Old English Sheepdog vs Cesky Fousek - Breed Comparison

The origin of the Old English Sheepdog is unclear as records weren’t kept. However there are some aspects that suggest the dog originated in the 19th century and that the Scottish Bearded Collie had a significant part in the development of this dog which hails from England.

It is also believed that the Russian Owtchar was involved in the development of the Old English Sheepdog. The dog was recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1888. In 1904, the Old English Sheepdog Club of America was also founded.

The shape of the dog has changed very little over the years and it was in the 1880s that the dog was exported to the United States.

The Cesky Fousek is also known as the Bohemian Wire-Haired Pointing Griffon and he hails from the Czech Republic. The name ‘Fousek’ is referring to the dogs facial hair.

With World War 1, the dog all but disappeared, but with careful breeding, its numbers have built up. Today the dog is a popular hunting breed in its home country. In 1957 and 1958, Czechoslovakia joined the Federation Cynologique Internationale, and this is when a new breed standard was written and approved. In 1964, the dog breed was recognized by the FCI and by the United Kennel Club in 1996.

The Cesky Fousek has even been represented on postage stamps issued in the country in 1965, and again in 1973. Today, the breed is as popular as ever in the Czech Republic as well as other countries where there are breeding programs.

The Old English Sheepdog is a large dog standing at between 50 and 60cm and weighing between 27 and 45kg.

He is muscular with a broad bottom and hip area. The head is also large and the small ears are carried flat. The tail has always been docked, giving the dog a large panda-bear look to him, but these days the tail is often left long, and the dog loses that square compact look.

When the tail is left long it is well feathered. The coat can become fairly long and is quite harsh and wavy to straight. The coat is essentially grey with white hair over the head area. The puppies are born with their hair being black and white, and later on the traditional grey coloring comes in.

What is quite interesting with this dog is that it stands lower at the shoulder than at the loins, so just like a Panda bear, he also lopes or walks in a bear-like fashion.

Temperament:

The Old English Sheepdog isn’t an aggressive dog. He is social, intelligent and entertaining for his human family, whom he loves to spend time with.

He is an energetic dog too and he would prefer a country setting where there are large fields to run in as opposed to living on a tiny property in the city. He is an adaptable dog though, and will slot into life in the city or suburbs, so long as he is well exercised.

Train him and socialize him and he will become an obedient, amicable pet to have around.

The Cesky Fousek is a medium sized dog with both the male and the female standing between 58 – 66cm and weighing 22–28kg. The dog has a fairly distinctive appearance, looking quite a bit like a German Wire-haired Pointer, but he has the mustache and beard which the Pointer doesn’t have.

The tail of this dog is carried horizontally and is generally docked to 3/5 of its natural length to give the dog a distinctive look. These days, with regulations around docking, the tail is left long. The ears are floppy and rounded at the tips and the eyes are brown.

The dog’s coat is short to medium length and fairly coarse with colors being dark roan or brown with ticked markings.

Temperament:

The Cesky Fousek is an energetic, eager-to-please dog and he just loves playing with the children in the home. He is an intelligent dog who is loyal, social and protective and you’ll find that he is easy to train. In fact, with socialization and training, he becomes obedient and amicable around adults, children and other pets.

The Old English Sheepdog is the ideal dog for a family pet. They love spending time with their human family and are affectionate and loyal, getting on well with children as well as other pets.

From the time he is a puppy, you can see that he is fun-loving and easy going while also being intelligent. He is also a guardian and wants to protect his human family.

Provide him with the opportunity to get out into the country sometimes if you don’t live on a farm because he is essentially a farm dog. He used to be a herding dog and likes to be busy. Treat him well and have him trained and socialized and he’ll make you a superb pet.

The Cesky Fousek is a fun loving, good natured dog who is always up for a game. This is why he isn’t a dog that will fit into an apartment or shoe-box size garden.

Socialize and train him and he becomes a wonderful family pet, good around children and other pets. He loves human companionship and isn’t a dog to be left outside to run around on his own.

The Cesky Fousek is easy to train, and when he is treated properly and made to feel an important member of the family, he provides you with his unconditional love and friendship.

It is estimated that the beautiful Old English Sheepdog can live to be about 10, 11 or 12 years of age if he is looked after well. Just like with other dog breeds though, this particular dog is also prone to some of the common dog diseases there are.

