About Us

Our Breeding Practices and Philosophy

At Island Bound Old English Sheepdogs, our breeding program stems from a profound passion for the breed and a commitment to safeguarding its exceptional traits—We breed for a loving, clown like nature that is so representative of the breed. We breed for the intelligence that befits any herding dog, and we breed for dogs that look like the iconic shaggy dog. To us, responsible breeding transcends simply producing puppies; it’s about elevating the breed’s health, temperament, and overall well-being. 

Old English Sheepdogs have been a constant presence in my life. Some of my earliest memories are of visiting a farm to bring home our puppy, Bonnie. A decade ago, after a brief period without an OES and while pursuing my nursing degree, I felt a calling to breed and exhibit these remarkable dogs. I was fortunate to connect with Saffy (GCH CH Loehr’s Island Sapphire Sky) and her breeders, who graciously took me under their wing as mentors.

We’re not full-time breeders—our home is shared with just two or three dogs at any given time. These dogs are our cherished family members, accompanying us on countless journeys, from dog shows to everyday family getaways. You can catch a glimpse of our boating adventures with them at https://shipslog.stedman.us/gulf-islands/. I delight in engaging my dogs in a variety of activities, including Conformation shows, Rally, Obedience, Agility, Herding, Parkour, Paddleboarding and Trick training. Each of my dogs proudly holds a Canine Good Citizen Award. We start our puppies off on the path to being great family members by initiating Puppy Culture protocols for socialization and early training (https://shoppuppyculture.com/) If you are interested there are videos and classes available to bring a new puppy into your home. 

The health of my dogs is very important to me. My dogs are fed a balanced raw food diet. Recipes are created by a certified canine nutritionist to be complete. Puppies will be raised on an appropriately balanced puppy recipe and on OC Raw chicken (https://ocraw.com/). We have seen an increase in food allergies in many breeds including Old English. Based on my research feeding a biologically appropriate raw diet, especially early in life, is the best remedy. 

As a member of the Old English Sheepdog Club of Greater Seattle and the Old English Sheepdog Club of America, I uphold their codes of ethics with pride. I ensure no dog is bred before reaching two years of age and completing all health screenings recommended by our club.

Health Testing for Our Breeding Dogs

The health of our Old English Sheepdogs is our top priority, and we take extensive measures to ensure that our breeding dogs are screened for hereditary conditions common to the breed. Our breeding dogs undergo the following health evaluations:

• Hip Dysplasia Screening: We conduct evaluations through the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) to assess hip joint health, reducing the risk of this condition in our puppies.
• Eye Examinations: Annual exams by a board-certified veterinary ophthalmologist are performed to screen for conditions like cataracts and progressive retinal atrophy (PRA), with results registered with the OFA.
• Thyroid Testing: We test for autoimmune thyroiditis through an OFA-approved laboratory to ensure our dogs are free from this hormonal disorder that can affect overall health.
• BAER hearing test: completed on puppies prior to going to their homes.
• Genetic Testing through Embark Vet. Testing includes but is not limited to the following conditions isolated in the OES genome
  • Exercise-Induced Collapse (EIC)
  • Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia (PCD): 
  • Multiple Drug Sensitivity (MDR1)
  • Hereditary Ataxia, Cerebellar Degeneration

We are proud to participate in health registries like the Canine Health Information Center (CHIC), where applicable, to contribute to the broader effort of improving the breed’s genetic health.

We are always happy to discuss our practices in more detail and provide documentation of health clearances for our breeding dogs. Transparency is a cornerstone of our program, and we encourage prospective families to ask questions and learn more about the steps we take to ensure the well-being of our Old English Sheepdogs.

Thank you for considering Island Bound Old English Sheepdogs. We look forward to sharing our passion for this incredible breed with you and helping you find the perfect companion. Please feel free to reach out with any questions or to schedule a visit.

Cheers,

For Reference

Check out our YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/@islandboundOES

Raw Food Guidance and Nutrition https://perfectlyrawsome.com/

Local Dog Food Co-op https://pawradiseraw.com/

Old English Sheepdog Club of America https://oldenglishsheepdogclubofamerica.org/

Old English Sheepdog Club of Greater Seattle https://oescgs.org/

Island Bound Old English Sheepdogs https://islandboundsheepdog.com/

Orthopedic Foundation of America https://ofa.org/chic-programs/browse-by-breed/?breed=SD