Old English Sheepdog Weight Chart – OES Size & Growth Chart
Old English Sheepdogs are a furry breed with a mellow personality. They stand out because of their distinctive peekaboo hairdo and love for life.
Owners of these dogs usually benefit from having an Old English Sheepdog weight chart as it helps them to track their progress.
Their eyes are sometimes covered by the fur on their face, so grooming is a big deal for them. They are also quite agile and enjoy lots of exercise and playful activities.
Their double coat allows them to survive in cold climates, but it may be a hassle to clean up all the fur they shed.
Best of all is their ability to fit in with the family as they are intelligent and take well to training.
They are great with children and not overly aggressive. Old English Sheepdogs also make good watchdogs, as they have a loud bark. There is no doubt that this loyal and enthusiastic dog will steal your heart.
When Is An Old English Sheepdog Fully Grown?
Old English Sheepdogs tend to grow slowly, but they typically reach their adult height when they are 12 months old. However, they continue to gain muscle and overall growth up until they are three years of age.
They usually have a height of around 22 inches, and they can weigh around 70 to 90 lbs. Some large dogs even weigh around 100 lb.
You will notice that even when they are full-grown they are still playful and enjoy outdoor activities. Males tend to be slightly larger than females when they reach adulthood. They have a lifespan of between 12 and 14 years.
Old English Sheepdog Weight Chart
Gender | Weight (lbs) | Weight (kg) | Height |
---|---|---|---|
Old English Sheepdog Male | 70 - 90 lbs | 32 - 41 kg | 22 inch |
Old English Sheepdog Female | 60 - 80 lbs | 27 - 36 kg | 21 inch |
Use the following weight chart to monitor your Old English Sheepdog’s progress as he grows. It is important because not all Sheepdogs will grow at the same rate.
There are several factors that determine the rate of growth for any breed such as his diet, exercise level, and genetics.
The Old English Sheepdog growth chart is simply a reference for the average weights of Old English Sheepdogs.
So keep in mind that this is simply an estimation, therefore there may be a slight difference in your dog’s weight. Nevertheless, it is important to monitor his progress.
Old English Sheepdog Growth Chart – What To Expect
Birth – 2 Weeks
Old English Sheepdog are born into litters all about 3 to 10 puppies and they do not have use of their eyesight, but they can smell and taste their mother’s milk.
They will need warmth and nourishment from her. They do not have the full capacity of their hearing and their muscles are undeveloped.
If for some reason they are rejected by their mothers you would need to step in and provide for their basic needs.
3 Weeks – 12 Weeks
This is a pivotal time in your Old English Sheepdogs life. This important time encompasses many changes that would affect him later on in his life.
He will be weaned from his mother’s milk during this time and be introduced to solid foods.
Do your best to ensure that he does not have a hard time doing this by making his first meals soft and perhaps a bit watery.
Remember that his teeth will not be as tough as adult teeth. Additionally, this food should be introduced to him gradually as opposed to all at once.
If you are feeding him commercial dog food please make sure that the kibble is small enough for him, and you can add moisture to it.
4 Months – 9 Months
Your Old English Sheepdog should experience further growth and begin to orient himself better with proper use of his limbs.
Some Old English Sheepdogs have growth spurts during this time.
Make sure that he is given very nutritious meals so that he can grow up a healthy dog.
Engage him in adequate amounts of exercise so that his muscles will develop, but you should not overdo it and during this stage allow him to have proper rest doing long sessions.
10 Months – 18 Months
At this stage, your Old English Sheepdog will be fully grown because they reach their adult age at the one-year mark.
But understand that they will continue to fill out until they are three years of age adding muscle and overall growth.
They must be fed properly with a diet that is high in protein. Socialization is also important, so you can take your dog on long runs and engage him and play activities that make use of his agility.
Adult
Adulthood is a time when your Old English Sheepdog is coming into himself and will lose that characteristic puppy look.
Remember that Old English Sheepdogs mature slowly so even though they may not look puppy like they will still be playful and enjoy your company.
The males will be slightly larger than females when adulthood is reached.
How Big Will My Old English Sheepdog Get?
Understand that Old English Sheepdogs have different rates of growth therefore, to figure out how big they will get, you will need to employ a few strategies.
The first one is simple, you can simply look at the growth chart within this article for the age you would like to know about.
Alternatively, you can do a DNA test to find out the genealogy of your Old English Sheepdog so that you can figure out if there are potentially any other breeds within his lineage that will be a factor in his ultimate weight.
Looking at his parents is also a real option because dogs typically become the average size of both of their parents.
Your dog’s paws will also be able to tell you if he has more growth to complete if they are a bit larger in proportion to his body.
Will Neutering/Spaying My Old English Sheepdog Affect His Growth?
