Old English Sheepdog vs Golden Retriever - Breed Comparison

Old English Sheepdog vs Golden Retriever - Breed ComparisonBoth Old English Sheepdog and Golden Retriever are originated from United Kingdom. Both Old English Sheepdog and Golden Retriever are having almost same height. Old English Sheepdog may weigh 9 kg / 20 pounds more than Golden Retriever. Both Old English Sheepdog and Golden Retriever has same life span. Both Old English Sheepdog and Golden Retriever has same litter size. Both Old English Sheepdog and Golden Retriever requires Moderate maintenance.

History

old english sheepdog - historyThe 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.

golden retriever - historyThe Golden retriever originated in 1800s at Scotland by a British aristocrat. The British lords in the Scotland were very much interested in hunting. For hunting purposes they needed an excellent hunting dog. As the result Golden retriever originated as a brave and beautiful dog.

Description

old english sheepdog puppy - descriptionThe 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.

golden retriever puppy - descriptionThe Golden retriever always gets in the top ten ranking in USA. They are very intelligent and beautiful. Also they are very active and they take more years to mature as they like being silly and playful. Up-to four years they seem to play like a puppy. As the breed is set in for hunting waterfowl and ducks, they need a regular exercise such as walking or running. They love to roam in the yard and run in the beach.

They love to be always with his master and so it will be inside the home. They can be involved in doing regular home activities. Their characteristic is not to be a watchdog, as it barks when a stranger comes and after that they love to make friendship with him. They don't like to spend time alone and hence love to make new friends. When you think of buying a golden retriever puppy you should check whether the breeder is a reputable breeder.They must be well trained for a good result. When bringing it to many different areas they will gain more knowledge and intelligence. The nails can be trimmed at a regular interval which will be good for the foot of your dog.

Characteristics

old english sheepdog dog - characteristicsThe 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.

Children friendliness

golden retriever dog - characteristicsThey love so much to play and spend time with children.

Special talents

The Golden retriever has a good energy which helps them to be a great hunting dog.

Adaptability

They have a high sensitivity level and will enjoy moderate weather. They don't like apartment life as they love to roam freely and explore new areas.

Learning ability

They also have a high intelligence and so learns tricks very quickly. They love to hold something in mouth and run.

Health Problems

old english sheepdog puppies - health problemsIt 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.

golden retriever puppies - health problemsAs the golden retriever gains weight very easily, they should not be overfed. They are prone to get cancer, hip dysplasia, heart problems, eye defects and skin allergies.

Hair fall

The golden retriever sheds hair profusely. The shedding can be reduced by brushing 3 times a week as it will remove the dead hair.Mild shampoo containing omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acids must be used so that it will prevent hair fall and provides healthy skin and fur. The hair can be trimmed but it should not be shaved as the pet will get problems during winter. Adding a drop of olive oil in the dog food will reduce shedding.

Caring The Pet

Diet:

old english sheepdog dogs - caringFood 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.

Feeding the puppy

golden retriever dogs - caringThe puppy should be fed 3 times a day and it should be morning 7 and noon and evening within 6. They should not be fed after 6pm and should not be given water after 7pm as to make them a perfect watchdog. Peas, potatoes and flaxseed provide nutrition for them. Chicken fat is good for their skin. Chicory root and chelated minerals are good for their health.

Feeding the adult

The Golden retriever can be fed by normal nutritious and proteins content food as they will gain much energy for them.

Points for Good Health

As the golden retriever has chances of getting bone problems they should not overfed.

Games and Exercises

They are having high energy levels and hence they require playing for 2 hours daily. The breed was set in for sporting and hunting and so it likes to play, run and jog.

