Bobtail: everything you need to know about the old English shepherd
To the Bobtail He is also known as "old English shepherd", recognized for his extraordinary ability to drive herds, his ability to take care of the human family very well and for his peculiar aspect similar to that of a giant size teddy. There is a peculiarity that usually enchants the owners of this race and is their funny habit of grouping children when they are playing in the garden, an instinct derived from Its origin as a pastor dog. In the following text we will guide you for its history, customs and behavior, in addition to offering you a complete information guide with all the relevant information about this canine species so interesting and physically beautiful. Characteristics:
It was then in the British islands that he was called "old English shepherd", where he was extremely appreciated by the shepherds for his particular ability to direct the cattle, a genetic quality collected from his crossing with cattle races of Great Britain. You have this historical reference, but there really is no certainty of what the races that were used for such a particular mixing have been, but given their physical characteristics, it is possible to determine that among their ancestors are the Bearded Collies either Barbudos collies. Learn more about another Collie race in our blog. Similarly, characteristics of the race Ovtcharka, of Russian origin, are found in the bobtail. 
What is full of certainty is of its geographical origin. The Bobtail was born from the need of the shepherds to get dogs suitable for work task and that will be agile and resistant. That happened in western England and it was in 1880 that The bobtail race was officially presented during a canine exposure. Since then, the Bobtail race began to be recognized by the Kennel Club Association, the organization that is worldwide in charge of the classification of canine breeds, having since then and for posterity, a clear record of the necessary standards to consider a specimen of bobtail as a race with pedigree. At present, genetically devoid of tail bobtail lines are already used, a peculiarity that was adopted as a standard of this breed because their tail was originally cut.
They have a muscular chest and a strong neck, although it is not much appreciated for the thick and abundant of their fur. A Bobtail dog gives the feeling of being low and plump, but that is only due to its fur, since they have a muscular body, long legs and slender that perfectly coordinate with the size of their head. The tail of a bobtail is usually amputated, although there are currently genetically devoid of it. In fact, the meaning of his name would be "cut tail", a Physical characteristic associated with shepherd dogs. The barking of the Bobtail race is very characteristic, since its voice is penetrating and very serious, an interesting and very useful quality in a dog created for the grazing of cattle in the farms of Europe, as at the time was the bobtail.
Bobtail dogs They are very affectionate and patientsIn addition to knowing how to adapt to new environments easily. Their intelligence and patience helps the owners when training them and educating them, since they learn the lessons quite quickly. Are Perfect home dogs, but it is necessary to provide space to carry out physical activities outdoors. We must remember that it is a working dog and therefore, we cannot deny the exercise. It needs a frequent stimulation dose, otherwise we would have a lazy and depressed bobtail that will not even be encouraged to play with children. With a good training, the bobtail is so docile that it does not even require Correa to go for a walk. It is almost touching to observe the scene of a Bobtail dog with his family in his walks to the parquet, or walking next to the children some streets until he reaches school. It's quiet, playful, kind, expressive and very tender.
First, the bobtail They need a constant routine of physical exercise: jog, give a long walk or play ball or any other sport is essential. So if you are a sedentary person, you should avoid compromising in the breeding of a bobtail dog. On the other hand, if you are a person who likes outdoor activities, perhaps you are the owner indicated for an old English shepherd. The ideal for raising a bobtail is that his adoptive family has a house with space available for recreation, since he usually gets bored a lot in small spaces. Of course, you can adapt to living in an apartment, provided that the owner understands that he must have time to take him for a walk at least twice during the day. Exercise derives in episodes of depression, anxiety and stress in the Bobtail race, since they prefer the freedom of life in the field, running outdoors. They need to exercise to avoid muscle atrophy. 
