The Old English Sheepdog (OldEnglishSheepdog), also known as the Bobtailed Sheepdog or Old English Sheepdog, originated in England. It is one of the oldest sheepdogs in Britain and is an extremely charming family dog. Its primary use in the early days was to drive cattle and sheep in the market. This dog is very charming, with a thick and dense but not excessive coat, well-developed muscles, and a strong body.
The Old English Sheepdog is a long-haired dog that looks like a giant stuffed toy and is incredibly adorable. This dog used to be a valuable helper to shepherds. In the 19th century, the Old English Sheepdog was widely used in agricultural areas.
In 1873, it made its first public appearance at a exhibition in England. Farmers bred this agile herding dog to drive livestock to the pastures. The ancestors of this dog include the Bearded Collie and various European sheepdogs. Its coat is very fluffy, and the quality and texture of the coat are more important than just the amount of hair. The undercoat has waterproofing capabilities before being trimmed or experiencing seasonal shedding.
1. Dog Infectious Diseases
Dogs are susceptible to infectious diseases, commonly including canine distemper and canine coronavirus. Common clinical symptoms include fever, refusal to eat, vomiting and diarrhea, drowsiness, difficulty breathing, bloody stool, purulent eye discharge, dry nose, and cracked paws.
Generally, these types of infectious fatal diseases are more common in dogs during the weaning period or around 1 year old. Puppies are more susceptible, with a low cure rate and a tendency to leave sequelae.
How to prevent:
When bringing a dog home, it is recommended for the owner to choose a dog through formal channels, vaccinate the dog on time, and regularly disinfect the house. Do not take the dog out for a walk before it has completed the vaccination, do not let the dog come into contact with unfamiliar dogs, and do not allow others to touch the dog's mouth and nose casually.
2. Canine Skin Diseases
Because dogs often go for walks outside, they are prone to various skin diseases. If a dog is accidentally infected with mites, bacteria, or fungi while outside, there is a risk of difficult and time-consuming treatment. Therefore, owners must pay attention. Clinical symptoms of canine skin diseases include greasy skin, peeling, redness, itching, papules, ulceration, pus discharge, hair loss, and scabs.
How to prevent:
In daily care, it is necessary to keep the dog's living environment clean and tidy, avoid darkness and moisture. In addition, regularly disinfect the dog's living environment, perform internal and external worm control for the dog, use dog-specific bathing liquid, regularly comb the fur, and supplement with vitamins and fish oil.
3. Canine Parasites
Common parasites in dogs include roundworms, heartworms, ticks, fleas, etc. They often cause skin diseases and intestinal diseases in dogs, and may cause vomiting and diarrhea in dogs, affecting their quality of life and physical development. Dogs with parasites are often thin and lethargic.
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How to prevent:
When feeding, owners should be careful not to give dogs unsterilized raw meat or unknown sources of meat. Internal deworming for dogs should be done once every 3 months, and external deworming should be done once a month. When going out, prevent dogs from eating or licking indiscriminately and going into the grass. After returning home, be sure to check carefully.
Newborn period: The newborn period is when the dog is just born and relies mainly on mother's milk for survival. The body cannot regulate temperature and needs heat insulation from the mother. For the first day, there is no hearing or vision, and the puppy relies only on weak touch to find the nipple. Around day 13, the eyes open, hearing develops around day 15, and teething starts around day 20. From day 21 to 28, the mother's milk is not enough, and the transition from liquid food to semi-solid food begins. At this time, it is easy to develop diarrhea and constipation, so it is necessary to feed lactase, probiotics, or give them powdered goat's milk/pet milk. For constipation during milk consumption, you can feed a small amount of vegetable oil and massage the abdomen to help with defecation. Deworming starts at 14-28 days old.
Puppyhood: 1 month to 2 months old. The puppy's digestive system is not fully developed at this time, so it needs careful care from the owner. Generally, feed at least 3 times a day and feed less but more often based on the puppy's condition. Soak the dog food in warm water or powdered goat's milk and feed little by little. Do not overfeed, as it can lead to poor digestion. Make sure to provide the puppy with drinking water and avoid giving them cow's milk, which can cause diarrhea. You can give them a small amount of probiotics every day to regulate their intestines. At this time, the puppy has a weak resistance to viruses and bacteria, so it should not be taken outside, nor should it come into contact with people with colds to prevent the puppy from getting sick. Immunization starts at 6-7 weeks old, with the last vaccination at 3 months old. Try to bathe the puppy after the immunization is complete. In the early stages, you can use dry cleaning powder for bathing. Teething starts at 19-28 days old, and all milk teeth are grown at 2 months old. They have a certain learning ability and can start training for potty training.
