ORIGIN: Great Britain.
DATE OF
PUBLICATION OF THE OFFICIAL VALID STANDARD: 13.10.2010.
UTILIZATION: Sheepdog.
FCI-CLASSIFICATION: Group 1 Sheepdogs
and
Cattle Dogs
(except Swiss Cattle
Dogs).
Section 1 Sheepdogs.
Without working trial.
BRIEF HISTORICAL SUMMARY: Though the Old English Sheepdogs
registry is listed as Britain
its actual ancestry is thought to be from the
European Shepherd Dogs of the Owtcharka and
Bergamasco types bred to sheepdogs of Britain.
It is now regarded as a native British breed, often
called the Bob-Tail. Strong, compact and profusely
coated; his coat is a distinctive feature and is
weather-resistant. Basically a country dog,
intelligent and friendly; he has a particularly
resonant bark sufficient to frighten off any
intruder.
GENERAL
APPEARANCE: Strong,
square-looking dog of great symmetry and overall
soundness. Absolutely free from legginess, profusely
coated all over. A thick-set muscular, able-bodied
dog with a most intelligent expression. The natural
outline should not be artificially changed by
scissoring or clipping. Of great stamina, exhibiting
a gently rising topline, and a pear-shaped body when
viewed from above. The gait has a typical roll when
ambling or walking. Bark has a distinctive toned
quality.
IMPORTANT
PROPORTIONS: Dog standing lower at withers than
loin. Head in proportion to the size of the body. Muzzle measuring approximately half of
the total head length.
BEHAVIOUR
AND TEMPERAMENT: A biddable
dog of even disposition. Bold, faithful and
trustworthy, with no suggestion of nervousness or
unprovoked aggression.
HEAD
CRANIAL REGION:
Skull: Capacious,
rather square. Well arched above eyes.
Stop: Well
defined.
FACIAL
REGION:
Nose: Large and
black. Nostrils wide.
Muzzle: Strong,
square and truncated.
Jaws / Teeth: Teeth strong, large and evenly
placed. Scissor bite - jaws strong with a perfect,
regular and complete scissor bite, i.e. upper teeth
closely overlapping the lower teeth and set square
to the jaws. Pincer bite tolerated but undesirable.
Eyes: Set well
apart. Dark or wall eyes. Two blue eyes acceptable.
Light eyes undesirable. Pigmentation on the eye rims is
preferred.
Ears: Small and carried flat to side of
head.
NECK: Fairly long,
strong, arched gracefully.
BODY: Rather short
and compact.
Loin: Very sturdy,
broad and gently arched.
Chest: Deep,
capacious brisket. Ribs well-sprung.
TAIL: Previously customarily
docked or natural stumpytail.
Docked: Customarily completely docked.
Undocked: Natural carriage. Well
feathered with abundant hard-textured coat.
LIMBS
FOREQUARTERS:
Shoulder: Well laid back, being narrower at the
point of withers than at the point of shoulder.
Loaded shoulders undesirable.
Elbow: Fitting
close to brisket.
Forearm: Forelegs perfectly straight, with
plenty of bone, holding body well from ground.
Forefeet: Small,
round and tight. Toes well arched. Pads thick and
hard. Turning neither in nor out.
HINDQUARTERS:
General
appearance: Quarters
well covered, round and muscular.
Stifle
(Knee): Well turned, but not
exaggerated.
Lower thigh: Long and
well developed.
Hock joint: Set low.
Metatarsus
(Rear pastern): Parallel,
viewed from behind.
Hind feet: Small,
round and tight. Toes well arched. Pads thick and
hard. Turning neither in nor out.
GAIT /
MOVEMENT: When
walking, exhibits a bear-like roll from the rear.
When trotting, shows effortless extension and strong
driving rear action, with legs moving straight along
line of travel. Very elastic at the gallop. At slow
speeds, some dogs may tend to pace. When moving, the
head carriage may adopt a naturally lower position.
COAT
Hair: Profuse,
of good harsh texture, not straight, but shaggy and
free from curl.
Undercoat of
waterproof pile. Head and skull well covered with
hair, ears moderately coated, neck well coated,
forelegs well coated all round, hindquarters more
heavily coated than rest of body. Quality and
texture to be considered above length and profusion.
Colour: Any shade of
grey, grizzle or blue. Body and hindquarters of
solid colour with or without white socks. White
patches in the solid area to be discouraged. Head,
neck, forequarters and under belly to be white with or
without markings. Any shade of brown undesirable.
SIZE AND
WEIGHT:
Height at the withers: Males
61
cms
and upwards.
Females 56 cms and upwards.
Type and
symmetry of greatest importance, and on no account
to be sacrified to size alone.
FAULTS: Any
departure from the foregoing points should be
considered a fault and the seriousness with which
the fault should be regarded should be in exact
proportion to its degree and its effect
upon the health and welfare of the dog and
on its ability to perform its traditional work.
DISQUALIFYING
FAULTS
·
Aggressive or overly shy.
·
Any dog clearly showing physical or
behavioural abnormalities shall be disqualified.
N.B.: Male animals
should have two apparently normal testicles fully
descended into the scrotum.
The latest
amendments are in bold characters.