Old English Sheepdog

Patellar Luxation

Legg-Perthes Disease

Hip Dysplasia

Heart murmurs

Puppies aged 3 to 6 months old should be served three meals a day. Feed two bowls of food a day to puppies aged six months to one year. When an old English sheepdog reaches the age of one, one meal a day is usually appropriate.

However, some old English sheepdogs choose two smaller halves. A daily volume of two-and-a-half to four-and-a-half cups of high-quality, dry dog food, divided into two meals, is recommended for your Old English Sheepdog. Choose a grain-free solution that doesn't have any additional preservatives, additives, sweeteners, or sugar.

Old English Sheepdogs shed a mild to a heavy amount of fur all year, and their dense double coat necessitates more than regular grooming. They may not, though, shed on a seasonal basis. Brushing him with a slicker brush and an undercoat rake regularly will help you keep his coat in good shape and avoid shedding.

Most people are drawn to the Old English Sheepdog because of its hair. The breed is double-coated, and to keep their full coats, they must be groomed down to the skin over the whole dog, at least once a week. Puppy trims are a safe choice for family dogs, but they do necessitate daily grooming between baths and haircuts.

The paws should be trimmed ('Poodle feet') to reduce issues and cleanup. Potential owners are willing to put in the effort to hire a licensed groomer for multiple hours per month for the rest of the dog's life. Nails should be clipped daily, as in all dogs.

The breed needs a lot of exercises and enjoys both leash walking and free play. They are not appropriate for owners who cannot dedicate one to two hours a day to both lead walking and off-leash sports. Despite its fuzzy, cuddly look, the breed's hair conceals an athlete's physique.

They are, however, vulnerable to overheating in hot weather and should be limited during the summer months. Furthermore, Old English Sheepdogs need ample outdoor space and are not ideal for apartment living.

Hip Dysplasia, eye defects (PRA and inherited cataracts), autoimmune thyroiditis, heart anomalies, and hereditary deafness are all checked for by responsible breeders. Cerebellar ataxia and primary ciliary dyskinesia, two dangerous diseases that breeders should prevent merely by naming carriers and not mating them to other carriers, now have DNA checks. Drug exposure and exercise-induced collapse DNA tests are also available.

Old English Sheepdogs are gregarious extroverts that make excellent family pets. They have lovely personalities, but they can be excitable and rough when playing, so caution should be exercised when young children are present. They will participate in every possible operation with zeal. They are courageous and make excellent guard dogs, mainly because of their deep bark, which is enough to scare away any intruder.

To herd youngsters, they have been known to supervise and even gently bump them into a specific location. They've also been considered to be excellent helpers for children who are learning to walk.

The Old English is an intelligent breed that can be trained to a high level of proficiency. Beginning practical obedience training for puppies at the age of 8 to 10 weeks lays the foundation for potential positive behavior. Housebreaking an Old English Sheepdog puppy is usually not difficult, but some will object to crate training because they dislike being confined.

As a working farm breed, many Old English will enjoy participating in agility training or learning to perform tricks. When properly trained, the breed can exhibit increased focusing skills due to their high energy, making training more enjoyable.

Early socialization with other pets and people is beneficial to Old English sheepdogs. They can be hostile toward dogs, particularly males. They will, on the other hand, get along with other species and puppies. Visitors warmly received because they are so social.