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Old English Sheepdog History
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Although the origins of the Old English Sheepdog are not exact, it is widely acknowledged that the breed can be traced to the early 19th century. It was most likely developed in the west of England, in Devon and Somerset counties. The breeds from which it was produced are unknown, but there are many theories. Some believe that the Bearded Collie is a large component of the breed’s family tree, while others insist it descends from the Russian Owtchar.
Writings from the 1800s refer to the Old English Sheepdog as a “drover’s dog”, being used to herd sheep and cattle to market. These dogs were considered working dogs, not family companions, and were thus exempt from taxes; this loophole in the tax law gave rise to the custom of docking the Old English Sheepdog’s tail, as it was an easy way for farmers to display the dog’s tax-exempt status. Initially, there was concern that docking the dog’s tail would inhibit its ability to steer its body, since many animals use their tail as a counter balance. As it turns out, the Old English Sheepdog’s maneuverability was not affected by a docked tail.
In the late 1880s, a prominent Pittsburgh industrialist by the name of Wade first started promoting the Old English Sheepdog in the US, and the dog’s popularity grew in higher social classes. During the 1904 Westminster Show in New York, the Old English Sheepdog ring was dominated by the pets of five of the ten wealthiest families in America: the Morgans, Vanderbilts, Goulds, Harrisons and Guggenheims. Since its recognition by the American Kennel Club in 1904, the Old English Sheepdog has continued to guard its reputation as a hard working and determined breed with prestige and elegance to spare.
