La bobtail breed It is a well-known breed, many know it as the Old English Sheepdog, it has its origins in England and it is one of the oldest varieties of sheepdogs.
Today they can be seen in different homes, being some excellent companions, docile and faithful, It is a breed that is recommended for households with children.
Bobtail history
Also known as Old English Sheepdog, the bobtail It is a very popular breed thanks to its abundant coat, charming appearance, and numerous appearances in film and television. Intelligent and tolerant, it is perfect for living with children and its training is usually simple. Its origins are in Great Britain, being one of the oldest breeds of sheepdogs.
Little information is known about this dog before the XNUMXth century. It was then that its popularity spread from Great Britain to the rest of the continent; specifically, in Spain it was widely used by shepherds to direct and protect livestock. It is believed that the Bobtail comes from crosses of different breeds, such as the Ovtcharka, the Bearded Collie, the Deerhound or the Poodle. In fact, it is said that it was created by man through these crosses in order to get a perfect breed for herding.
His name, Bobtail, means "Docked tail" or "no tail" in English. And it is that when the puppies of this breed were born their tail was cut off by the first vertebra, since in England taxes were charged for having animals with tails. In addition, this detail served the dog to camouflage itself among the sheep and scare the wolves when they approached the herd.
It would not be until 1873 when the first Bobtail was exhibited. And somewhat later, in 1880, it was founded the first club of the breed, being officially recognized that same year by the Kennel Club. However, there is evidence of its existence long before. For example, in a portrait of the then Duke of Buccleuch Henry Scott, dated 1771 and made by Thomas Gainsborough, we can see a specimen of this breed.
Currently the Bobtail is still used in grazing work, although it is more common as family pet. As for its care, you need large doses of exercise, daily brushing and plenty of protection against heat.
Bobtail physical characteristics
The Bobtail dog is an incredible animal: it is very energetic and enjoys being surrounded by its loved ones. He gets along very well with children, who he will watch over with patience and tenderness to prevent them from hurting themselves.
The Bobtail or Old English Sheepdog, is a large dog. It weighs between 30 and 35kg, and has a height at the withers of between 50 and 60cm. Its body is robust and muscular, covered by a layer of curly gray or black and white hair.
Its head is well proportioned, with the ears hanging to the side, the very small round black eyes and the wide mouth. The tail is semi-long, and does not touch the ground. If we refer to their tail, it is barely perceptible, since they tend to amputate it.
It has a life expectancy of twelve years.
It is a strong, symmetrical and compact breed, with a lot of hair. Its head is large and square, with well arched supra-orbital regions. U maxilla is remarkably long and its teeth are strong.
Within its basic care we cannot forget about take care of their fur, which must be almost daily. Let's remember to keep your vision clear, as the long hairs can cover your eyes.
Behavior and personality
The Bobtail is a furry very sociable, affectionate and calm that gets along well with children and adults. It is also very active, so you need to exercise every day to burn all the energy you have inside, even once at home, you will enjoy being caressed and loving.
It is also very smart, so much so that training him can be a fairly simple task, as long as he is provided with treats in the form of dog treats for his good behavior. In addition, we can have a lot of fun with him if we play to throw the ball to him so he has to go find it: he loves to go looking for things! Of course, it has to be made of a hard material, otherwise it could easily break.
They are dogs loving and friendly with the ability to be watchdogs, although they will never attack their own owners. Besides they seem very nice and I sincerely doubt that they can scare anyone. Although it is a breed that was thought for herding, at present its function is another: companion dogs. In some very isolated areas of the United States or England they can be seen grazing, taking advantage of their natural condition that they have not lost.
How to care for Bobtail hair
El bobtail, also known as Old English Sheepdog, it is a very striking breed thanks to its fur. Dense, soft and strong, it is the most remarkable characteristic of its appearance, although it is also the one that requires the most care, both with respect to brushing and its hygiene routine. We give you some tips to maintain the mane of your bobtail healthy and pretty.
First of all, it is a good idea to get used to brushed from the first months of life. The areas of the belly and legs are the most conflictive, because there tend to form knots, so it is recommended to educate the dog so that it allows itself to be brushed especially in these parts. We have to do it gently, accompanying the process of caresses and kind words so that the animal relaxes.
The ideal is to brush once a week, with the aim of detangling and eliminating dead hair. For this we will need a brush with thick and metallic bristles; The best thing, in this sense, is to consult with the veterinarian which is the most suitable comb for us. In any case, it is advisable to start at the back, continuing through the front and rear legs, always in the direction of the hairline.
Pay particular attention to soles of the legsAs debris tends to adhere and form knots between the pads. For this reason it is better to cut the hair in this area regularly and clean it well. It is also important to untangle the ears well, as that helps us keep them clean, something essential considering that this breed tends to suffer from otitis.
As for the the bathroomsIt is essential to untangle our Bobtail beforehand, to prevent the knots from getting worse with humidity. Afterwards, we will bathe him with warm water while separating the different layers of fur and making sure to wet him well everywhere. After this, we apply the shampoo without making circular movements, to avoid the formation of knots. We will simply massage with our fingers in the direction of hair growth.
Then we rinse and soap again, so that the product penetrates well. Then, we rinse well again, making sure that no shampoo remains. We can apply a special conditioner so that the hair is softer and easier to detangle. This can be applied before or after rinsing, depending on the characteristics of the product. Finally we dry well and brush again. We can carry out these baths every month and a half or two months approximately.