Other fundamental care for This race so striking and particular are the following:
They are tolerant with their environment and They learn from very puppies to adapt. As they are trained, they even learn to recognize the general moods of the home and understand the routines, so that they will not bother when the family sleeps. Now, all this is learned, you cannot fall into the mistake of believing that just because they are Bobtail do not need to learn obedience and discipline. Bobtail is an intelligent dog And, therefore, it is your responsibility to strengthen those behaviors that you consider correct and teach the behavior guidelines you want from your pet. The way of acting and behaving during visits to the house, the way it will act in front of children and how it will interact with others of their species are issues that are under your full control if you decide Apply strategies to train it properly. A daily routine is something that is much appreciated by the Bobtail race because order is something that makes their lives much easier and more happy. You must teach you to do your needs at a single point in the house, how to eat and the speed at which you should do it, when to exercise and what kind of activity and be attentive and available in times of grooming, which are necessary for the maintenance of your fur.
There are three key points that need to be covered to take care of the health of a bobtail, and are the following:
Bobtail have some genetic predisposition to these diseases, but they can try to be avoided by delivering a daily canine routine that includes all the basic breeding criteria of this race, which is what can guarantee a full and satisfactory life with their adoptive family. Prevent non -hereditary diseases such as Perrura cough And leishmaniosis is equally important to ensure the health of your pet.
There are also two sub-razes of cats that bear the same name, Bobtail, but with different variations: American Bobtail and Japanese Bobtail. This is a dog that due to its good education is very simple to spend to be used in the entertainment world, hence since 1960 make constant appearances in the cinema and television of Australia and the United Kingdom, also starring in many advertisements, including spots for a great variety of dog feed. Finally, the fur and The eyes are its most curious characteristics, since heterochromy in this race is common, therefore many puppies are born with a brown and the other blue. His fur neither varies much, just having a color palette that only includes white, black and gray, in an abundant and very long way. Throughout this guide we have taught you a series of valuable information for the raising of bobtail puppies, which will allow you to know if this breed is what you need for your life or if you already have it, get valuable advice for your care. Information designed to help adoptive families of this beautiful and intelligent canine breed. Find out about the care of other races such as:
- Size: Big
- Weight: Between 27 and 35kg.
- Hair type: Abundant and long
- Character: Sociable, affectionate, intelligent.
- Health: Little susceptible to hereditary diseases
Origin
In the mid -nineteenth century this race was created to perform the function of helping cattle control in the rural area of western England. There is the general belief that the bobtail that we all know descends from Roman -origin dogs that were transferred to central Europe and that were later mixed with others of English mastiff race, allowing the development of the bobtail race. It was then in the British islands that he was called "old English shepherd", where he was extremely appreciated by the shepherds for his particular ability to direct the cattle, a genetic quality collected from his crossing with cattle races of Great Britain. You have this historical reference, but there really is no certainty of what the races that were used for such a particular mixing have been, but given their physical characteristics, it is possible to determine that among their ancestors are the Bearded Collies either Barbudos collies. Learn more about another Collie race in our blog. Similarly, characteristics of the race Ovtcharka, of Russian origin, are found in the bobtail. What is full of certainty is of its geographical origin. The Bobtail was born from the need of the shepherds to get dogs suitable for work task and that will be agile and resistant. That happened in western England and it was in 1880 that The bobtail race was officially presented during a canine exposure. Since then, the Bobtail race began to be recognized by the Kennel Club Association, the organization that is worldwide in charge of the classification of canine breeds, having since then and for posterity, a clear record of the necessary standards to consider a specimen of bobtail as a race with pedigree. At present, genetically devoid of tail bobtail lines are already used, a peculiarity that was adopted as a standard of this breed because their tail was originally cut.
Physical characteristics of this race
The large bobtail size is perhaps one of the main physical characteristics of this shepherd breed. It is creditor of a height that ranges between 50 and 70 centimeters and a weight of up to 35 kg. He is very hairy, in fact it is in essence a Langoso dog, therefore, his fur is usually two colors, long and wavy. Another feature of the hair of a bobtail is that it is usually opaque, unlike that of other races, which have a higher level of brightness. Its fur is abundant and very thick, usually of a white standard color, in combination with large black or gray spots. A bobtail has a large head, square and with fallen ears. The expression of his face is very sweet, very similar to that of a Yorkshire. The hair usually covers his eyes almost completely, and his eyes have the peculiarity of being blue or brown, being possible that some specimens have an eye of each color, the heterochromia being a common feature in this race. They have a muscular chest and a strong neck, although it is not much appreciated for the thick and abundant of their fur. A Bobtail dog gives the feeling of being low and plump, but that is only due to its fur, since they have a muscular body, long legs and slender that perfectly coordinate with the size of their head. The tail of a bobtail is usually amputated, although there are currently genetically devoid of it. In fact, the meaning of his name would be "cut tail", a Physical characteristic associated with shepherd dogs. The barking of the Bobtail race is very characteristic, since its voice is penetrating and very serious, an interesting and very useful quality in a dog created for the grazing of cattle in the farms of Europe, as at the time was the bobtail.
