Old English Sheepdog vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison

Old English Sheepdog vs Labrador Retriever - Breed ComparisonLabrador Retriever is originated from Canada but Old English Sheepdog is originated from United Kingdom. Both Labrador Retriever and Old English Sheepdog are having almost same height. Labrador Retriever may weigh 9 kg / 19 pounds lesser than Old English Sheepdog. Both Labrador Retriever and Old English Sheepdog has almost same life span. Both Labrador Retriever and Old English Sheepdog has same litter size. Labrador Retriever requires Low Maintenance. But Old English Sheepdog requires Moderate Maintenance

Basic Information

Group:
Sporting dog
Herding dogs
undefined
Canada
United Kingdom
Height Male:
57 - 62 cm
22 - 25 inches
50 - 60 cm
19 - 24 inches
Height Female:
55 - 60 cm
21 - 24 inches
50 - 60 cm
19 - 24 inches
Weight Male:
29 - 36 kg
63 - 80 pounds
27 - 45 kg
59 - 100 pounds
Weight Female:
25 - 32 kg
55 - 71 pounds
27 - 45 kg
59 - 100 pounds
Life Span:
10 - 13 Years
10 - 12 Years
Litter Size:
5 - 10
3 - 10
Size:
Large
Large
Other Names:
Labrador, St.John's water dog, St.John's dog, Newfoundland dog
The Shepherd's Dog, Bobtail
Colors Available:
Black, Chocolate and yellow
Grey and white
Coat:
weather-resistant undercoat, short, thick, straight topcoat and a soft
Long and fluffy
Shedding:
Moderate, Seasonal
Moderate
Temperament:
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Intelligent, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Responsive, Social
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Quiet, Responsive, Social, Stubborn, Territorial
Grooming:
Low Maintenance
Moderate Maintenance
Trainability:
Easy
Easy
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
Yes

History

labrador retrieverThe Labrador Retriever has its origin from Newfoundland which is an island.Dorset Eskimos are the people who settled down first in Newfoundland. Newfoundland was discovered in 1494 by the Bristol traders from England. The people in the Newfoundland used Lab to help them during fishing.They were recognized as a kennel club breed in England.

The Lab has its special talents in fishing, it nicely holds the fish in its mouth and swims well to bring it to the fisherman who was its master. They are also used to hunt game birds and waterfowl.

old english sheepdogThe 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.

Description

labrador retriever puppy - descriptionLab is a nice companion and also it helps in doing several works if it is trained. Lab is the America's most popular breed. They help the hunters, works with police and also serves physically challenged people. They are very friendly and it helps people so much by doing many works. They have very good sensitivity and are so affectionate with family members.

They have very high energy level in their young stage. The Lab is a muscular and athletic dog. They are sweet natured and well deserved. Lab needs physical and mental activities regularly as they are very intelligent and energetic. The pure bred Labs have black, chocolate and yellow colours. They are very interested in hunting and roaming. The young Lab should be given training to swim as a child, as they likes it very much. They takes more time to mature hence remaining as teenager for a long time when compared with other breeds.

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.

Characteristics

Adaptability

labrador retriever dog - characteristicsThe Lab has a very good adaptability, it will get adjusted with its environment.

Learning ability

Lab has a good learning ability and it can learn upto 300 human phrases. They are the 7th most intelligent dog breed.

Children friendliness

They are very much interested in playing with kids and are a very good companion for them.

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.

Health Problems

labrador retriever puppies - health problemsMalformation of hips, knees and elbow, Chances for Cancer.

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.

Caring The Pet

Feeding the puppy

labrador retriever dogs - caringThe 2 month old puppy should be given 200 to 250gms of food. 3 month old puppy should be given 250 to 300gms of food and 6 months older should be given 350 to 450gms. The varieties of food which are popular is kibbles, Barf, wet food and Home cooked puppy food.

Feeding the adult

Lab can be fed by dry kibbles and also by raw meat or bones. Now-a-days most of the Lab are being fed with kibbles. Kibbles are the dried pellets of dog food that can be bought in pet shop or even online. Raw meat and bones are very much popular food among dog owners in UK.

Points for Good Health

For good health, Lab should be fed by a diet controlled food. Because overfeeding will lead to overweight of the dog as it causes weakness of bones.

Games and Exercises

Lab is a very energetic dog, so it should be given some time to play daily. It will be very happy if it is given a fenced ground to play and burn off his natural energy. Also it will be very good for lab if it is given chance to swim weekly once.

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.

Comparison with other breeds

  1. Labrador Retriever vs English Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  2. Labrador Retriever vs German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  3. Labrador Retriever vs Golden Retriever - Breed Comparison
  4. West Highland White Terrier vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison
  5. French Bulldog vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison
  6. Beagle vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison
  7. Yorkshire Terrier vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison
  8. Poodle vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison
  9. Rottweiler vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison
  10. Boxer vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison
  11. English Pointer vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison
  12. Siberian Husky vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison
  13. Doberman Pinscher vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison
  14. American Bully vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison
  15. Abruzzenhund vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison
  16. Affenpinscher vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison
  17. Afghan Hound vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison
  18. Aidi vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison
  19. Airedale Terrier vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison
  20. Akbash Dog vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison
  21. Akita vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison
  22. Africanis vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison
  23. Askal vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison
  24. Atlas Terrier vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison
  25. Aussie Poo vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison
  26. Old English Sheepdog vs English Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  27. Old English Sheepdog vs German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  28. Old English Sheepdog vs Golden Retriever - Breed Comparison
  29. Old English Sheepdog vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison
  30. Old English Sheepdog vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  31. Old English Sheepdog vs French Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  32. Old English Sheepdog vs Beagle - Breed Comparison
  33. Old English Sheepdog vs Yorkshire Terrier - Breed Comparison
  34. Old English Sheepdog vs Poodle - Breed Comparison
  35. Old English Sheepdog vs Rottweiler - Breed Comparison
  36. Old English Sheepdog vs Boxer - Breed Comparison
  37. Old English Sheepdog vs English Pointer - Breed Comparison
  38. Old English Sheepdog vs Siberian Husky - Breed Comparison
  39. Old English Sheepdog vs Doberman Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  40. Old English Sheepdog vs American Bully - Breed Comparison
  41. Old English Sheepdog vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  42. Old English Sheepdog vs Affenpinscher - Breed Comparison
  43. Old English Sheepdog vs Afghan Hound - Breed Comparison
  44. Old English Sheepdog vs Aidi - Breed Comparison
  45. Old English Sheepdog vs Airedale Terrier - Breed Comparison
  46. Old English Sheepdog vs Akbash Dog - Breed Comparison
  47. Old English Sheepdog vs Akita - Breed Comparison
  48. Old English Sheepdog vs Africanis - Breed Comparison
  49. Old English Sheepdog vs Askal - Breed Comparison
  50. Old English Sheepdog vs Atlas Terrier - Breed Comparison