Old English Sheepdog vs Field Spaniel - 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 Field Spaniel was developed to retrieve game, being developed in 19th century England as a hunting companion. Today they are still used as hunting dogs but he is essentially a family companion and show dog.

He was developed to be a medium-sized, all-black dog. Until 1901, spaniels were divided by weight, with the Field Spaniel being the bigger dog.With developing the breed, the Basset Hound was introduced and then English Springer Spaniels were also brought into the mix.

Today the Field Spaniel is still a rare breed even in the UK. To promote the breed, the dog has been registered as a Vulnerable Native Breed by the Kennel Club.

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 Field Spaniel is a medium sized dog, standing at 43–46cm in height and weighing between 18–25kg. The single coat of the Field Spaniel is fairly long with the traditional feathering at the legs, belly, chest and tail.

The coat comes in solid colours of black, liver or roan. You might also find some ticked markings of white. The tail of the Field Spaniel is traditionally docked with the ears being long and floppy.

Temperament:

Happy, busy and active, the Field Spaniel makes an excellent family pet. They get on well with children and with other pets in the home. It is the kind of dog, that while friendly with all members of his human family, he forms a strong bond with one member whom he regards as special.

Bright and intelligent, he is also a dog that does well when socialized and trained, being more docile and less excitable than Cocker spaniels. The Field Spaniel is a dog who thrives on being busy and won’t relish lying around with nothing to do. He loves water and where there is a dam or pond, he’ll be there and want you to join him.

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.

Once people have owned any of the Spaniel breeds, they discover what a wonderful friend the dog is. He is loyal, loving, protective, brave, confident, fun-loving and smart. He isn’t aggressive but he may not like a stranger to reach out and pat him.

The Field Spaniel is a wonderful dog and he will adapt to life in the city or in the countryside, just so long as he has his beloved human family close by.

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 Field Spaniel is a robust dog breed and can live to be 12 – 14 years of age. Apart from watching for ear infections with his long ears, there are some common dog illnesses that are worth knowing about -

Cataracts:

Most older dogs have hardening of the lens and this is when the lens turns a whitish or greyish colour. However if your dog has cloudy eyes, it doesn’t simply mean he can’t see well as he often can. Once a lens has a cataract, some people try nutritional support of the lens which can work to lessen the severity of developing cataracts.

Surgery can help but a veterinary ophthalmologist can determine if cataract surgery is needed as most times it isn’t. If you can’t afford surgery, it is still important to have your dog evaluated by a veterinary ophthalmologist so that you avoid further complications with your pet’s eyes.

Progressive Retinal Atrophy is another eye disease, a degenerative disease that affects the photo-receptor cells where they deteriorate over time and can eventually lead to blindness in the affected dog.

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 Field Spaniel has medium-length to long hair and to avoid matting of the hair, the coat will need to be brushed a least twice a week. Many Spaniel owners take their pets to professional groomers to get the coat and ears trimmed.

Check your Spaniels ears inside and out regularly, because loving water the way he does, the ears inside can remain damp and become a breeding spot for infection.

Remember to also check your Field Spaniel’s teeth as dental disease can be the root cause of many diseases.

Diet:

Your Field Spaniel is an active breed and you want to be sure to feed him a high-quality commercially manufactured dog food which has been formulated for his activity level. Every now and again mix in some cooked brown rice, vegetables and chicken and also add in a bit of raw meat from time to time. Ensure cool, fresh water is always available.