Bobtail dog

A bobtail dog is a typical guard breed and a drover dog that has very ancient roots. The Old English Sheepdog is again popular today as a companion, show dog, guide dog. It is used in Canistherapy for children with physical and mental retardation, as the patient, cheerful and beautiful dog takes care of and cares for them. In cold climates, due to abundant hair covering, protecting against extreme temperatures, strength and endurance, excellent learning and the ability to work in a flock, are rarely used as sled dogs.

Breed origin

But these cute "fluffy bears" were not always like that. On farms in Old England, they guarded the herds and played the role of drovers. To the south of the island, the ancestors of the Bobtails were brought 2500 years BC. er Dogs that quickly spread in the farming environment were not popular among gentlemen’s circles, which made it possible to preserve the stability of the breed, due solely to the functions of dogs.

By that time, there were no large dangerous predators in England, and the dogs performed guard functions only in relation to poachers and vagrants. As soon as they envied a shaggy, grinning "monster", the desire to use other people's property was lost.

In the XI century. in each farmyard one could find tailed or tailless sheepdogs. The lack of close territorial ties led to the creation of separate breed types. The “raw” exterior and slowness of the dogs led to their use as a herder who guided the movement of the herd, while the lighter, more mobile ancestors of the collie controlled the safety of the herd from the sides.

Only by the end of the XVIII century, the popularity of bobtails went beyond the limits of farms, and the first breeding club of bobtails in Old England was created. Gradually, the dog acquired a more “aristocratic” look, which was also manifested in the nicknames of dogs, to which, depending on the gender, they began to add “Ser” or “Lady”.

This led to fraud and the desire of some scammers to cash in on the increased interest in the Old English Sheepdog. Only a few surviving specimens had a natural tail tail. The rest of the scammers simply chopped off the tail.

The enthusiasm of the “clean public” for the coarse beauty of bobtails contributed to their appearance not only at exhibitions of shepherd dogs, but also at exhibitions of purebred dogs. The first champions of the breed were bred in Wales and Glostershire, in the villages of Suffolk and Norfolk. Cynologists know the name of Dr. Edward-Kera from southern England (Norwich), who made a significant contribution to the breeding work on this breed. Gradually changed the appearance and individual traits of bobtails.

Description Breed a bobtail dog

Bobtail is a stocky dog, strong, overgrown with long coarse hair with thick undercoat. Height at withers is 56-60 cm, weight varies from 23 to 42 kg. The dog is well built, the back of the torso is somewhat raised in relation to the withers. The characteristic appearance of the bobtail, according to the generally accepted standard, includes:

1. The wide square-shaped skull has sufficiently developed superciliary arches, a sloping frontal part, a pronounced transition to the nose bridge.
2. The nose is wide, dull with a large pigmented black mirror.
3. Lips are rather large, thick, slimy black.
4. Jaws are strong, square. Scissor bite. Teeth large, white, full set.
5. Eyes oval, widely spaced. The color varies from dark brown to pearl and blue. The size is average, the look is smart, attentive.
6. The ears are medium-drooping, not too large, with medium hairiness, tightly pressed to the skull.
7. The neck is muscular, set high with a visible nape.
8. The back is wide, when viewed from above, the body has a pear-shaped shape with a raised sacrum and a convex loin.
9. The chest is wide, muscular, deep.
10. The forelegs are medium length, powerful, covered with long hair.
11. The hind ones also have strong, wide bones and pronounced muscles. Hock joints are low, legs are somewhat straight, corners are moderately expressed.
12. The tail is either missing from birth, or, with a long tail , docked to 4-5 cm.
13. The abdomen is tucked medium.

The fast movements (gallop) are carried out by springy jumps, on the average and low tempo moves by amble.

Colors

Wool covering the body of the bobtail has a beautiful color of various shades of gray with white markings. These are:

• clarified gray;
• blue;
• bluish-marble;
• blue with a rabble

The size of the white areas of color may vary or there are no white spots at all.

Perhaps the color of the bobtail was affected by the colors of the dog's ancestors - white or light gray, characteristic of the South Russian Shepherd Dog and the French Shepherd Dog - Briard. Its color varies from black to white or "pepper and salt", deer. But bobtails have red and brown color disqualifying.

Character

Bobtail character is docile, livable, gentle and romantic. Therefore, it is the best family dog ​​to start, especially if there are children in the family. They will always be under the constant care and protection of a strong and courageous "nurse."

Despite the impressive size, the bobtail has long remained a “puppy”, who gladly runs, plays, plays the fool. But this is not a clown, although among the dogs of this breed there are many artists who successfully withdraw or perform at the circus arena. Dogs are very responsible for their role, and if they protect a pet or owner, they do it selflessly and with full dedication.

The owners of these cute little dogs say that a dog born and raised in the city, seeing the nature of the sheep, literally "kisses" them and immediately begins to feed them. She also comes with family members. Bobtail does not like if they are too far away from each other during a walk.

