The origin of the breed and its purpose, the exterior of the bobtail, character and training, health, advice on care, interesting facts. Price when buying a bobtail puppy. If you have ever passed a flock of farm sheep grazing in a meadow while in the UK, then most likely you have already seen this amazing shaggy, but so cute "monster" - a bobtail dog, who saw your car with a turn of its shaggy head. The Bobtail is a wonderful dog, loyally and faithfully serving people for several centuries, has long become a universal shaggy favorite not only in the families of British farmers, but also among dog fans all over the world.
The dog is surprisingly kind to man and selfless in the battle with predators who dared to encroach on his precious beauties of sheep. Guardian and protector, affectionate friend and faithful companion, who for centuries protected the main source of the national heritage of ancient England - fine-fleece sheep (to this day, the Lord Chancellor of Great Britain sits in the House of Lords on a symbolic "bag of wool" - a symbol of the state's wealth). The dog, in fact, has itself long ago become a national treasure and pride of Great Britain, deserving this high title with its exceptionally conscientious service.
The origin story of the Old English Shepherd Bobtail
Although the official history of the origin of the breed is relatively short, according to many British historians and dog handlers, bobtails (of course, not in their current exterior) have existed in England for a long time and are one of the oldest aboriginal English dogs, the roots of which go far back centuries. almost in the days of the druids.
However, as always happens, this hypothesis has its supporters and opponents. For example, some dog handlers believe that the breed is relatively young and descends from a mixture of two completely non-English varieties: the French Shepherd Briard and the South Russian Shepherd, brought to the British Isles from France and Russia specifically to protect expensive fine-wool merino sheep.
But still, the main (and more justified) opinion that exists among modern dog handlers is that the bobtail is still a breed that descends from old shepherd dogs of now unknown species, possibly brought in by traders from Europe in ancient times, and gradually transformed in the indigenous inhabitants of the canine world of Britain.
The bobtail dogs received their main breeding development in the counties of Cornwall, Somerset and Devonshire, lying in the very south-west of the country and, thanks to the mild coastal climate, which have specialized in sheep breeding since ancient times. Already in the 17th century, as it becomes clear from ancient manuscripts, peasants widely used shaggy hardy and all-weather "Old English Sheepdogs" to protect flocks in these counties.
And although, the dogs of the shaggy appearance were exclusively working shepherds, the local aristocrats apparently also paid tribute to them. It is no coincidence that one of the paintings of the late 18th century by the English artist Thomas Gainsborough, a great master of portrait painting, depicts this (or very similar to a bobtail) shaggy dog next to a large nobleman, the Duke of Buccleuch.
By the way, the very breed name "bobtail" is translated from English as "cut tail" and is applied to dogs and horses with docked tails, and in a rather frivolous translation it sounds even funnier - "bobtail". Indeed, such a shaggy dog from birth almost completely lacks a tail (and if a puppy is born with such, then it is docked to zero in the next 3-4 days), which has become such an almost pedigree name. The British themselves prefer to call the breed differently - "Old English Sheepdog". And the custom of shortening the tail of a shepherd's dog did not come from a good life - docking was a kind of mark that the dog was in the shepherd's business, which saved the English farmer from tax on the dog.
Regardless of the history of the breed, the first bobtail, considered the progenitor of all modern British bobtail dogs, was presented at the Islington Show in London in 1865. And soon after that, professional breeders began to closely study the "Old English Sheepdog", trying to get not only a working, but also an outwardly attractive dog. For this purpose, the blood of at least several shaggy French shepherds and Russian "herd" breeds was infused.
Already in 1873, the first “Old English Sheepdog” obtained with the help of such selection was presented in Birmingham, which still did not meet the requirements of the breeders and did not receive due recognition either from the judges or from the audience. Dog breeders brothers Henry and Willie Tilly (Tilly) took into account the mistakes and with a group of enthusiasts continued their breeding research in the network of their dog kennels "Shepton" to the ancient, but with a clear tribal standard. By 1883, the Tilly brothers had achieved significant success, and the standard was approved, and in 1888 the first club of breed lovers was created, which was headed by the elder brother Henry Arthur Tilly (Henry Arthur Tilly).
