsibility should go into creating the menu for the bobtail. Which type of food—natural or ready-made—should the owner select?

Feeding premade food can be highly costly for large breed dogs like bobtails, so it will be more cost-effective to prepare food yourself. But when selecting prepared food, you won’t have to figure out how much food is enough and how different ingredients should be balanced to meet your dog’s daily vitamin requirements.

Creating a menu for a bobtail requires careful thought and consideration.

• meat and offal (lean) – 50%;
• cereals – 30%;
• thermally processed vegetables and fiber – 30%;
• vegetable and animal fats;
• carbohydrates;
• fermented milk products (kefir, cottage cheese, etc.).p.).

To keep your pet’s immunity strong, consider including vitamin complexes and dietary supplements in its food when creating a menu of natural products. A bowl of clean drinking water should also be available to an active pet at all times.

Where to buy a bobtail puppy – tips and recommendations

It is best to get in touch with specialized nurseries if you want to acquire a bobtail dog. Breeders typically provide tested, 100% purebred puppies that satisfy all requirements.

Citation. Numerous nurseries in Russia are selling purebred bobtails for both home and professional breeding. Puppies range in price from 15 to 45 thousand rubles.

A young dog should look healthy, cheerful, slightly plump

You should consider a puppy’s appearance when making your choice. A young dog should have an even, confident gait, be active, happy, and appear healthy. It should also be slightly plump. Make sure to examine the baby’s bite; it should meet standards where the upper jaw is straight or slightly elongated compared to the lower jaw. The color needs to match the standards for the breed. A gray or pink nose will be viewed as flawed.

• http://bobtail-vl.ru/;
• http://bobtailclub.ru/
• http://sky-bobtail.narod.ru/oes.html;
• http://abigal1.narod.ru/;
• http://bobtail-angel.ru;
• http://bobtail-dozor.ru/.

Video — Bobtail dog

Reviews from bobtail owners

G. Orenburg, Natalia

A nice, outgoing dog. Plays ball with her oldest son with great joy and gets along well with our little daughter. Never growled at him, though he did occasionally pull and taunt her. Accepts bullying of any kind! Extremely protective of kids; barks at strangers that cross the street. Furthermore, our bobtail and the neighbor’s cat even managed to communicate using the same language. Unexpectedly amiable animal!

Moscow, Maxim.

I’ve wanted a bobtail for a very long time. I’ve finally purchased my own home, moved in, and got a puppy right away. Never looked back on it. Good guard attributes and a kindly disposition. The dog follows me everywhere I go and keeps me company no matter what. It also walks the entire site.

The Old English Sheepdog, or Bobtail, is a lovable and devoted breed that brightens any home. Dog lovers love it for its fluffy coat, bear-like appearance, and amiable disposition. The Bobtail is a wonderful family pet because of its gentle and loving nature, even with its large size.

Because of their high level of intelligence and love of activity, this breed requires regular exercise to stay happy and healthy. Because of their herding instincts, bobtails enjoy having jobs to complete. They always want to join in, whether it’s a stroll in the park or a game of fetch.

All things considered, the Bobtail is a happy and affectionate dog that adapts well to a wide range of lifestyles. This breed will shower you with love and happiness and provide you with a lifetime of affection.

The Old English Sheepdog, or Bobtail, is a big, amiable, fluffy breed that is well-known for its shaggy coat and kind disposition. Although intelligent and hardworking, bobtails were originally bred for herding, but because of their playful and loving nature, they also make excellent family pets. They do need lots of exercise to stay healthy and happy, as well as routine brushing to keep their thick fur under control. All things considered, the Bobtail is a devoted friend who flourishes in busy households where they can receive mental and physical stimulation.

Video on the topic

Dogtraining 544. Stunning Bobtail Nash – a dream dog

✔ Bobtail – a breed of good-natured and absolutely non-aggressive dogs

Dakota Bobtail shows a trick with going around trees

Dogtraining 492. Bobtail. Features of education and training. Workshop.

All about the Bobtail dog breed

Bobtail__all about the dog, maintenance and care.