Some of these diseases include hip dysplasia, diabetes, eye diseases and deafness along with some skin problems.

Diabetes:

As a chronic disease, Diabetes can affect dogs as well as other animals and humans. Diabetes in dogs can’t be cured but it can be managed, with Diabetes Mellitus being the kind of diabetes most seen in dogs. Whatever kind of diabetes your pet has, the negative effects remain the same.

Cancer:

It can be devastating when your dog has been with you for about 10 years, to discover that he has cancer. Of course, cancer is the leading cause of death found in dogs older than the age of 10.

Many cancers are curable if you catch them early. Malignant lymphoma is a common cancer with dogs but there are other cancers too. The warning signs of cancer in dogs are much the same as what you get with humans. You’ll discover a lump or even an injury that won’t heal. There could also be abnormal bleeding.

Skin Problems:

There are many different kinds of skin problems seen in dogs, some of which are more common than others. You’ll notice your dog licking a part of the body so that the hair disappears and the skin becomes exposed.

There are skin problems started because of inadequate diet and lack of nutrition. There are plenty of commercially manufactured pet foods that don’t have the right amount of vitamins and minerals your pet needs. Always buy a good quality one to fight these very aggravating skin allergies. A vet may give hydrocortisone products but many dog owners these days try to treat their dogs with natural products.

The average lifespan of this dog breed is about 12 to 15 years, and even though he is a robust breed, some common health issues do exist.

Certainly if you’re considering breeding for your Cesky Fousek, you’ll want to have him tested for dysplasia, eye problems and Von Willebrands Disease.

Von Willebrands Disease is an inherited bleeding disorder, caused by a deficiency in the amount of a specific protein needed to help platelets.Often the dog doesn’t show outward evidence of having the disease while other dogs might even hemorrhage from the nose or elsewhere.

Diet:

Food allergies are caused by your dog eating food with ‘bad’ ingredients which don’t agree with him. Make sure your pet has a wholesome diet.

Invest in the very best quality commercially manufactured food. Home-made food is always a wonderful treat for any dog but it needs to be kept simple. No exotic, spicy foods and no suddenly changing your pet’s diet.

Simple, nutritional boiled chicken, brown rice or pasta and vegetables such as sweet potato, carrots and spinach added into his kibble as a treat will do wonders for your pet and he will thank you for keeping his meals tasty and simple. A little bit of raw meat added in occasionally can also do him the world of good. Fresh, cool water must always be available.

Grooming:

The Old English Sheepdog is quite a high maintenance dog, what with that long hair and all, and some owners of this dog prefer to take him to the parlor to have the hair sheared and wash, otherwise it could become a mammoth task for a dog owner.

If you opt to keep the hair long, you may end up having to be constantly brushing your pet’s coat to prevent it tangling. Not only that, if you live in a hot area, cutting the hair can help towards keeping the dog cool.

The ears of your dog should be checked regularly for infection as well as the eyes, and keep the nails clipped as well.

Grooming:

The coat of the Cesky Fousek is easy to maintain and you’ll want to brush him at least twice a week with a firm bristle brush to get through the coarse hair and rid him of loose hairs.

Ear infections are common in dogs, but dogs with floppy ears are more susceptible to ear infections than dogs with erect ears. The infection often starts in the external ear canal and occurs when excess bacteria grows in the ear canal and it becomes inflamed.

Always take your pet to the veterinarian at the first sign of an ear infection. You’ll notice your pet shaking his head and the ear may well be red and inflamed. Your vet will discuss the proper treatment and suggest ways to prevent recurrence. The vet may also recommend an ear cleaning solution as well.

Exercise:

This dog breed needs plenty of exercise and he’ll love his daily walks with you. Put him on a leash and allow him to run with you when you go cycling or jogging.

Diet:

This is a very active dog used to hunting and he’ll require good quality protein. Speak to your vet about how many calories your dog will need each day, more so if you have a puppy and are unsure in terms of his growth.

He is a medium-to-large breed so you’ll want a food that caters for his size, his age and his energy. Include portions of rice, vegetable and meat into his kibble from time to time for variety, and never forget to include some raw meat into his diet.

Fresh, cool water is of critical importance and should be available night and day.