Bobtail character
Very smart and with great vitality, thus we can describe the character of the bobtail. Is A dog that loves feeling part of the family and fulfill your work in the field. It always seems very willing to participate in the activities that take place in their home, sometimes behaving in a similar way to that of small skirt dogs. The bobtail is, without a doubt, a pretty sweet dog and with a personality that can fall in love with anyone. It comes to familiarize family members and, therefore, many owners of this race claim to feel this dog as "very human." He becomes easily friends with the children and knows how to behave by his side, hence he is known in England as "Nanny-Dog" for their quality of being especially sensitive to the little ones of the house and keep them under surveillance. Bobtail dogs They are very affectionate and patientsIn addition to knowing how to adapt to new environments easily. Their intelligence and patience helps the owners when training them and educating them, since they learn the lessons quite quickly. Are Perfect home dogs, but it is necessary to provide space to carry out physical activities outdoors. We must remember that it is a working dog and therefore, we cannot deny the exercise. It needs a frequent stimulation dose, otherwise we would have a lazy and depressed bobtail that will not even be encouraged to play with children. With a good training, the bobtail is so docile that it does not even require Correa to go for a walk. It is almost touching to observe the scene of a Bobtail dog with his family in his walks to the parquet, or walking next to the children some streets until he reaches school. It's quiet, playful, kind, expressive and very tender.
Recommended care for this breed
Taking care of a bobtail is not a difficult job, since it is not a breed that requires special care, although it certainly has some particular requirements that must be satisfied to ensure that you enjoy a happy life. First, the bobtail They need a constant routine of physical exercise: jog, give a long walk or play ball or any other sport is essential. So if you are a sedentary person, you should avoid compromising in the breeding of a bobtail dog. On the other hand, if you are a person who likes outdoor activities, perhaps you are the owner indicated for an old English shepherd. The ideal for raising a bobtail is that his adoptive family has a house with space available for recreation, since he usually gets bored a lot in small spaces. Of course, you can adapt to living in an apartment, provided that the owner understands that he must have time to take him for a walk at least twice during the day. Exercise derives in episodes of depression, anxiety and stress in the Bobtail race, since they prefer the freedom of life in the field, running outdoors. They need to exercise to avoid muscle atrophy. Other fundamental care for This race so striking and particular are the following:
- Feeding. The diet of this can must be based on the feed that are formulated for the requirements of this race in terms of protein value, adequate vitamins and minerals for the maintenance of its fur, etc. The daily caloric consumption of this animal is 1400 lime, otherwise it will lose its muscles.
- Bathroom. A dry bath routine is enough for them, and eventually a humid bath with special shampoo for its type of fur, always with the right products.
- Daily brushing. Bobtail need their fur to be brushed and groomed as a daily routine, so you should avoid this breed if you have time or patience to cover this need.
- Training. This is care and a need in this species, since it allows them to develop a full life, learn to adapt to family routine and obey the orders of their masters.