Some hitch with the official registration of the breed was caused by the question of how to name the dog. Either the "English short-tailed shepherd dog", or the "bobtail shepherd" (that is, "with the docked tail"), or the "Old English bobtail shepherd". There was even an article on the subject in the Kennel Club Gasettes. Ultimately, the experts agreed on the breed name "Old English Sheepdog", under which the bobtail dog entered all the pedigree books of the world, including the International Cynological Federation (FCI).
At the end of the 19th century, the breed from Great Britain was exported overseas - to the United States, where it was immediately acquired by half of the richest families in the United States, which made the Bobtail Shepherd an incredibly prestigious and popular show breed among the country's tycoons. At the beginning of 1904, The Old English Sheepdog Club of America was created, which still exists today.
The purpose and use of the bobtail
Modern representatives of the breed are less and less engaged in their direct purpose - grazing sheep. Today's show dogs, as a rule, no longer have any working skills for this, nor the necessary patience. And the abundant long and softer coat of show dogs, according to sheep breeders and experts, only interferes with the dog, making it unsuitable for working with a herd. Therefore, breeders try to single out individuals suitable for shepherding in a separate group of animals suitable not only for working with sheep, but also for participating in competitions in shepherding. Yes! There are also such competitions.
In addition, the Old English Shepherd has proven itself well in dog agility, obedience training, rally obedience, schutzhund and flaball.
The Bobtail Shepherd is an indispensable participant in exhibition championships in many countries, as well as a wonderful companion dog and a pet.
Description of the exterior of the Old English Shepherd Dog (Bobtail)
The Old English Sheepdog Bobtail is a large, strong, square-shaped animal, abundantly covered with long hair and devoid of a tail. This is a dog with excellent health and energetic behavior, unusually efficient and disciplined. The appearance and dimensions of this "little haystack" are impressive. The growth at the withers of an adult male reaches 61 centimeters, and often more (in females, the growth is smaller - up to 56-57 centimeters). The average weight of a dog is from 30 to 45 kg, females weigh a little less.
- Head the dog-bobtail is massive, but proportional to the general constitution of the animal, with a voluminous and wide skull. The brow ridges and the frontal part of the skull are well developed. The stop is pronounced. The muzzle of the animal is well-filled, long and wide, not tapering towards the nose, reaching half the total length of the head in length. The bridge of the nose is wide and flat. The nose is black (brown nose is a defect), large and wide. Thick lips are black. The dog has very strong jaws and a tenacious grip. The bite of large white teeth (the number is standard) resembles a scissor.
- Eyes according to the existing breeding standard, they should be oval, medium in size, set wide and even, poorly visible from under the long bangs. Eye color is (preferably) very dark (black or dark brown). In blue-merle animals, a blue or lighter eye color is allowed. The look of the bobtail (due to the presence of bangs) takes on a wary and cheerful look. Convex, different in color or too large eyes, as well as pinkish eyelids are not allowed.
- Ears hanging on the sides of the head, medium in size, moderately covered with hair.
- Neck muscular, strong, close to medium in length.
- Torso strong, muscular, square format. The chest is deep and plump. The back is short, wide, and looks like a pear when viewed from above. The withers are well defined and well muscled. The line of the back is slightly raised in the area of the withers-loin. The loin is short and powerful, arched. The croup is wide, rounded, tall (makes the dog somewhat high back). The belly line is tucked up.
- Tail absent from birth. If a puppy is born with such, then it is completely docked (to zero) in the very first days from birth. In an adult dog, the tail should cover the anus, but not be longer than 4–5 centimeters (an important breed characteristic).
- Limbs of medium length, straight and parallel, strong and muscular with strong bone. Feet are round, arched like a cat's, with firm pads and black nails. Black or dark wool on the ends of the paws forms black “shoes”. The standard does not allow for dewclaws.
- Wool thick and long throughout the body, leaving after stroking a feeling of stiffness of the hair structure and some of its greasiness. The coat is fluffy, shaggy and slightly wavy, without tangles, curls or curls. There is a dense warm undercoat.
