Plate 056 · British Isles
Old English Sheepdog
古代英国牧羊犬
“The shaggy 'Bobtail' that drove cattle to market.”
- Origin
- United Kingdom
- West Country, south-west England
- Region of origin
- The point marks the region the breed comes from, not an exact birthplace.
- Era
- 18th–19th century
- Today
- Family companion · Show dog
Under editorial review — sources listed below.
Then → Now
Then · 1900Ch. Cupid's Dart, an Old English Sheepdog ('bobtail') of 1900.
R. H. Moore, in Charles Henry Lane's All About Dogs (1900) · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons
NowHistory
01 · Origin
West Country, south-west England
A shaggy drover's dog, probably from the farms of south-west England; its exact ancestry is unknown.
02 · Historical role
What it was bred for
Drove cattle and sheep along the roads to market.
03 · Breed development
How it changed
Drovers' dogs were traditionally docked, which gave rise to the nickname 'Bobtail'. It became a popular show dog from the late 19th century and is also kept as a family companion.
04 · Today
Family companion · Show dog
A good-humoured, playful family companion; the coat needs considerable grooming.
Personality
- Playful
- Gentle
- Adaptable
- Intelligent
- Good-humoured
General breed tendencies, not guarantees — individual dogs vary with genetics, training and environment. Ratings: this atlas’s editorial summary on a 1–5 scale, for rough comparison between breeds here — not a measurement or a standardised assessment.
- Size
- Large
- Lifespan
- 10–12 years
- Coat
- Profuse, shaggy double coat, grey and white
Field note
The nickname 'Bobtail' comes from the old custom of docking drovers' dogs.
Recognition & today
- AKC
- Herding Group
- Also recognized by
- FCI, The Kennel Club (UK)
- Popular in
- No reliable data
Known from films such as Disney's 'The Shaggy Dog' and as the Dulux paint mascot since 1961.
Sources2 references
- Old English Sheepdog — breed information — American Kennel Club
https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/old-english-sheepdog/
Registry · accessed 2026-10-07 · Registry status and AKC group; AKC recognition 1888 per AKC "Breeds by Year Recognized". Used as a registry reference only.
- Old English Sheepdog (encyclopedia overview) — Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_English_Sheepdog
Encyclopedia · accessed 2026-10-07 · Secondary overview; cross-check claims against primary breed-club sources.
Image credits
R. H. Moore, in Charles Henry Lane's All About Dogs (1900) · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons
Text is written by World Breeds from the references above; it does not reproduce registry descriptions.