How a bobtail puppy should be educated
Training a Bobtail dog is not as complex as it may seem, in fact, it is much simpler than with other races, since it has a genetic predisposition for work and fulfill orders instinctively, which comes from its past as a sheep dog. Of course it requires a little patience, because this dog has its own sense of humor and can be playful and disobedient when you try to make your bobtail learn something. However, It is easy to train And he will show his patience every time you try to learn a lesson. Everything will depend on your attitude and the training technique you decide to apply. The docility of the bobtail is great to learn, because you can even get used to staying dressed with the most peculiar costumes, something that families with children usually love. They are tolerant with their environment and They learn from very puppies to adapt. As they are trained, they even learn to recognize the general moods of the home and understand the routines, so that they will not bother when the family sleeps. Now, all this is learned, you cannot fall into the mistake of believing that just because they are Bobtail do not need to learn obedience and discipline. Bobtail is an intelligent dog And, therefore, it is your responsibility to strengthen those behaviors that you consider correct and teach the behavior guidelines you want from your pet. The way of acting and behaving during visits to the house, the way it will act in front of children and how it will interact with others of their species are issues that are under your full control if you decide Apply strategies to train it properly. A daily routine is something that is much appreciated by the Bobtail race because order is something that makes their lives much easier and more happy. You must teach you to do your needs at a single point in the house, how to eat and the speed at which you should do it, when to exercise and what kind of activity and be attentive and available in times of grooming, which are necessary for the maintenance of your fur.
Health care
Bobtail dogs usually enjoy good health and life expectancy greater than 10 years, but their owners must provide the conditions and The necessary care to ensure that they grow happy and their health last. Bobtail is not prone to hereditary diseases, being a fairly resistant race. Of course, like any other canine, it has some common ailments that should try to prevent themselves. There are three key points that need to be covered to take care of the health of a bobtail, and are the following:
- Dental hygiene. A denture in good condition needs cleanliness, thus avoiding the development of periodontal disease that can cause the loss of dental pieces, which affects the quality of life and bobtail feeding.
- Care of the fur. The daily brushing routine must be complemented with a monthly hair cut that removes the hair from your eyes, so that it is avoided to accumulation of waste in the area and infections occur.
- Vaccines and deworming. Once you adopt a bobtail you assume responsibility for its vaccination calendar and its deworming schedule, so that it is possible to face the diseases and infections to which all dogs are prone. Bobtail are quite prone to external parasites such as ticks and fleas, which is due to their type of fur, abundant and thick.
- Hip dysplasia
- Wobbler syndrome
- Diabetes
- Deafness
- Falls
- Stomach torsion
Bobtail have some genetic predisposition to these diseases, but they can try to be avoided by delivering a daily canine routine that includes all the basic breeding criteria of this race, which is what can guarantee a full and satisfactory life with their adoptive family. Prevent non -hereditary diseases such as Perrura cough And leishmaniosis is equally important to ensure the health of your pet.
Bobtail race curiosities
There are some curious data that you surely did not know about this Race of dogs that is friendly and ideal for family life. Its original name is "Old English Sheepdog", which translates as "old English shepherd", but by Bobtail it became known throughout the world, a word that means "short tail", because it was a rule to cut the tail of shepherd dogs. In the course of World War I (1914-1918) the bobtail was used to drag sleds with provisions to the battle front, while for World War II (1939-1945) the race almost reached extinction. It has a high caloric consumption, needing a diet that provides 1,400 cal a day to ensure the quality of its muscles and that its weight remains in the appropriate weight standards as corresponds to the Bobtail race. There are also two sub-razes of cats that bear the same name, Bobtail, but with different variations: American Bobtail and Japanese Bobtail. This is a dog that due to its good education is very simple to spend to be used in the entertainment world, hence since 1960 make constant appearances in the cinema and television of Australia and the United Kingdom, also starring in many advertisements, including spots for a great variety of dog feed. Finally, the fur and The eyes are its most curious characteristics, since heterochromy in this race is common, therefore many puppies are born with a brown and the other blue. His fur neither varies much, just having a color palette that only includes white, black and gray, in an abundant and very long way. Throughout this guide we have taught you a series of valuable information for the raising of bobtail puppies, which will allow you to know if this breed is what you need for your life or if you already have it, get valuable advice for your care. Information designed to help adoptive families of this beautiful and intelligent canine breed. Find out about the care of other races such as:
- Czechoslovaco wolf dog.
- German shepherd
- Akita Inu
- Chow chow
- Cane Corso
- Argentine Dogo
- Great Danish
- San Bernardo
- Napolitan mastin
- ROTTWEILER
- Doberman
- Labrador retriever
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