Old English Sheepdog vs Estrela Mountain Dog - Breed Comparison

Old English Sheepdog vs Estrela Mountain Dog - Breed ComparisonOld English Sheepdog is originated from United Kingdom but Estrela Mountain Dog is originated from Portugal. Old English Sheepdog may grow 12 cm / 4 inches shorter than Estrela Mountain Dog. Both Old English Sheepdog and Estrela Mountain Dog are having almost same weight. Both Old English Sheepdog and Estrela Mountain Dog has same life span. Both Old English Sheepdog and Estrela Mountain Dog has almost same litter size. Both Old English Sheepdog and Estrela Mountain Dog 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.

estrela mountain dog - historyAlso known as the Cao da Serra de Estrela, the large Estrela Mountain Dog from Portugal is an ancient breed, having been used for centuries to guard homesteads and livestock.

The Estrela, as a herding dog, has been developed over a long period of time because shepherds particularly wanted a dog that could survive in the mountains and be strong enough to guard livestock from predators.

The first official recorded breed standard was published in 1933, with an attempt to make the Estrela a distinct breed with a hooked tail and double dew claws.

Today the Estrela is a dog which can be found in other countries beyond Portugal, and in fact in 1973 pairs of the dogs were imported to the United States.

Basic Information

Group:
Herding dogs
Herding dogs
Origin:
United Kingdom
Portugal
Height Male:
50 - 60 cm
19 - 24 inches
65 - 72 cm
25 - 29 inches
Height Female:
50 - 60 cm
19 - 24 inches
62 - 70 cm
24 - 28 inches
Weight Male:
27 - 45 kg
59 - 100 pounds
40 - 50 kg
88 - 111 pounds
Weight Female:
27 - 45 kg
59 - 100 pounds
30 - 50 kg
66 - 111 pounds
Life Span:
10 - 12 Years
10 - 12 Years
Litter Size:
3 - 10
2 - 8
Size:
Large dog
Large dog
Other Names:
The Shepherd's Dog, Bobtail
Cao da Serra de Estrela
Colors Available:
Grey and white
Fawn, gray, yellow, brindle
Coat:
Long and fluffy
Short or long - coarse and thick
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
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Quiet, Responsive, Social, Stubborn, Territorial
Grooming:
Moderate maintenance
Moderate maintenance
Trainability:
Easy
Easy
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
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.

estrela mountain dog puppy - descriptionThe large Estrela Mountain Dog stands between 62 and 72cm and weighs between 30kg and 50kg.

The dog has 2 coat types – short and long but always coarse and thick. The coat is available in a number of colors, from fawn to gray to yellow and brindle and there can be white and black mixed throughout the coat.

The head of the dog is large and long, the neck fairly short and thick, he has dark brown eyes, a bright, intelligent expression with small, floppy ears which are set high on the skull, falling backwards against the side of the head. The tail is long and thick and the dog has a deep chest.

Temperament:

A large, athletic dog, the Estrela Mountain Dog is actually a calm dog, while still being protective towards his human family.

He is an intelligent dog who responds well to training and socialization. He is an independent dog, so this training and socialization is important - will be good for him, turning him into an obedient, relaxed pet who gets on well with other pets in the home as well as with children.

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.

estrela mountain dog dog - characteristicsThe Estrela Mountain Dog loves his human family and takes guarding them and protecting them seriously. He is a strong willed, independent dog that will require training and socialization. He makes an excellent pet, and is calm and gentle with children.

The Estrela Mountain Dog has so much going for him – he is beautiful to look at, he is loyal and protective with his human family, he is intelligent, loving and a healthy type of breed, and he is just waiting to become a member of your family.

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.

estrela mountain dog puppies - health problemsThe Estrela Mountain Dog can live to be between 10 and 14 years of age, but as with any large dog, he will have a tendency to suffer from hip- and elbow dysplasia.

Dilated cardiomyopathy is another common heart failure disease found particularly in large-breed dogs. The Estrela is prone to this disease and you’ll notice he has shortness of breath, abdominal swelling and coughing. The disease may not be curable, but there are certainly treatments for it.

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.

Diet:

estrela mountain dog dogs - caringThe Estrela Mountain Dog is a large dog and thankfully, when it comes to feeding him, experts in dog feeding have come up with commercially manufactured dog feeds that particularly cater for a dog’s age, his size and any illnesses he may have.

As a large dog, your Estrela Mountain Dog can suffer with joint problems such as hip dysplasia. For hip dysplasia you want to be looking at a dog food for large dogs which contains joint-health ingredients. An ingredient in the dog food such as glucosamine can work to reduce the damage brought about by hip dysplasia.

Mix in some cooked brown rice, vegetables and chicken into his kibble from time to time. You want your pet to live a long, healthy life and raw meat added in occasionally can increase your pets energy levels, reduce the risk of joint disease and ensure a shiny, soft coat. Raw meat can provide iron, zinc, vitamins, minerals and potassium.

Grooming:

The Estrela isn’t a huge shedder, but his beautiful, thick coat will require brushing twice a week. It’s your chance to check him over for fleas and ticks as well, and the entire grooming process – checking his ears, nails and teeth – is an excellent bonding experience for you and your canine friend.

Exercise:

The Estrela may be large, but he is fairly calm. He’ll love to join you on your daily walks or for a ball game in the garden. He can adapt to life in the city or the country, but his big size will mean he isn’t suited to a tiny property.

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. Rough Collie vs Estrela Mountain Dog - Breed Comparison
  26. Saarlooswolfhond vs Estrela Mountain Dog - Breed Comparison
  27. Estrela Mountain Dog vs German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  28. Estrela Mountain Dog vs Akbash Dog - Breed Comparison
  29. Estrela Mountain Dog vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  30. Estrela Mountain Dog vs Briard - Breed Comparison
  31. Estrela Mountain Dog vs Bouvier des Flandres - Breed Comparison
  32. Estrela Mountain Dog vs East German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  33. Estrela Mountain Dog vs Czechoslovakian Wolfdog - Breed Comparison
  34. Huntaway vs Estrela Mountain Dog - Breed Comparison
  35. Perro de Pastor Mallorquin vs Estrela Mountain Dog - Breed Comparison
  36. South Russian Ovcharka vs Estrela Mountain Dog - Breed Comparison
  37. Mioritic Sheepdog vs Estrela Mountain Dog - Breed Comparison
  38. Samoyed vs Estrela Mountain Dog - Breed Comparison
  39. Labradoodle vs Estrela Mountain Dog - Breed Comparison
  40. Mixed vs Estrela Mountain Dog - Breed Comparison
  41. German Shorthaired Pointer vs Estrela Mountain Dog - Breed Comparison
  42. Great Pyrenees vs Estrela Mountain Dog - Breed Comparison
  43. Presa Canario vs Estrela Mountain Dog - Breed Comparison
  44. Labrador Husky vs Estrela Mountain Dog - Breed Comparison
  45. Perro de Presa Canario vs Estrela Mountain Dog - Breed Comparison
  46. Irish Setter vs Estrela Mountain Dog - Breed Comparison
  47. Rhodesian Ridgeback vs Estrela Mountain Dog - Breed Comparison

View/Compare Breeds

Popular Dog Breeds