The Old English Sheepdog

So you may have seen in Katie's "About Profile" an adorable puppy. That massive puppy is actually mine, and his name is Teddy. He's a big mightyOld English Sheepdog, which you may or may not know what breed that is. Here is a post all about one of my favorite breeds and one that I own:)

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As I write this, Teddy is about 3 1/2 months old. He was born in Moravia, New York at Owasco Valley Sheepies on June 30, 2016. He was a tiny little peanut, which, if you couldn't tell, he is no longer. We drove a whopping nine hours to go to pick him up. Of course, it was all completely worth it, because he is now the best little guy (on occasion, though, he can be naughty). I will do a separate blog post on Owning a Puppy, but for now, Teddy is stealing the show.

When we picked him, he was just days under 8 weeks, weighed 9.5 pounds, and was certainly was very fluffy and huge. He wasn't as much of a fluff bucket as he is now, but he was the floofiest thing I had ever seen. The ride home was a little tiring, as puppies cannot be on public grounds, like park grass. So, we took him out every two hours to go to the bathroom on a potty pad. He slept most of the way and was a good boy. He chewed on some of the toys we brought for him. He stayed in a laundry basket filled with towels. He really didn't like the crate we brought, so the laundry basket it was.

Writing this, like I said, he is 3 1/2 months old. He weighs around 28-30 pounds. But, boy oh boy, will that number sky rocket.

ALRIGHT! ABOUT THE OLD ENGLISH SHEEPDOG

I want this description to be a little less "traditional", so here we go!

The Old English Sheepdog is a breed of dog. They are absolutely huge. Not a Great Dane tall huge, but just very built, with big muscles and lots of hair. Don't get me wrong, they are a very large breed to begin with. When he is full grown, his head will most likely reach my hip, and I am 5'5''. That is pretty big, if you can imagine. At his peak weight, he will probably be around 90-100 pounds.

Their personality doesn't really match their appearance. They look burly and tough, especially because of their bear-like gait (I'll get to that later on). But don't be fooled, the OES (Old English Sheepdog) is just like a big, cuddly best friend. They are some of the most wonderful breeds when bred responsibly. The OES is a big sweetheart with love for everyone they meet. They are truly the most beautiful dog I have ever encountered. Never have I met a more friendly dog who lives to serve and love his people more than the OES.

Other than being large, sweet Teddy bears, they are quite an interesting breed. The first thing you probably notice is the massive amounts of hair this breed has. Their grooming needs aren't for the faint of heart and should be seriously noted when considering buying this breed. With Teddy, we have a strict grooming regime. He gets a thorough combing once or twice everyday, which is followed by a once over with a slicker brush, pin brush, and undercoat rake. This seems like too much to do, but it is crucial. Their coat mats easily. Matting, while unfortunately very common among non-cared-for dogs, can cause serious skin problems if not addressed quickly.

Let me break down this grooming thing for you all:

The comb, we use one with wide and slim tooth sides and pointed ends, helps to get under the undercoat to remove any mats, while simultaneously removing any mats from the top coat. This is an important step also due to the fact that the very thin nature of the comb is a sure-fire way to make sure the coat is thoroughly combed out.

The slicker brush is a brush with thin, closely spaced metal spines. It grooms the top coat to be soft and smooth.

The pin brush is probably one that you yourself own. For Teddy, it is smaller, but in the future we will need a larger one.

We bathe him about once a month, as well as when he needs a bath (rolls around in mud, etc.). Please refrain from bathing any dog too often, as it hurts their skin and natural oils.

I hope you guys love Tedders, I know that I sure do. If you're considering an OES, now you know the basics of caring for one, as well as a little bit about them.

Enjoy!

♥ Chrissy at Delightful Lifestyle:)