Adolescence: 3 months to 6 months old. At this time, the puppy can gradually transition from soaked dog food to dry dog food. Adjust the puppy's eating time slowly and make it more regular. They still eat dog food and drink water. However, during this period, the puppy's bones and muscles grow rapidly and require a large amount of protein and calcium. The coat is gradually replaced with that of an adult dog, entering a critical period for coat quality, which may appear awkward. Additionally, the puppy develops dominance and starts to establish its territory and dominate the owner. Destructive behavior increases. At this time, the puppy's body length and height rapidly develop and lose baby fat, so they need a moderate amount of exercise every day to maintain their body growth.
Sexual maturity: 8 months to 14 months old. At this time, the dog enters sexual maturity and experiences its first estrus. Initial estrus can cause hormonal imbalances and irregular estrus cycles. Continuing estrus, no estrus, or false pregnancy can result in low pregnancy rates and high rates of difficult labor. It is necessary to supplement nutrients that promote reproduction, such as vitamin E, organic chromium, and folic acid. Be sure not to breed during the first estrus, pay attention to hygiene during estrus to prevent infection, and if not breeding, consider neutering after the estrus period.
Adolescence: 6 months to 10 months old, and 6 months to 18 months old. Now the puppy can fully eat dry dog food. You can also feed some cooked meat, such as beef and chicken, to enrich their nutrition. However, be careful not to feed chicken or duck bones, as they can cause poor bone development. If necessary (such as poor nutrition, weak health, picky eaters, etc.), you can appropriately supplement some nutritional products. Depending on the puppy's actual situation, choose supplements such as vitamins, calcium, protein, or hair care products. Don't be too greedy and don't give a large amount of nutritional products all at once out of love for the puppy. Proper care is needed over time. At this time, the puppy's bones and muscles grow rapidly and require a large amount of protein and calcium. They have a strong curiosity and cognitive ability, and have a deep memory. It is the best period for learning.
Adult: Dogs aged 1 to 6 years old. A dog is considered an adult at 1 year old and has almost reached its full size. There will not be much change in body size after this stage. At this stage, continue feeding regular dog food without too many dietary restrictions. However, still pay attention to supplementing nutrients appropriately. Avoid feeding chicken or duck bones and avoid salty or spicy foods. Feed cooked food instead of raw food and avoid feeding animal fat. If the dog catches a cold or falls ill, take it to the veterinarian in a timely manner and do not make blind judgments and self-medicate, unless you are a veterinarian yourself. Be responsible for your beloved pet.
Old age: 8-18 years old. Dogs over 8 years old are already over 50 in human years and should enter the "old age" phase of their life. At this time, the dog's organ functions decline, and old age diseases such as diabetes, weakened liver and kidney function, and skeletal and joint diseases may occur. It is especially important to supplement calcium. You can choose to eat more soy products and cartilage and use calcium supplements available on the market. Sunbathe and take more walks. Pay attention to hygiene and believe that you can spend more time with your dog.
1. Can't bathe frequently
When bathing a dog, it is certainly not allowed to do it too frequently. The frequency of bathing a dog depends on the dog's hygiene condition. In hot weather, it can be bathed one or two more times, while in winter, it can be reduced by one or two times. But overall, it should not exceed 5 times. Otherwise, it will damage its fur and skin!
2. Regularly brush the fur
Dogs shed almost every day, especially in spring and autumn. If you want the fur to grow well, regular brushing is an important step. Pet owners can use a specialized brush to help the dog clean its naturally shed fur and prevent it from tangling. Brushing once in the morning and once in the evening for around five minutes each time is sufficient.
3. Sunbathe
Sunbathing is beneficial for the growth of a dog's fur. Besides making the fur more shiny, letting the dog sunbathe can also help kill bacteria. While sunbathing, pet owners can let the dog exercise a bit, which can improve the dog's physical fitness, promote blood circulation, and help grow healthier fur.
4. Deworming
Poor fur condition is actually closely related to parasites. Parasites consume a large amount of nutrients from the dog's body, depriving it of nutrition. Therefore, deworming is essential. It is recommended to do internal and external deworming at the same time. Deworming medicine can cause significant harm to a dog's gastrointestinal tract, so it is advisable to supplement with probiotics on a regular basis to relieve gastrointestinal discomfort.
5. Pay attention to diet
In order to have a beautiful coat, it is necessary to establish a good nutritional foundation and pay attention to daily diet. On the one hand, feed the dog with nutritious and healthy dog food, choose a suitable dog food that meets the dog's nutritional needs. On the other hand, give the dog an appropriate amount of lean meat, boiled egg yolk, and vegetable oil.
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