Basic Information

Group:
Herding dogs
Gun dog
Origin:
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
Height Male:
50 - 60 cm
19 - 24 inches
56 - 61 cm
22 - 25 inches
Height Female:
50 - 60 cm
19 - 24 inches
51 - 56 cm
20 - 23 inches
Weight Male:
27 - 45 kg
59 - 100 pounds
27 - 36 kg
59 - 80 pounds
Weight Female:
27 - 45 kg
59 - 100 pounds
25 - 32 kg
55 - 71 pounds
Life Span:
10 - 12 Years
10 - 12 Years
Litter Size:
3 - 10
5 - 10
Size:
Large dog
Large dog
Other Names:
The Shepherd's Dog, Bobtail
Yellow Retriever, Golden and Golden Flat Coat
Colors Available:
Grey and white
Light Golden, Golden, and Dark Golden
Coat:
Long and fluffy
straight or wavy
Shedding:
Moderate
Moderate
Temperament:
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Quiet, Responsive, Social, Stubborn, Territorial
Alert, Friendly, Intelligent, Loyal, Playful, Quiet
Grooming:
Moderate maintenance
Moderate maintenance
Trainability:
Easy
Easy
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
Yes

Comparison with other breeds

  1. German Shorthaired Pointer vs Golden Retriever - Breed Comparison
  2. Irish Setter vs Golden Retriever - Breed Comparison
  3. Bracco Italiano vs Golden Retriever - Breed Comparison
  4. Portuguese Pointer vs Golden Retriever - Breed Comparison
  5. Perdiguero de Burgos vs Golden Retriever - Breed Comparison
  6. Irish Red and White Setter vs Golden Retriever - Breed Comparison
  7. Pachon Navarro vs Golden Retriever - Breed Comparison
  8. Grand Gascon Saintongeois vs Golden Retriever - Breed Comparison
  9. Slovakian Rough Haired Pointer vs Golden Retriever - Breed Comparison
  10. Slovensky Hrubosrsty Stavac vs Golden Retriever - Breed Comparison
  11. Smooth Haired Weimaraner vs Golden Retriever - Breed Comparison
  12. Spanish Pointer vs Golden Retriever - Breed Comparison
  13. Spinone Italiano vs Golden Retriever - Breed Comparison
  14. Talbot vs Golden Retriever - Breed Comparison
  15. Vikhan Sheepdog vs Golden Retriever - Breed Comparison
  16. Weimaraner vs Golden Retriever - Breed Comparison
  17. Longhaired Weimaraner vs Golden Retriever - Breed Comparison
  18. Braque Francais (Gascogne Type) vs Golden Retriever - Breed Comparison
  19. Siberian Husky vs Golden Retriever - Breed Comparison
  20. Golden Retriever vs German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  21. Rottweiler vs Golden Retriever - Breed Comparison
  22. American Bully vs Golden Retriever - Breed Comparison
  23. Boxer vs Golden Retriever - Breed Comparison
  24. Akita vs Golden Retriever - Breed Comparison
  25. Doberman Pinscher vs Golden Retriever - Breed Comparison
  26. Old English Sheepdog vs German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  27. Old English Sheepdog vs Akbash Dog - Breed Comparison
  28. Old English Sheepdog vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  29. Old English Sheepdog vs Briard - Breed Comparison
  30. Old English Sheepdog vs Bouvier des Flandres - Breed Comparison
  31. Old English Sheepdog vs East German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  32. Old English Sheepdog vs Estrela Mountain Dog - Breed Comparison
  33. Old English Sheepdog vs Huntaway - Breed Comparison
  34. Old English Sheepdog vs Czechoslovakian Wolfdog - Breed Comparison
  35. Old English Sheepdog vs Mioritic Sheepdog - Breed Comparison
  36. Rough Collie vs Old English Sheepdog - Breed Comparison
  37. Saarlooswolfhond vs Old English Sheepdog - Breed Comparison
  38. Perro de Pastor Mallorquin vs Old English Sheepdog - Breed Comparison
  39. South Russian Ovcharka vs Old English Sheepdog - Breed Comparison
  40. Samoyed vs Old English Sheepdog - Breed Comparison
  41. Old English Sheepdog vs Siberian Husky - Breed Comparison
  42. Old English Sheepdog vs Golden Retriever - Breed Comparison
  43. Old English Sheepdog vs Rottweiler - Breed Comparison
  44. Old English Sheepdog vs American Bully - Breed Comparison
  45. Old English Sheepdog vs Boxer - Breed Comparison
  46. Old English Sheepdog vs Akita - Breed Comparison
  47. Old English Sheepdog vs Doberman Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  48. Old English Sheepdog vs Labradoodle - Breed Comparison
  49. Old English Sheepdog vs Cane Corso - Breed Comparison

View/Compare Breeds

Popular Dog Breeds