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The Old English Sheepdog Golden Retriever Mix is a unique and lovable breed that combines the gentle nature of the Golden Retriever with the shaggy coat of the Old English Sheepdog.
This mix is often referred to as a "Sheddon" due to its heavy shedding.
With proper grooming, the Old English Sheepdog Golden Retriever Mix can have a beautiful, low-maintenance coat.
Its friendly and gentle temperament makes it an excellent family pet.
History
The Old English Sheepdog Golden Retriever mix is a working dog, bred to exhibit traits like herding or chasing. This means you'll need to accommodate these instincts in your home.
Both the Old English Sheepdog and Golden Retriever breeds were developed to perform specific tasks, which will be evident in your puppy's behavior.
Dog Breeds History
The Old English Sheepdog and Golden Retriever Mix is a hybrid breed that comes with some uncertainty, so it's essential to learn about each purebred parent dog's background and history.
The Old English Sheepdog has a long and storied history dating back to the 17th century, originating from England as a herding dog.
The Golden Retriever, on the other hand, was bred in Scotland in the late 19th century to retrieve game for hunters.
The Old English Sheepdog's history is closely tied to its role as a herder, while the Golden Retriever was bred for its exceptional retrieving abilities.
The Golden Retriever's history is marked by its development into a popular family pet, known for its friendly and gentle nature.
The Old English Sheepdog's history is also notable for its unique appearance, with its shaggy coat and droopy ears making it a recognizable breed.
History
The Old English Sheepdog Golden Retriever mix is a working dog, bred to exhibit traits like herding or chasing.
You'll be bringing home a puppy with marked instincts, developed to perform specific tasks in the past.
The Golden Retriever was developed to retrieve game, while the Old English Sheepdog was bred to herd sheep.
These breeds were developed for a purpose, and their puppies will retain those instincts.
It's essential to understand these traits and why they were developed so you can accommodate them for your dog.
Breed Characteristics
The Old English Sheepdog Golden Retriever mix is a unique breed that inherits characteristics from both parents. They tend to be large dogs, with adult weights ranging from 60 to 80 pounds.
Their thick coats require regular grooming to prevent matting and tangling. This breed sheds heavily, especially during shedding season.
Their friendly and outgoing personalities make them great family pets. They are highly social and love to be around people.
Their intelligence and trainability make them relatively easy to train, but consistency and patience are still necessary. They respond well to positive reinforcement techniques.
Their energy levels are moderate, requiring daily exercise to stay happy and healthy. A 30-minute walk or playtime should suffice.
Personality and Temperament
The Old English Sheepdog Golden Retriever mix is a people dog that's great with kids and adults alike.
They're smart, but their intelligence can also make them stubborn during training, so be prepared for that.
This mix is not the easiest to train due to their independent thought process, which can get bored with repetitive training sessions.
They're gentle with livestock and people, making them great playmates for kids and excellent family watchdogs.
However, they can be a bit spunky and inquisitive, so keep an eye on them and make sure to socialize them well.
With positive reinforcement, you can help them develop good behavior and a strong bond with you.
They do need attention and don't want to be left alone, so plan on spending quality time with your new mixed breed.
Their calm and confident personality makes them a great companion, but remember they're not necessarily the best guarding and protection dogs.
Related reading: Great Pyrenees Mix with Golden Retriever
Health and Longevity
Choosing a puppy is a big decision, and longevity and health should be at the top of your list. Longevity and health is such a vital part of choosing a puppy, but it often gets overlooked in favor of looks or personality.
You can expect a reasonably long life expectancy for a large-breed dog, which is a plus when considering an Old English Sheepdog Golden Retriever mix. Happily, you can expect a reasonably long life expectancy for a large-breed dog.
Suggestion: Newborn Old English Sheepdog Puppies
However, all dogs have the potential to develop genetic health problems, and it's essential to work with a reputable breeder who offers a health guarantee on puppies. A breeder should absolutely offer a health guarantee on puppies.
Genetic health problems common to both breeds include joint dysplasia, cancer, and skin conditions, so it's crucial to be aware of these potential issues. The Golden Retriever mixed with the Old English Sheepdog might be prone to joint dysplasia, cancer, skin conditions, among others.
Health clearances can prove that a dog has been tested for and cleared of a particular condition, giving you peace of mind when choosing a puppy. Health clearances prove that a dog has been tested for and cleared of a particular condition.
Worth a look: Old English Sheepdog Health Issues
Care
The Old English Sheepdog Golden Retriever mix is a unique breed that requires attention to its coat care.
This mix has a thick, double-layer coat that's largely self-maintaining, but still needs a brush once per week and a shower as needed.
To keep your floors clean, be prepared to invest in a good vacuum due to their shedding.
Baths should be given as needed, but not so frequently that you dry out their skin.
Long walks and hikes are essential to keep their high energy level down and prevent destructive behavior.
A tired dog is a happy dog, so make sure to give them plenty of exercise.
Training this mix can be a bit challenging due to their strong will and desire to take the alpha position.
Break training sessions into shorter daily sessions to keep their attention span higher and make the process more effective.
Positive reinforcement is key when training this breed, so be sure to praise them when they do well.
Proper socialization is crucial for this mix, so take them to the park and doggy day care to expose them to many people and dogs.
Sources
- https://retrieverman.wordpress.com/2011/07/18/golden-retrieverold-english-sheepdog-cross/
- https://www.fluffydogbreeds.com/old-english-sheepdog-golden-retriever-mix-meet-the-loyal-loving-golden-sheepdog/
- https://shopforyourcause.com/dog-breed/golden-retriever/old-english-sheepdog/mix
- https://dogsofsf.com/archives/12796
- https://www.petside.com/golden-retriever-mix-breeds/
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