Instructions
Look at the Old English Sheepdog’s general appearance and size. The breed is a strong yet compact, square balanced dog. While heavily coated, it is not profusely coated. The breed is a “thick” breed and while very muscular, is also quite able-bodied. The male Old English Sheepdog is about 22 inches or more in height, and the female is 21 inches and taller. The length of the dog should be about the same as the height. The dog should be well-muscled and have plenty of bone.
Make sure the head features are correct as to the breed standard. The dog should have a general intelligent expression and brown or blue eyes. It may have one blue or one brown eye. The ears are medium-sized and are carried flat to the side of the head. The skull itself is squarish, and the parts over the eyes are well-arched. The whole forehead areas is covered with hair.
Look for the distinguishing characteristic of this breed—the breed stands lower at the withers than at the loin. There is no indication of softness or weakness. The body is short and compact, and is wider at the rump than at the shoulders. The tail is docked close to the body or can be naturally bob-tailed.
Check the fore- and hindquarters. The shoulders should be laid back and narrow at the points. The forelegs are straight and have plenty of bone. The distance from the withers to the elbow and from the elbow to the ground are about the same. The hindquarters are rounded and muscular. The metatarses are perpendicular to the ground, no matter which angle the dog is viewed. The feet should be small and round, with well-arched toes and thick pads. The feet should point straight ahead.
Make sure the coat is of a good hard texture. It is not straight, but shaggy and does not have any curl to it. The coat should not be soft and flat. The undercoat is a waterproof pile. The whole skull is covered with hair. The neck is coated with hair, as are the forelegs. The hams are densely coated—moreso than any other part of the body. The Old English Sheepdog can be any shade of gray, grizzle, blue or blue merle. It may have white markings. The dog should not have any shade of brown or fawn.
How to Identify an English Sheepdog
The Old English Sheepdog is a strong, compact balanced dog. Don’t let this breed’s tendency to amble or pace along at a slower speed fool you. At a trot, the breed’s movement is free and powerful and it will cover maximum ground with minimum steps. Old English Sheepdogs are intelligent dogs and have a good disposition. They should show no sign of aggression, shyness or nervousness.