A Dog Owner's Network Old English Sheepdog AKC Breed Standard. adognet dog canine akc breeder dog advertise free dog shows events dog adoption rescue dog national breed clubs rare dog breeds pure-bred breeds dog places for your dog clothing dog world magazine dog water food award bed real dog estate trainer handler dog judge groom board dog buy sell dogs canine canines breed breeds breeding show showing nutrition health behavior diet training grooming exercise obedience trials american kennel club registered subscribe subscription magazine field events hunting leash

Welcome to A
Dog Owner's Network.

Please Support
our Sponsors

Old English Sheepdog AKC Breed Standard

INDEX / Home Page

General Appearance

A strong, compact, square, balanced dog. Taking him all around, he is profusely, but not excessively coated, thickset, muscular and able-bodied. These qualities, combined with his agility, fit him for the demanding tasks required of a shepherd's or drover's dog. Therefore, soundness is of the greatest importance. His bark is loud with a distinctive "pot-casse" ring in it.

Size, Proportion, Substance

Type, character and balance are of greater importance and are on no account to be sacrificed to size alone.

Size

Height (measured from top of withers to the ground), Dogs: 22 inches (55.8 cm) and upward. Bitches: 21 inches (53.3 cm) and upward.

Proportion

Length (measured from point of shoulder to point of ischium [tuberosity]) practically the same as the height. Absolutely free from legginess or weaselness.

Substance

Well muscled with plenty of bone.

Head

A most intelligent expression.

Eyes

Brown, blue or one of each. If brown, very dark is preferred. If blue, a pearl, china or wall-eye is considered typical. An amber or yellow eye is most objectionable.

Ears

Medium sized and carried flat to the side of the head.

Skull

Capacious and rather squarely formed giving plenty of room for brain power. The parts over the eyes (supra-orbital ridges) are well arched. The whole well covered with hair.

Stop

Well defined.

Jaw

Fairly long, strong, square and truncated. Attention is particularly called to the above properties as a long, narrow head or snipy muzzle is a deformity.

Nose

Always black, large and capacious.

Teeth

Strong, large and evenly placed. The bite is level or tight scissors.

Neck, Topline, Body

Neck

Fairly long and arched gracefully.

Topline

Stands lower at the withers than at the loin with no indication of softness or weakness. Attention is particularly called to this topline as it is a distinguishing characteristic of the breed.

Body

Rather short and very compact, broader at the rump than at the shoulders, ribs well sprung and brisket deep and capacious. Neither slab-sided nor barrel-chested. The loin is very stout and gently arched.

Tail

Docked close to the body, when not naturally bob tailed.

Forequarters

Shoulders well laid back and narrow at the points. The forelegs dead straight with plenty of bone. The measurements from the withers to the elbow and from the elbow to the ground are practically the same.

Hindquarters

Round and muscular with well let down hocks. When standing, the metatarses are perpendicular to the ground when viewed from any angle.

Feet

Small and round, toes well arched, pads thick and hard, feet pointing straight ahead.

Coat

Profuse, but not so excessive as to give the impression of the dog being overly fat, and of a good hard texture; not straight, but shaggy and free from curl. Quality and texture of coat to be considered above mere profuseness. Softness or flatness of coat to be considered a fault. The undercoat is a waterproof pile when not removed by grooming or season. Ears coated moderately. The whole skull well covered with hair. The neck well coated with hair. The forelegs well coated all around. The hams densely coated with a thick, long jacket in excess of any other part. Neither the natural outline nor the natural texture of the coat may be changed by any artificial means except that the feet and rear may be trimmed for cleanliness.

Color

Any shade of gray, grizzle, blue or blue merle with or without white markings or in reverse. Any shade of brown or fawn to be considered distinctly objectionable and not to be encouraged.

Gait

When trotting, movement is free and powerful, seemingly effortless, with good reach and drive, and covering maximum ground with minimum steps. Very elastic at a gallop. May amble or pace at slower speeds.

Temperament

An adaptable, intelligent dog of even disposition, with no sign of aggression, shyness or nervousness.
Approved February 10, 1990
Effective March 28, 1990