Mary Allen
Bobtail: Loyal Family Dog & Cuddly Bear
The Bobtail, also known as the Old English Sheepdog, is a recognized British breed of dog.
Bobtails were still used in the 19th century to guard and drive herds. As herding dogs, these dogs had to have stamina.
However, this use then decreased at the end of the 20th century and the bobtail became more and more a family dog.
By the way, Bobtail means “stump tail”. In England in the olden days, all dogs with tails had to be taxed. The Bobtail is one of the few dogs that can also be born without a tail. Normally, the short bobtail is innate and if it did exist in a longer form, it was docked earlier. This is now forbidden in Germany and so a Bobtail can also have a normal tail under certain circumstances.
Its origins have not been finally elucidated. In any case, however, a relationship to herd guard dogs is certain.
How Big & How Heavy Will It Be?
With a shoulder height of at least 61 cm for males and 56 cm for females, the Bobtail belongs to the large dog category.
He reaches a weight of almost 30 to over 40 kg.
Coat, Colors & Care
The coat is grey, white, and black, with the body and hind legs being solid.
The fur is very powerful and quite long, shaggy but not curly. The undercoat is waterproof so the bobtail can swim well and doesn’t get too cold in the water.
His fur also grows over his eyes and you shouldn’t make the mistake of tying it up with bows or something similar. Aside from looking silly in such a large dog, it could also cause eye infections. The Bobtail also looks very good that way.
Incidentally, the dense long fur is a protection against the weather – rain, cold, wind but also heat is kept away from the animal. However, the coat of the Bobtail requires intensive care. It is very prone to matting and the white tends to turn gray with poor grooming.
Nature, Temperament
The Bobtail can not deny its guard dog nature. It lovingly watches over everything that belongs to his flock or family. It has already been observed that bobtails, for example, drove a flock of sheep together without direct training.
Basically, however, he is very willing to learn and intelligent.
It has a keen sense of justice and still has a strong herding instinct.
Children are his everything. You can do pretty much anything with it. When it gets too much for him, he gets up and goes somewhere else. In this respect, it is similar to Newfoundland and Labrador.
Opt for a Bobtail and you have an ideal family pet and an excellent playmate for your children.
One of his specialties is his faithful and almost always sad look. He probably wraps everyone around their paws and gets his additional allowances.
Upbringing
A Bobtail has a strong sense of self and is sensitive. But he is not a beginner’s dog. On the one hand, you can educate him well, but he likes to think about whether he should really immediately carry out the desired behavior. So he is sometimes a bit stubborn and that’s why you should be consistent with the puppy.
Occasionally his herding instinct comes through, for example when he encounters a flock of sheep. It is also important to prevent this tendency in young dogs.
Outlet
Bobtails need a lot of exercises, even if they seem very calm and comfortable in the apartment.
They love to swim, so if you’re going to take him for a walk and don’t want him to get wet, leash him.
It’s powerful and fast, even if he doesn’t seem like it at all. He is quite suitable for dog sports.
Typical Diseases
Overall, it is a hardy and healthy breed of dog. However, due to their size, hip dysplasia (HD) can occur. This in turn can be largely ruled out in advance by good breeding.
Life Expectancy
Bobtails like to reach an age of 13-15 years.
Dogs’ ears should be cleaned at regular intervals, otherwise, ear infections can occur.