New Guinea Singing Dog vs Old English Sheepdog - Breed Comparison

New Guinea Singing Dog vs Old English Sheepdog - Breed ComparisonOld English Sheepdog is originated from United Kingdom but New Guinea Singing Dog is originated from Papua New Guinea. Old English Sheepdog may grow 22 cm / 9 inches higher than New Guinea Singing Dog. Old English Sheepdog may weigh 30 kg / 67 pounds more than New Guinea Singing Dog. Old English Sheepdog may live 8 years less than New Guinea Singing Dog. Old English Sheepdog may have more litter size than New Guinea Singing Dog. Both Old English Sheepdog and New Guinea Singing Dog requires Moderate Maintenance.

Basic Information

Group:
Herding dogs
Miscellaneous dogs
undefined
United Kingdom
Papua New Guinea
Height Male:
50 - 60 cm
19 - 24 inches
35 - 38 cm
13 - 15 inches
Height Female:
50 - 60 cm
19 - 24 inches
32 - 35 cm
12 - 14 inches
Weight Male:
27 - 45 kg
59 - 100 pounds
8 - 15 kg
17 - 34 pounds
Weight Female:
27 - 45 kg
59 - 100 pounds
6 - 10 kg
13 - 23 pounds
Life Span:
10 - 12 Years
15 - 20 Years
Litter Size:
3 - 10
1 - 6
Size:
Large
Medium
Other Names:
The Shepherd's Dog, Bobtail
Hallstrom Dog, NGSD, New Guinea Highland Dog, New Guinea Dingo, Singer, New Guinea Wild Dog
Colors Available:
Grey and white
Black and tan with white markings, golden red.
Coat:
Long and fluffy
weather resistant coat double coat breed
Shedding:
Moderate
Moderate
Temperament:
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Quiet, Responsive, Social, Stubborn, Territorial
Affectionate, Alert, Curious, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Stubborn
Grooming:
Moderate Maintenance
Moderate Maintenance
Trainability:
Easy
Moderate
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
No
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
No

History

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.

new guinea singing dogIn 1957 the New Guinea Singing Dog was “discovered” in the Highlands of Papua New Guinea and he is found no where else. There is a lot of debate among scientists, taxonomists and biologist as to what is really a species and what is a subspecies. When the NGSD was found he was classified as a new canid species then in 2007 they were downgraded to a subspecies.

Today the NGSD is considered to be a wild dog and a primitive dog. They have lived in Papua New Guinea in the Highlands for thousands of years. They are closely related to other wild dogs, such as Australia’s dingo. They are today as they were a thousand years ago – wild. So wild that many counties have them in their zoos.

With the right care and enough socialization, they do very well as companion animals living with people. They are difficult to domesticate however and the person who owns one should be a part of the NGSD community in order to get support, share issues, and learn from others who have lived with these “wild dogs” for many years.

Any New Guinea Singing Dog found in North America or Europe is a direct descendent of two couples that were taken to zoos in China and Australia. The NGSD makes a howling sound that modulates and undulates through a wide series of tones. No other dog makes this musical sound. Rare even in New Guinea today, the Singer is thought to be the rarest of all dogs.

The only organization that recognizes the Singing Dog is the UKC and they are allowed in UKC competition. The NGSD now holds the classification of a domestic dog – a Canis lupus dingo - which is a subspecies of Canis lupus. In 2016 a group of 15 wild dogs were photographed for the first time ever. Prior to this the NGSD were never seen in more than pairs.

It is believed that they do not live and operate in packs, but rather solitary, pairs or family groups where both the parents do the work of raising the pups.

Description

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.

new guinea singing dog puppy - descriptionThe New Guinea Singing Dog is a medium sized dog with short legs and a broad head. They are about average height and they are very limber and flexible. They can rotate their paws and spread their legs at much greater angles than the average canine. Thus, they can easily climb a tree. They can jump like a cat.

They have very reflective eyes that are shaped like almonds and have dark rims. The color of the eye can be dark brown to dark amber. It is also believed that they can see better than other domestic dogs in low light settings. Their pupils let in more light due to pupils that are wider than most other dogs.

The ears of the NGSD are lined with fur, pointed and erect. The are forward laying and can be rotated in order to hear even the farthest and faintest of sounds. There are dark guard hairs on the spine and back of the ears and tail. On young dogs the muzzle is black but by age 7 it is already beginning to turn gray.

Characteristics

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.

Children friendliness

new guinea singing dog dog - characteristicsThey could be, but it must be remembered that this is a wild dog.

Special talents

Varying the pitches when howling

Adaptability

It’s possible but not recommended. Leave them wild.

Learning ability

Highly intelligent but trainability is questionable unless well socialize and attached to their people.

Health Problems

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.

Health Problems

new guinea singing dog puppies - health problemsThough the breed is not extinct – it is so wild and secretive that there is no history or record of any health problems. However, the small number of domestic companion animals have shown health issues in recent years.

Pancreatitis – can be chronic or acute. If chronic it needs to be treated and diet changed. If acute it is usually deadly.

Hip Dysplasia – can cause lameness or arthritis.

Caring The Pet

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.

Feeding the puppy

new guinea singing dog dogs - caringIn the wild both pups and adults are thought to eat small mammals and birds as well as fruits. In homes feed a high protein diet. Because of the tendency toward pancreatitis do not feed raw or under cooked meat. If feeding meet do so in small amounts well cooked, very lean. Stay away from the fat. Feed puppies very small amounts. ¾-1 cup high quality dry puppy food twice a day.

Feeding the adult

Same as the puppy when it comes to meat although you could give the adult a little more. 1 ½ cups od high quality medium breed dog food twice a day.

Points for Good Health

In the wild there is no indication of health issue. A very healthy breed.

Games and Exercises

The NGSD needs a lot of stimulation both mental and physical. They must have a daily walk and somewhere to run. They are escape artist in homes. Remember they can jump like cats and climb trees. If their head can pass through a hole, so can the rest of their body.

Comparison with other breeds

  1. New Guinea Singing Dog vs English Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  2. New Guinea Singing Dog vs German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  3. New Guinea Singing Dog vs Golden Retriever - Breed Comparison
  4. New Guinea Singing Dog vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison
  5. New Guinea Singing Dog vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  6. New Guinea Singing Dog vs French Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  7. New Guinea Singing Dog vs Beagle - Breed Comparison
  8. New Guinea Singing Dog vs Yorkshire Terrier - Breed Comparison
  9. New Guinea Singing Dog vs Poodle - Breed Comparison
  10. New Guinea Singing Dog vs Rottweiler - Breed Comparison
  11. New Guinea Singing Dog vs Boxer - Breed Comparison
  12. New Guinea Singing Dog vs English Pointer - Breed Comparison
  13. New Guinea Singing Dog vs Siberian Husky - Breed Comparison
  14. New Guinea Singing Dog vs Doberman Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  15. New Guinea Singing Dog vs American Bully - Breed Comparison
  16. New Guinea Singing Dog vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  17. New Guinea Singing Dog vs Affenpinscher - Breed Comparison
  18. New Guinea Singing Dog vs Afghan Hound - Breed Comparison
  19. New Guinea Singing Dog vs Aidi - Breed Comparison
  20. New Guinea Singing Dog vs Airedale Terrier - Breed Comparison
  21. New Guinea Singing Dog vs Akbash Dog - Breed Comparison
  22. New Guinea Singing Dog vs Akita - Breed Comparison
  23. New Guinea Singing Dog vs Africanis - Breed Comparison
  24. New Guinea Singing Dog vs Askal - Breed Comparison
  25. New Guinea Singing Dog vs Atlas Terrier - 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