Old English Sheepdog vs Bolognese - Breed Comparison

Old English Sheepdog vs Bolognese - Breed ComparisonOld English Sheepdog is originated from United Kingdom but Bolognese is originated from Italy. Old English Sheepdog may grow 30 cm / 12 inches higher than Bolognese. Old English Sheepdog may weigh 41 kg / 91 pounds more than Bolognese. Both Old English Sheepdog and Bolognese has almost same life span. Old English Sheepdog may have more litter size than Bolognese. Both Old English Sheepdog and Bolognese 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.

bolognese - historyThe Bolognese has already been on record since the 13th century, being particularly popular among the aristocracy during the Renaissance. The breed hails from Italy. He belongs to a family of dogs that include the Maltese and Bichon Frise, all with similar temperaments and looks. Even though there are these similarities the Bolognese is a breed on its own – a distinctive breed.

The exact ancestry of the Bolognese isn’t altogether clear. The dog breed was brought to England in 1990 by Liz Stannard and it was in 2001 that the breed was shown at dog shows. He is classified as a toy companion breed.

Basic Information

Group:
Herding dogs
Toy dog
Origin:
United Kingdom
Italy
Height Male:
50 - 60 cm
19 - 24 inches
27 - 30 cm
10 - 12 inches
Height Female:
50 - 60 cm
19 - 24 inches
25 - 30 cm
9 - 12 inches
Weight Male:
27 - 45 kg
59 - 100 pounds
2 - 4 kg
4 - 9 pounds
Weight Female:
27 - 45 kg
59 - 100 pounds
2 - 4 kg
4 - 9 pounds
Life Span:
10 - 12 Years
12 - 14 Years
Litter Size:
3 - 10
3 - 7
Size:
Large dog
Small dog
Other Names:
The Shepherd's Dog, Bobtail
Bichon Bolognese, Bolognese Toy Dog, Bologneser, Bolo
Colors Available:
Grey and white
White
Coat:
Long and fluffy
Long, curly, wavy or straight, fluffy hair
Shedding:
Moderate
Minimal
Temperament:
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Quiet, Responsive, Social, Stubborn, Territorial
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Docile, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Quiet, Responsive, Social, Stubborn, Sweet
Grooming:
Moderate maintenance
Moderate maintenance
Trainability:
Easy
Easy
Hypoallergenic:
No
Yes
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
Yes

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.

bolognese puppy - descriptionThe long, flocked white coat doesn’t have an undercoat and the large, round, dark eyes peer out of a cloud of white hair. His hair sheds very little and some owners of the Bolognese like to keep the woolly hair texture trimmed. He has black nails and a largish black nose. He is a small dog, with the male standing between 27–30cm and the female being slightly smaller.

These little dogs weigh in at about 4kg. A toy breed, he is considered to be a true companion dog. He is compact and squarely built with his floppy ears set high on his head. The long tail is carried curved over the dog’s back.

He is a friendly, social dog and can very easily become a typical lap-dog because he just craves human companionship. He wants to be with you and close to your side, whether you live in the city or in the countryside – he adapts to life wherever you are.

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.

bolognese dog - characteristicsThe Bolognese is an easy-going, playful, intelligent little dog who will respond well to training and socialization. He can actually become calm and docile dog, although never dull as he can sometimes act like a clown and be quite entertaining. He makes a wonderful pet and becomes a loyal and devoted companion to adults and children.

Non-aggressive by nature, he will be friends with other pets in the home too. He is a small dog, so he isn’t going to be highly active and therefore won’t need loads of exercise, although he will love to go for a walk with you. He’ll also want to have games with the ball. He is such an amicable little dog and will easily adapt to life in the city or country, so long as he can be loved and cherished by his owners.

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.

bolognese puppies - health problemsBecause this particular dog breed is uncommon, you won’t find many details on his health problems. When he is well looked after, he can reach 14 years of age. The Bolognese is from the Bichon Frise family so you can expect similar health problems, and also because he is a pedigree dog.

Skin problems – battling with itchy skin conditions are a typical problem with the Bolognese.

Ear infections are common because of a lot of hair in the ear which can collect dirt.

Eye diseases - cataracts which can eventually lead to blindness.

Other health problems to watch for are heart disease, and epilepsy. Periodontitis is something you want to keep an eye on too because the small jaw is prone to developing periodontal infection which can lead to tooth loss.

Remember if you don’t want your Bolognese to be a parent, neutering and spaying provides major health benefits for your dogs.