Spaying and neutering have been proven to affect the growth of dogs in general. Female dogs are spayed by having their ovaries removed while neutering is done by having the testes removed.
A good age to have this procedure done is about 1 year old for Old English Sheepdogs.
Spaying and neutering have been shown to affect your dog’s behavior during their development as well.
These procedures affect growth because it affects the hormones in the body. This is especially true for male dogs who have joint problems when they are spayed too early.
However, there are benefits to spaying your dog such as the prevention of certain cancers as well as unwanted pregnancies.
On the other hand, there is always risk associated with surgeries so make sure that you understand the procedure and give your dog enough time to recuperate.
Old English Sheepdog Height Chart
Old English Sheepdogs grow at a slow rate, so it is important to monitor their growth closely. To do this, you should measure their height and weight.
The height is measured by using the withers. This is just the highest point of your dog’s shoulder blades.
Simply use a measuring tape and run it from the floor up to the withers and record this measurement.
Bearded Collie vs Old English Sheepdog Size
Both the Bearded Collie and Old English Sheepdogs are medium-sized, but they have certain differences.
They are sometimes confused for each other but Old English Sheepdogs are a bit more muscular with thicker fur.
Bearded Collies usually stand at 56 cm while Old English Sheepdogs usually stand at 61 cm.
They also have different weights because Old English Sheepdogs have an average weight of between 32 and 45 kg for males and 27 to 36 kg for females. Bearded Collies usually weigh less than this with 18 to 27 kilograms on average.
Factors That Affect Old English Sheepdog Growth
Genetics & Gender
Old English Sheepdogs are affected by genetics and gender when it comes to their growth rate. The male Old English Sheepdogs tend to be slightly larger than the females.
Spaying and neutering also affect the rate of growth.
The adult size of your Old English Sheepdog is determined in the part by the genetics he has. Usually, dogs are about the size of their parents.
Nutrition
Do your best to feed your Old English Sheepdog the best food available. Whether you choose to purchase commercially available food, or you decide to make your own, it should be food that is good for your dog’s health.
Old English Sheepdogs need food that is high in protein, but they also need healthy fats and fiber.They should have about 2.5 to 4.5 cups of dry dog food every day.
Take into consideration your dog’s exercise level when feeding him as well as his age because his rations should be adjusted based on this.
Physical Activity & Health
Old English Sheepdogs love physical activity, hence you must schedule a time where they can exercise as long as it is not too much when they are young.
When these dogs are very young they should have about 30 to 45 minutes of vigorous exercise.
You will know when they are very tired so pay attention and make sure that they have adequate water.
What If My Old English Sheepdog Is Not The Right Weight
Some owners may be unsure about their Old English Sheepdogs’ weight. This is because Old English Sheepdogs are slow-growing.
To find out whether your Old English Sheepdog you should use the weights charts within this article.
You can also check with your veterinarian if you are unsure about his overall health. You will get the correct information from your veterinarian about his weight and health that you can use corrective measures if anything is wrong.
A BCS score is also an effective tool to tell whether your dog is too fat or too thin.
It looks at the profile and aerial view of a dog to determine the presence of spots by looking ants the bone structure for Old English Sheepdogs.
This may be a bit difficult because they have a lot of fur which will hide their skeletal structure. You can run your hand up and down the rib cage and if you cannot easily feel the ridges of the ribs when you know that your dog is overweight and vice versa.
How Much Does It Cost To Own An Old English Sheepdog?
To own an Old English Sheepdog you will have to pay around $950-$2,000 and the average price of these dogs is $1,250. You must also consider the expenses for their first year with you.
These usually amount to $3,885, and it’s typically $2,210 every year after. You can expect to spend about through the lifetime of your Old English Sheepdog.
These will include costs such as visits to the veterinarian, food, accommodation, licenses, dog boarding, dog training, dog walking, and insurance.
Old English Sheepdog Genetics And Common Health Problems
Old English Sheepdogs are usually quite healthy, but they do suffer from a few conditions such as cataracts, hip dysplasia, autoimmune thyroiditis, hereditary deafness, and cardiac anomalies.
For diseases that are hereditary breeders usually avoid using them to create more puppies.
There are DNA tests that could be conducted to find out for sure if your Old English Sheepdog is suffering from this disease.
Not all Old English Sheepdogs will suffer from these diseases but having a general knowledge of them and looking for their symptoms can help you with early detection and therefore save your dog’s life.
Final Words
Old English Sheepdogs are double-coated, so they require extensive grooming which can be very costly. If you have the time you can do this yourself, but you need the proper tools.
Make sure that you brush them at least once per week as this will decrease the shedding that they do all over the house.
The shampoo that you use to bathe him should not be too harsh and remember to clean his ears and brush his teeth.
If you take good care of your Old English Sheepdog through proper grooming, diet, and exercise you can have a beautiful companion for a long time.