This huge dodger will be obedient if he sees in his master the strong character and qualities of a leader. The dog is sensitive to attitude and does not tolerate aggressiveness, cruelty, arrogance. It is unfair to punish the dog, and he will cease to obey and obey.

During the walk the dog is cheerful, playful, sociable and inquisitive. At home, a raised dog is quiet, not annoying, charming, calm. Lack of aggression, subtle feeling and capturing a person's mood makes the bobtail indispensable in canistherapy.

With children with disabilities, he is patient, gives the child an opportunity to feel his own importance, raise self-esteem, instill confidence. They walk holding a big friend, ride on it. they crawl, sometimes causing pain and discomfort, but a bobtail will never "express" discontent. With autistic children, he is persistent, sometimes intrusive, helping him out of his world, learning how to be friends and interact with the environment.

Without exception, the owners of bobtails note the intelligence and intelligence of the dog, its independence, independence. Like many large shepherd dogs, the dog must start an "education" early. In the absence of proper and timely education, a stubborn, cunning, uncontrollable and rude dog can grow out of a cute teddy lump.

Training and education

Smart and tolerant bobtails are well trained. The main thing - to find the right tactics, eliminate the "pressure". The dog is well perceived verbal commands, oriented in intonation, quickly remembers and performs them.

They are able to remember the commands, not only based on certain habits, preferences or character traits, but also non-traditional. Therefore, shows with the participation of bobtails are a success, they are willingly filmed in the cinema.

Care and health

The owner of luxurious wool, bobtail requires care for it, which consists in regular combing. The dog almost does not fade, but the thick undercoat is able to stray into thick felt. In addition, it is necessary to do trimming (forced molting). The ripened wool is plucked, the dog is shaped according to the standards. It is necessary to do this procedure at least 2 times a year.

It is not recommended to bathe often bobtails, therefore, walking in rainy slushy weather you need to protect the dog's coat with oilcloth. The Old English Sheepdog is an active animal that needs to be strolled frequently.

Ears and eyes of the dog are subject to inflammatory diseases, and therefore also need care. They must be regularly inspected, cleaned with special wipes, cleaned, washed with special solutions, removing accumulated dirt. If this is not done, then the pathogenic microorganisms, multiplying actively, will cause a number of infectious diseases.

Like most dogs of large breeds, the following pathologies are possible in bobtails:

• ophthalmological (inversion of the eyelid, retinal atrophy, cataracts, portosystemic shunt);
• orthopedic (dysplasia of the hip joint, bursitis, rheumatism, instability of the Atlantean vertebra);
• dermatological (demodicosis, dermatitis, including atopic);
• immune (hemolytic anemia);
• metabolic disorders (diabetic pathology, overweight and obesity);
• otolaryngological (otitis, deafness).

When choosing a puppy, you should be familiar with the pedigree and hereditary diseases, the nature of the parents and the socialization of the baby. In this case, it will be possible to avoid and prevent the development of many diseases.

Feeding

The rapid growth of a bobtail puppy requires a careful approach to the diet and the preparation of the baby’s diet. The menu should be present:

• low-fat meat and offal - 50%;
• porridge - 30%;
• vegetables, thermally processed, and fiber for better digestion - 30%;
• fats, both vegetable and animal (fish oil, for example);
• carbohydrates (bread, crackers);
• fermented milk products (low-fat cottage cheese, ryazhenka, kefir, etc.).

The number of feedings decreases with age, and the portion increases significantly. As always, the dog owner is faced with the choice of whether to feed his pet - “drying” or “naturalka”. Of course, making a choice in favor of ready-made rations, the owner always wins. After all, there is no need to count how much meat, cereals or any other products will need to be given in order to guess the daily need for minerals and vitamins.

Again, products from the category of super premium or Holistic contains all the elements in the right quantity, and, in addition, indicates the number of each serving in accordance with the age or other features of the pet. In this case, breeders are advised to combine dry and wet food or liquid food, in order to compensate for the lack of fluid when feeding ready dry food.

It is also necessary to provide your pet around the clock access to water. Active dog requires compliance with the water regime - in the bowl should always be fresh water, and in hot weather a bottle of water should be taken with you for a walk.

With natural feeding, there are certain difficulties, since, moreover, it is necessary to calculate the caloric content and daily dosage of the necessary macro-and micronutrients, it also takes a lot of time to prepare the food itself.

In addition, vitamin-mineral complexes should be added to food during naturalka. It is better to consult with a veterinarian or an experienced breeder about what supplements a pet needs.

Today, many companies that produce dog food allow owners to use online special programs for calculating calorie and making the optimal daily menu for a representative of any breed. If the owner is inexperienced, but cares about the health of his pet, then you can use the services of a calculator.

Bobtail photo

Bobtail Dog Breed Video

Where to buy a bobtail puppy

To date, the popularity of bobtail is great. Active people who have the conditions for living a large dog, acquire bobtails as a companion or family dog. Provided proper upbringing, feeding, proper care, and also loving and caring attitude, a wonderful, healthy, devoted friend, comrade and companion will grow from a small puppy.