The Old English Sheepdog summer guide: cool plans for your shaggiest family member

Summer with an Old English Sheepdog comes down to one glorious complication: your dog wears a floor-length wool coat in July. Plan adventures for the cool ends of the day, stay on top of grooming, keep water flowing, and your shaggy herder can enjoy the season right alongside you.

We're Bocce's Bakery, and we bake small-batch, limited-ingredient treats in the USA for dogs of every hairstyle — including the ones whose hairstyle is "all of it, everywhere." Here's our warm-weather game plan for the OES.

Why summer feels different under all that fluff

The Old English Sheepdog was built for damp English pastures, not August sidewalks. Underneath the famous peek-a-boo fringe is a profuse double coat: a weather-resistant outer layer over a dense, insulating undercoat, wrapped around a sturdy 60–100 pound frame. That insulation works in both directions — it buffers against heat to a degree — but only when the coat is clean, combed, and mat-free. A matted undercoat acts like a soggy sweater that never comes off, trapping warmth and moisture against the skin.

So our honest heat assessment: this is a breed with modest heat tolerance that needs a human willing to schedule around the sun. The OES is also a drover at heart — bred to push livestock for miles at an easy amble — which means moderate, steady exercise suits them better than sprint sessions, especially between June and September.

One more thing before the fun starts: talk to your groomer and your veterinarian before making any dramatic coat decisions. Shaving a double-coated breed down to the skin can interfere with natural temperature regulation and expose pale skin to sunburn, so most pros recommend regular line-combing and undercoat maintenance instead. Some families opt for a shorter "puppy trim" for summer — a fine middle ground worth discussing with your vet.

What are the best summer activities for an Old English Sheepdog?

Dawn patrol: herding brain, morning hours

An OES wakes up ready to organize something, so give the herding instinct a job while the grass is still dewy. A large herding ball nudged around the yard, a flirt pole moved at a walking pace, or a "gather the toys into the basket" game all scratch that ancient itch without demanding a midday workout. Ten to twenty minutes of brain-plus-body work before 9 a.m. often produces a calmer dog than an hour of fetch in the heat ever could.

Mark every good push, nudge, and recall with a tiny reward. Our Soft & Chewy treats are training-size and pocket-friendly, so you can pay out fast without stopping the game.

Sprinkler season and the kiddie-pool compromise

Many Sheepdogs adore water play, though that coat holds an astonishing amount of it. A backyard sprinkler or a shallow hard-sided pool gives cooling contact on the belly and paws — where dogs actually shed heat — without soaking the dog to the skin. If your OES does go for a full swim, budget real time afterward for towel-drying and a thorough comb-out, because damp undercoat is where mats are born.

The sniffari stroll

On warm evenings, swap the power walk for a slow, nose-driven wander through shady streets or a tree-lined park. Scent work is genuinely tiring for dogs, and a 30-minute sniffari in the shade beats a brisk loop on sun-baked pavement for this breed. Let the fringe lead the way.

Rainy-day (and hot-day) trick school

When the afternoon turns into a furnace, move the fun inside. Old English Sheepdogs are clowns with excellent memories — teach a spin, a bow, or a chin rest on cool kitchen tile. The AKC's guide to positive reinforcement is a great primer if you're new to reward-based training.

Heat safety notes specific to the OES

A heavy double coat plus a big body means you should treat heat as the main event, not a footnote.

• Schedule around the sun. Walks before mid-morning and after sunset; shade and air conditioning in between. The AVMA's warm weather safety guidance is worth a read every June.
• Do the pavement test. Press the back of your hand to the asphalt for seven seconds; if it's uncomfortable for you, it's too hot for paws.
• Watch the fringe-covered face. Heavy panting, thick ropey drool, wobbliness, or a dog who suddenly lies down and won't continue are all signals to stop, move to shade, offer water, and wet the belly and paws with cool (not icy) water. If symptoms don't ease within minutes, head to your veterinarian immediately — Cornell's summer heat safety tips explain why heatstroke is a true emergency.
• Groom like it's your job. Weekly (ideally more) line-combing to the skin removes dead undercoat and keeps air moving. Humidity makes everything harder, so lower your activity expectations on muggy days.
• Hydration everywhere. A water bowl in the yard, a collapsible bowl on walks, and fresh water in the car. Always.

Because the breed carries some risk of hip dysplasia, keep summer exercise low-impact and steady rather than leapy and frantic — and let your vet weigh in on the right activity load for your dog's joints and age.

Treats on the go: fueling a shaggy summer

Training rewards do double duty in summer: they pay for good behavior and they keep outings positive when you have to cut things short for heat. We keep it simple at Bocce's — limited ingredients, real recipes, baked in small batches in the USA.

• For pockets and pouches: Soft & Chewy bites won't crumble in a treat pouch during dawn herding games.
• For the post-sprinkler cooldown: our Froyo-style frozen yogurt treats turn "come inside and get dried off" into the best part of the afternoon.
• For browsing the whole bakery case: the shop all dog collection has the full lineup.

Keep treats to roughly 10% of daily calories, and if your Sheepdog has a sensitive stomach or is watching their waistline, your veterinarian can help you set the right daily treat budget.

Old English Sheepdog summer FAQ

Should I shave my Old English Sheepdog for summer?

Most veterinarians and groomers advise against shaving double-coated breeds to the skin, since the coat plays a role in temperature regulation and sun protection. A well-maintained, mat-free coat — or a moderate puppy trim — is usually the better route. Ask your vet what makes sense for your dog's skin and lifestyle.

How hot is too hot for an OES walk?

There's no single magic number because humidity, pavement temperature, and your dog's fitness all matter. As a rule of thumb, once temperatures push past the mid-70s°F with humidity, shorten outings, stick to shade, and shift exercise to early morning. When in doubt, your veterinarian can help you set limits for your individual dog.

Can Old English Sheepdogs swim?

Many can and do enjoy water, but the saturated coat is heavy and dries slowly, which can lead to matting and hot spots. Supervise closely, keep sessions short, and dry and comb thoroughly afterward.

What treats work best for summer training?

Small, soft, low-crumb treats you can deliver quickly — that's why we size our Soft & Chewy line for training. On very hot days, save a frozen-style treat for indoors as a cooldown reward.

How much exercise does an OES need in summer?

Aim for the same total activity spread differently: shorter, cooler sessions with more mental work. Two 20-minute outings at dawn and dusk plus indoor games usually beats one long midday walk — and your vet can fine-tune that plan for your dog's age and joints.