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.

His Coat

bolognese dogs - caringThe little Bolognese isn’t a big shedder so he isn’t a high maintenance pet. His long cloud of white hair can’t just be left though, because it will become tangled and dirty. Get the right grooming tools because his hair will require a good brushing every 2nd day or so. Professional grooming will also be required to keep his coat in tip-top condition.

Feeding your Bolognese

You may want to use commercially manufactured dog food from leading brands recommended by your vet for small breed dogs. There is absolutely nothing wrong with that, but just like you want some variety in your diet, so does your pet.

Rice, meat and vegetables can be added into his food now and then as well as ensuring he has some raw meat in his diet. This is important if you want to ensure the health of your dog. Never leave your pet without a constant supply of fresh, cool water.

Clean your pet’s ears

You can actually buy pet ear cleaners but you have to very careful not to go too deep into your pet’s ears as this can cause damage.

Teeth

Brush your dog’s teeth a couple of times a week. Never use human toothpaste. You can buy special dog’s toothpaste and toothbrush.

Comparison with other breeds

  1. Old English Sheepdog vs German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  2. Old English Sheepdog vs Akbash Dog - Breed Comparison
  3. Old English Sheepdog vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  4. Old English Sheepdog vs Briard - Breed Comparison
  5. Old English Sheepdog vs Bouvier des Flandres - Breed Comparison
  6. Old English Sheepdog vs East German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  7. Old English Sheepdog vs Estrela Mountain Dog - Breed Comparison
  8. Old English Sheepdog vs Huntaway - Breed Comparison
  9. Old English Sheepdog vs Czechoslovakian Wolfdog - Breed Comparison
  10. Old English Sheepdog vs Mioritic Sheepdog - Breed Comparison
  11. Rough Collie vs Old English Sheepdog - Breed Comparison
  12. Saarlooswolfhond vs Old English Sheepdog - Breed Comparison
  13. Perro de Pastor Mallorquin vs Old English Sheepdog - Breed Comparison
  14. South Russian Ovcharka vs Old English Sheepdog - Breed Comparison
  15. Samoyed vs Old English Sheepdog - Breed Comparison
  16. Old English Sheepdog vs Siberian Husky - Breed Comparison
  17. Old English Sheepdog vs Golden Retriever - Breed Comparison
  18. Old English Sheepdog vs Rottweiler - Breed Comparison
  19. Old English Sheepdog vs American Bully - Breed Comparison
  20. Old English Sheepdog vs Boxer - Breed Comparison
  21. Old English Sheepdog vs Akita - Breed Comparison
  22. Old English Sheepdog vs Doberman Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  23. Old English Sheepdog vs Labradoodle - Breed Comparison
  24. Old English Sheepdog vs Cane Corso - Breed Comparison
  25. Pomeranian vs Bolognese - Breed Comparison
  26. Maltese vs Bolognese - Breed Comparison
  27. Pug vs Bolognese - Breed Comparison
  28. Maltipoo vs Bolognese - Breed Comparison
  29. Cavalier King Charles Spaniel vs Bolognese - Breed Comparison
  30. Cockapoo vs Bolognese - Breed Comparison
  31. Cavapoo vs Bolognese - Breed Comparison
  32. Cavachon vs Bolognese - Breed Comparison
  33. Papillon vs Bolognese - Breed Comparison
  34. Japanese Chin vs Bolognese - Breed Comparison
  35. Miniature English Bulldog vs Bolognese - Breed Comparison
  36. Bolognese vs Australian Silky Terrier - Breed Comparison
  37. Bolognese vs Belgian Griffon - Breed Comparison
  38. Bolognese vs Bantam Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  39. Italian Greyhound vs Bolognese - Breed Comparison
  40. Jug vs Bolognese - Breed Comparison
  41. Miniature Pinscher vs Bolognese - Breed Comparison
  42. Dorgi vs Bolognese - Breed Comparison
  43. Carlin Pinscher vs Bolognese - Breed Comparison
  44. Dorkie vs Bolognese - Breed Comparison
  45. German Spitz (Klein) vs Bolognese - Breed Comparison
  46. Doxiepoo vs Bolognese - Breed Comparison
  47. Bospin vs Bolognese - Breed Comparison
  48. Damchi vs Bolognese - Breed Comparison
  49. Lowchen vs Bolognese - Breed Comparison

View/Compare Breeds

Popular Dog Breeds