Old English Sheepdog: The Tail Was Bobbed to Dodge a Tax

This is worth knowing plainly: the bobbed tail that gave the breed its "Bobtail" nickname came from British tax law, not natural mutation. During the 18th and 19th centuries, working dogs with docked tails qualified for a tax exemption, since the docked tail served as visible proof of genuine working status. Drovers routinely docked their dogs' tails specifically to avoid taxation, and the practice became so strongly associated with the breed that the nickname stuck permanently — even though tail docking is now illegal across most of Europe, and many modern Old English Sheepdogs keep their natural, long, feathered tails.

Worth telling in full, since it's specific and verified by the breed's own American club: droving was a licensed trade in Britain, moving herds numbering in the hundreds or thousands from farms to market. According to historical accounts compiled in The Very Old English Sheepdog, drovers would often send their sheepdogs home alone once the trek to market was finished, while the drover themselves remained behind at market. These highly intelligent dogs made the return journey entirely by themselves — stopping at taverns along the route, where they were fed and watered on the drover's account, a genuine running credit arrangement between known drovers and innkeepers along established routes.

Worth understanding the difference: unlike herding dogs that gather and control livestock within a pasture, drovers' dogs walked alongside herds across long distances, keeping animals moving forward rather than circling them. This required genuine stamina, weather resistance, independent decision-making, and the courage to face down obstinate cattle without constant direction from a handler — traits that shaped the breed's substantial size, weatherproof coat, and steady, self-reliant temperament.

The Bearded Collie is widely agreed to have played a significant role, contributing herding instinct and coat type. Beyond that, theories point to crosses with the Russian Owtchar, the Scottish Deerhound, the Briard, the Bergamasco, and possibly the now-extinct Smithfield or Cotswold Cur — a bobtailed drover's dog noted in southwestern England in the early 19th century. The exact combination remains genuinely uncertain, reflecting how working-dog breeding in that era prioritized function over documented pedigree.

Worth knowing directly: Old English Sheepdogs drool substantially, particularly after eating and drinking — enough that the coat around the mouth can genuinely turn yellow over time without regular cleaning. This is a routine maintenance task worth building into grooming habits, not an occasional concern.

Despite an imposing, shaggy appearance, OESs are consistently described as friendly, often silly, and good-natured even with strangers — a natural watchfulness exists without tipping into aggression. They're generally patient with children and other pets, and their intelligence makes them genuinely eager to learn, though the same independence bred into them for droving work means consistent training matters.

Hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, cataracts, progressive retinal atrophy, hypothyroidism, and deafness are the most commonly cited concerns — ask a breeder about relevant screening. The dense double coat needs regular brushing (commonly every two weeks at minimum) with particular attention to the ears, where hair grows abundantly and can trap moisture or debris.