OLD ENGLISH SHEEP DOG

Old English sheepdog. shaggy working dog developed in early 18th-century England and used primarily in driving sheep and cattle to market. A compact dog with a shuffling, bearlike gait, the dog stands 53 to 66 cm (21 to 26 inches) tall and generally weighs over 25 kg (55 pounds). Its dense coat is weather-resistant and long enough to cover the eyes, though it does not obscure vision. The coat may be gray or blue-gray, with or without white markings. The dog is often called bobtail because its tail is usually removed soon after birth. See the Table of Selected Breeds of Herding Dogs for further information.