- Color bobtail fur has the following, acceptable by the standard, options: blue, grayish-silver, blue-merle (spots, stripes and specks of a different color are scattered over the main bluish-gray color), grizzly (color with gray or as if in hoarfrost), and various combinations of these colors with or without white spots.
The nature of the bobtail and features of its training
Existing standards describe the Old English Shepherd as a very calm and balanced dog, not prone to showing aggression towards humans.
When keeping a bobtail as a pet, a certain "homebody" of the dog is also noted, getting real pleasure from a comfortable sofa existence and not particularly active games with children. The dog loves to make noise and fool around, pushing and trying to knock him down. But these manifestations behind him are quite rare and have nothing to do with the demonstration of anger or resentment. Bobtail is absolutely non-conflict and not vindictive, loves the company of people and does not handle loneliness very well.
He looks like a lump, but in fact it is a very energetic and fast dog, capable of instant reaction and response. It's just that he perfectly knows how to save energy and does not like unnecessary fuss in the actions (probably, like most large shepherd dogs).
Perfectly amenable to training and education. The large head of the dog contains enough brains and convolutions to quickly master commands and skills. And he does not need prodding or physical influences, the animal already understands everything perfectly, and stubbornness only in case of an unfair attitude towards him.
The Bobtail is a reasonable, good-natured dog, obedient and disciplined. Gets along well with other pets and is not inclined to conflict with them. Nevertheless, like most shepherd dogs, the bobtail needs early socialization (preferably with the participation of an experienced dog handler) and a demanding (but fair) owner who can, with kindness and affection, raise an excellent dog helper.
Bobtail Shepherd Health and Life Expectancy
Breeders and cynologists of Great Britain and the USA, engaged in breeding Old English Shepherd Dogs, jointly managed to organize a comprehensive study of the genetic predispositions of these dogs.
Veterinarians, biologists and geneticists have identified the following breed diseases inherited from generation to generation:
- dysplasia of the hip joints (often due to congenital underdevelopment of the acetabulum);
- diabetes;
- functional disorders of the thyroid gland;
- entropy (turn of the century);
- problems associated with vision (cataracts, progressive retinal atrophy, glaucoma) and hearing (congenital or progressive deafness);
- allergies and skin problems;
- cancer (in a wide variety of forms and localizations, is one of the main causes of death of Old English Shepherd Dogs);
- predisposition to heatstroke (especially in hot climates).
The maximum lifespan of the Old English Bobtail, according to the study, was 10–11 years.
Dog Grooming Tips
The biggest problem for the owner when keeping a bobtail is caring for its thick and long hair. In a shepherd dog, it has to be regularly trimmed, cut, washed and combed, which of course is troublesome for a person busy at work.
In the homeland of dogs in England, shepherds usually cut the dog's hair at the same time as shearing the sheep, also using it to make garments (it was believed that the dog's hair is excellent for joint diseases and rheumatism). Therefore, when combing and caring for the fur of his pet, the owner can take advantage of the experience of the Old English sheep breeders, using combed wool for its intended purpose, which will bring additional benefits from the necessary process.
But in nutrition, the dog is absolutely not pretentious, although it often suffers from food allergies. Having once picked up the right diet for the dog (taking into account the availability of the necessary minerals and vitamins), the owner can not only solve the problem of allergies, but also not get too tired of the variety of its changes. The Bobtail will eat with equal pleasure everything that is given to him, if only the portion allows him to fully replenish his energy expenditures.
Interesting facts about bobtail
The Old English Shepherd acquired the greatest popularity in the USA. And a special interest in the bobtail, probably because of its unique shaggy exterior and photogenicity, was shown in Hollywood. Cute bobtail dogs have appeared in at least 23 feature films.
Old English Shepherd Bobtail puppy price
The dog lovers of the USSR learned about the existence of the breed only in 1970. And since then, the breed has firmly established itself in the territories of the former Soviet republics. There are many nurseries of the Old English Shepherd in Russia. Almost all regions are covered, and it is not difficult to buy a thoroughbred and promising bobtail puppy. The average cost of such a dog ranges from 15,000 to 45,000 rubles.
More details about caring for a bobtail in this video:
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