The OES was developed as a drover's companion that could work in the climate of the English countryside. The breed isn't actually 'old' at all, being only a few hundred years old. The Scottish bearded collie may have played a large role in the development of the OES, others claim it was the Russian Owtchar. His coat is insulating and waterproof, giving him a woolly look that allows him to blend in with a flock of sheep. It needs 3 to 4 hours a week to groom the shaggy coat.
When the OES first came to the USA, it was a wealthy person's dog. William Wade, a Pittsburgh industrialist first promoted the breed in the late 1880s, and less than 20 years later, 5 of the 10 richest families in America owned, bred and exhibited the breed, including the Vanderbilts and the Guggenheims.
Famous OES owners include Paul McCartney and Bobby Kennedy.
FUN FACT:
An OES can weigh from 27 - 45 kilos!
The OES is the 55th most popular breed in Britain.