Dog breed

Old English Sheepdog

The Old English Sheepdog, also known as the Bobtail, is a large herding dog from England, recognizable by its profuse gray-and-white coat and distinctive rolling gait. Under the FCI standard, males stand 61 cm at the shoulder or taller. It is a cheerful, friendly and even-tempered family dog, but it needs plenty of exercise and a great deal of time spent on coat care.

FCI Group I · Sheepdogs · standard no. 16

Weight: 27–45 kg
Height: 56–61 cm
Lifespan: 10–12 years
Origin: United Kingdom

How much food for this breed?Compare with another breed

Photo: Photo taken by Harald Urnes, Norway, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

Temperament

The Bobtail has a gentle, sunny disposition. The AKC gives it top marks for affection with family and being good with children, and notes that the breed has an “off switch” and can settle down once it's back home. Outdoors, it can be boisterous and playful. The FCI standard describes it as obedient, steady, bold and faithful, with no trace of nervousness or unprovoked aggression. With strangers, it's polite rather than effusive, and according to the standard its booming bark is enough to deter an intruder. It gets along well with other dogs and household cats if socialized. It learns willingly but can have a mind of its own, so training should be consistent and varied. A big, strong, shaggy dog can be intimidating, but by nature it is rarely aggressive. It does well in a family with children who respect its space.

Energy: calmvery energetic
Affection: independentvelcro pet
With children: not idealgreat
With other pets: difficultgreat
Trainability: stubborneager to learn
For first-time owners: for experienced ownersyes
With strangers: waryoutgoing
Playfulness: dignifiedeternal puppy
Shedding: minimalheavy
Grooming: easydemanding
Being left alone: strugglescopes well
Apartment living: needs a house and yardgreat in a flat
Barking: quietvocal
With other dogs: difficultgreat
Protectiveness: lowhigh
Drooling: hardly anya lot
Cold tolerance: feels the coldexcellent
Heat tolerance: strugglescopes well

Scores of 1–5 compare the breed with other breeds of the same species, based on the sources at the bottom of the page. Every animal is different. How we score traits

Who is the Old English Sheepdog for?

The Bobtail suits a family with children living in a house with a yard who enjoy outdoor activity and have the time or budget for regular care of a long coat. It fits people who want a gentle, sociable dog. We don't recommend it for a small apartment, neat freaks, people without time for brushing, or places where it's hard to find a cool spot in summer.

Pros

gentle and great with children
cheerful, playful personality
handles cold well
usually gets along with other animals

Challenges

very labor-intensive coat care
doesn't handle heat well
high exercise needs
many diseases that require DNA testing

Size and looks

Size and looks: Old English Sheepdog
Height at the withers	males 61 cm, females 56 cm
Weight	males 27–45 kg, females 27–45 kg
Lifespan	10–12 years
Coat	long
Colors	gray with white, grizzle with white, blue with white
Country of origin	United Kingdom
Classification	Group I: Sheepdogs and Cattledogs (except Swiss Cattledogs)
Also known as	Bobtail, OES

Care and exercise

90–120minof exercise a day

4/5grooming needs

3/5shedding

The UK Kennel Club recommends more than two hours of exercise a day for a Bobtail, though the AKC notes that individual dogs vary a lot. Walks, ball games, hiking with the dog and herding are all good activities. The biggest challenge is the coat. The long, dense hair with an undercoat must be brushed down to the skin all over at least once a week, preferably more often, or mats form. The AKC warns that an owner must either put in the time or pay a groomer for several visits a month for the dog's whole life. Many pet owners opt for a shorter “puppy clip.” Trim the hair between the pads and wash the area around the eyes and mouth regularly. Bobtails overheat quickly in summer, so walk during the cooler parts of the day.

How much should the Old English Sheepdog eat?The calculator starts from this breed’s typical weight: calories and grams a day.

Health and breed-related conditions

The AKC gives a lifespan of 10–12 years, and in the British McMillan et al. (2024) study the median was 12.1 years. Responsible breeders screen for hip dysplasia, eye diseases including progressive retinal atrophy and hereditary cataracts, autoimmune thyroiditis, heart defects and deafness. There are also DNA tests for cerebellar ataxia and primary ciliary dyskinesia, two serious diseases that can be avoided by not breeding carriers together. The AKC also lists tests for drug sensitivity (MDR1) and exercise-induced collapse. When buying, ask for the results of all these tests.

hip dysplasiaBreeders X-ray the parents before breeding.
eye diseases (PRA, hereditary cataracts)The AKC lists them among the conditions breeding dogs are screened for.
autoimmune thyroiditisLeads to hypothyroidism; it is detected with a blood test.
primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD)A serious respiratory disease; a DNA test helps avoid pairing carriers.
cerebellar ataxiaA progressive disease of the nervous system for which a DNA test exists.
drug sensitivity (MDR1)A mutation that changes how the dog reacts to certain drugs; it's worth knowing the result before treatment.

Health tests to ask the breeder about

hip X-rays (HD)
eye exam (ECVO)
PCD DNA test
cerebellar ataxia DNA test
MDR1 DNA test
thyroid testing

This is general breed information, not a diagnosis. If something worries you, talk to your veterinarian.

Breed history

According to the AKC, the breed was most likely developed in the West Country of England, in Devon, Somerset and Cornwall, in the 18th century. Despite its name, the Bobtail is neither especially old nor a typical sheepdog: it worked mainly as a drover's dog, driving cattle and sheep to market. The Kennel Club mentions that Bearded Collies and European sheepdogs may have contributed to its ancestry. Shepherds sheared the dogs once a year along with the sheep and spun yarn from their hair. Bobtails' tails used to be routinely docked, hence the name, but the Kennel Club points out that docking is no longer allowed. The FCI recognized the breed in 1963.

Fun facts

The AKC compares the Bobtail's distinctive gait to the rolling shuffle of a bear.
A Bobtail appears in Disney's “The Little Mermaid” as Prince Eric's dog.
The Kennel Club notes that since the docking ban, the nickname “Bobtail” no longer really fits.
The Kennel Club has placed the breed on its list of vulnerable native breeds, despite how recognizable it is.

Frequently asked questions

How much does an Old English Sheepdog weigh?

The FCI standard gives no weight, only a minimum height: from 61 cm for males and from 56 cm for females. The AKC gives a wide range of 27–45 kg. Extra weight is easy to miss under the thick coat, so check the dog's shape regularly with your hands.

Do Old English Sheepdogs shed?

Yes, moderately, but dead hair often stays in the long coat and forms mats instead of falling on the floor. The AKC rates shedding 3 on a 1–5 scale. The key is regular brushing down to the skin.

Why don't Old English Sheepdogs have tails?

Bobtails' tails used to be routinely docked, which is where the breed's name comes from. The Kennel Club points out that docking is no longer allowed, so modern Bobtails usually have natural, well-feathered tails. The FCI standard also mentions dogs born with a naturally short tail.

How long do Old English Sheepdogs live?

The AKC gives 10–12 years, and in a large 2024 British study the median lifespan was 12.1 years. It's important to choose a breeder who DNA-tests for the breed's inherited diseases.