Old Deerhound Sheepdog

The Old English Sheepdog is a large, powerful herding breed immediately recognizable by its profuse, shaggy coat that covers the entire body, including the face and eyes. Male dogs stand at minimum twenty-two inches at the withers with no upper limit specified, while females measure at least twenty-one inches. Weight ranges considerably from sixty to one hundred pounds depending on the individual dog's build and height. Despite their substantial size, the breed standard calls for a compact, square body with the length from shoulder to hindquarters approximately equal to height at the withers. A distinguishing characteristic of the breed is the topline, which rises from the withers toward the loin, making the dog appear higher at the rear than at the shoulders. The magnificent double coat of the Old English Sheepdog requires significant attention and represents both the breed's defining feature and greatest maintenance challenge. The outer coat is profuse, hard-textured, and shaggy without being straight, while the undercoat provides waterproof protection that enabled the breed to work in harsh English weather. Acceptable colors include any shade of gray, grizzle, blue, or blue merle, with or without white markings. The head, neck, forequarters, and underbelly are typically white while the body and hindquarters display the darker coloring. The dense coat covers the entire head, often obscuring the eyes completely, though many pet owners trim the face for better vision and hygiene. The coat sheds year-round and requires several hours of grooming weekly to prevent painful matting. Beneath the abundant coat lies a thickset, muscular dog with a capacious, rather square skull and a strong jaw. The eyes may be brown, blue, or one of each color, conveying an intelligent and sometimes mischievous expression when visible beneath the characteristic bangs. Medium-sized ears lie flat against the head. The Old English Sheepdog may be born naturally tailless, as the name Bobtail suggests, or the tail is docked close to the body where this practice remains legal. The breed's gait is particularly distinctive, featuring a characteristic bear-like rolling motion at the walk and amble, with powerful, elastic movement at the trot that covers ground efficiently.

The Scottish Deerhound stands as one of the tallest dog breeds, presenting a majestic silhouette that combines impressive size with remarkable grace and elegance. Male Deerhounds reach minimum heights of thirty to thirty-two inches at the shoulder with weights ranging from eighty-five to one hundred ten pounds, while females measure at least twenty-eight inches and weigh between seventy-five and ninety-five pounds. The breed standard emphasizes that height should be achieved while maintaining quality and proper proportion, as larger dogs with coarse features or poor balance are less desirable than smaller specimens exhibiting ideal type. The overall impression is of a rough-coated Greyhound of larger size and heavier bone, built for speed and endurance over rough terrain. The wiry, weather-resistant coat of the Scottish Deerhound consists of harsh, crisp hair measuring approximately three to four inches at its longest, providing excellent protection against the cold, damp conditions of the Scottish Highlands where the breed developed. The outer coat should feel rough and somewhat bristly to the touch, while softer hair appears on the head, breast, and belly. A characteristic mane adorns the neck, and slight fringing on the legs and ears adds to the breed's distinguished appearance. Dark blue-gray is the most preferred coat color, followed by darker and lighter grays and brindle patterns. Yellow, sandy red, and red fawn with black points also appear, representing some of the oldest color patterns in the breed's history. The head of the Scottish Deerhound is long and level, broadest at the ears and tapering toward the nose, with a very slight rise over the eyes but no pronounced stop. The skull appears flat rather than round, covered with moderately long hair that is softer than the body coat. A good mustache and beard of silky texture frame the face attractively. The eyes are dark, conveying a soft, gentle expression that belies the breed's power and speed. Small, rose-shaped ears fold back in repose but lift during excitement without losing their characteristic fold. The long, tapering tail reaches almost to the ground and is carried low with an upward curve, never raised above the level of the back.