The origins of the Old English Sheepdog are obscure but it is thought to be a combination of the Scottish Bearded Collie and the South Russian Owtchar. The Old English Sheepdog breed has been around since at least the 1800s and achieved official breed status in 1873 with the founding of The Kennel Club in England. The first Old English Sheepdog came to North America around 1885 and achieved official breed status with the American Kennel Club in 1888. In the early 1900s, the Old English Sheepdog made its way into the hearts of people across most of Europe. The OES, also known as the Bobtail, had their tail 'docked' or 'bobbed' to signify that they were working dogs and therefore were exempt from taxes. Today the tail continues to be docked to preserve the tradition of the breed.