Buddyz is pet business management software that helps grooming salons, dog daycares, boarding businesses, and multi-location pet service operators manage scheduling, check-in, pet profiles, customer communication, payments, and daily operations in one platform.

Who is Buddyz built for?

Buddyz is built for pet business owners and teams running grooming salons, dog daycares, boarding facilities, and multi-location pet service businesses. It adapts to grooming-only shops, daycare-only operations, combined services, and multi-location businesses.

Is Buddyz free to start?

Yes. Buddyz starts with a free Core Platform that includes smart scheduling, pet intelligence, and smart check-in. Add-on capabilities for grooming, daycare, boarding, operations, customer communication, payments, and reporting are available as modular add-ons.

Does Buddyz replace scheduling software like Vagaro or MindBody for pet businesses?

Buddyz goes beyond scheduling. While it includes smart scheduling and booking, it also provides live operations workflow, pet intelligence (profiles, grooming notes, vaccine tracking), customer communication, deposit and payment processing, and business reporting — all in one platform built specifically for pet service businesses.

Can Buddyz track pet vaccine records?

Yes. Buddyz tracks vaccine records, expiration dates, and compliance requirements as part of each pet's profile. This is particularly useful for daycare and boarding businesses that require up-to-date vaccination documentation before accepting pets.

How does Buddyz reduce no-shows for pet appointments?

Buddyz reduces no-shows by enabling businesses to collect deposits at booking, save cards on file, and send automated appointment reminders to customers. This combination of financial commitment and timely communication significantly reduces last-minute cancellations and no-shows.

Does Buddyz work for multi-location pet businesses?

Yes. Buddyz supports multi-location operations with shared customer and pet profiles across locations, location-level access controls, role management, team visibility, and consolidated business reporting.

What makes Buddyz different from traditional pet salon software?

Traditional pet salon software focuses on calendar booking. Buddyz is a full operating system that adds live workflow visibility, operations intelligence, pet profile management, grooming history tracking, automated customer communication, and payment processing alongside scheduling — giving pet businesses a complete platform instead of disconnected tools.

How much grooming does an Old English Sheepdog need?

The OES has one of the most demanding coats of any breed. Its dense double coat mats heavily right down at the skin, so it needs thorough, line-by-line brushing several times a week — frequently adding up to a couple of hours weekly. Neglect it and the coat quickly turns into a solid, uncomfortable mat that may have to be shaved off. Many owners sensibly keep the coat clipped shorter through a professional groomer to make daily life manageable.

Are Old English Sheepdogs good family dogs?

The OES is a devoted, fun-loving family dog that adores being part of the household. It's gentle and affectionate with children, but it is also large, bouncy, and strong, and its herding instinct can lead it to nudge, circle, or lean on running children. Supervise around toddlers, teach the dog not to herd, and start good manners early. Given space, exercise, and grooming commitment, it makes a wonderful family companion.

How much exercise does an Old English Sheepdog need?

As an athletic herding breed, the OES needs a solid hour or more of daily exercise, plus games and training to keep its clever mind busy. It enjoys walks, play, and having a job to do. Because the heavy coat traps heat, exercise it in the cooler parts of the day and watch carefully for overheating. Under-exercised, an OES can become bored, boisterous, and vocal, so a good daily outlet is essential.

Do Old English Sheepdogs shed a lot?

The OES is a heavy shedder. Its profuse double coat drops a lot of hair, and because that loose hair readily works its way into the dense coat, it also contributes to serious matting if the dog isn't groomed frequently. Regular, thorough brushing catches loose hair before it tangles and keeps shedding around the home under control. Keeping the coat clipped shorter also reduces both the shed hair and the workload.

England • Herding

Old English Sheepdog

A big, bouncy, shaggy herder with a bear-like amble and a heart set firmly on its family.

Weight60–100 lbs

Height21–24 in

Lifespan10–12 years

SizeLarge

Overview

Large, athletic herding dog of great strength with distinctive profuse, shaggy double coat in gray and white, famous for its peek-a-boo hairdo and characteristic bear-like gait

Best for

•Active families with space who can commit to serious coat care and want a large, affectionate, playful companion. The Old English Sheepdog suits homes that will keep it exercised, involved, and part of the family, and who don't mind a boisterous dog with a big personality.

May not suit

•Owners short on time, space, or grooming commitment, or anyone wanting a placid, low-maintenance dog. This is a big, strong, energetic herder with a hugely demanding coat, and its herding instinct may lead it to nudge and nose at running children.

History & Origins

Developed in western England in the late 18th century likely from breeds like Bearded Collie and Russian Owtchar. Bred as drovers' dogs to drive cattle and sheep to market. Tails were historically docked to identify them as working dogs exempting them from taxes. Recognized by AKC in 1888

Characteristics & Traits

Apartment Living2 / 5

Families with Children4 / 5

First-Time Owners2 / 5

Other Dogs4 / 5

Alone Time Tolerance2 / 5

Shedding Level4 / 5

Grooming Needs5 / 5

Trainability3 / 5

Barking3 / 5

Prey Drive2 / 5

Energy Level4 / 5

Lifestyle

Apartment Living

2/5

Families with Children

4/5

First-Time Owners

2/5

Other Dogs

4/5

Alone Time Tolerance

2/5

Shedding Level

4/5

Grooming Needs

5/5

Behavior

Trainability

3/5

Barking

3/5

Prey Drive

2/5

Exercise

Energy Level

4/5

Exercise & Training

Aim for around 60–90 minutes of total activity per day. This athletic herder needs a good hour or more of daily exercise, plus games and training. The heavy coat traps heat, so keep vigorous activity to the cooler parts of the day.

Daily Walks by Living Situation

Apartment or Home Without a Backyard

3 walks / day

~30 min each

Flats are a poor fit, but if you have no garden you'll need several long daily walks plus play and training to keep this big, energetic dog happy and well behaved.

Home With a Backyard

2 walks / day

~40 min each

A secure garden with room to romp is ideal, but the OES still needs proper walks and family involvement — it is not a dog to leave outside alone.

Daycare or Park Time?

Sociable, well-exercised Old English Sheepdogs can enjoy daycare, which helps burn energy and provides company for a family dog that dislikes being left alone.

The Old English Sheepdog's heavy double coat traps heat, so it can overheat quickly in warm weather. Exercise in the cool of the day, always provide shade and water, and never leave it in a warm car. Clipping the coat shorter in summer can help.

As a large breed, the OES should not be over-exercised or allowed to jump excessively while young, to protect developing joints. Build up exercise gradually and keep puppy activity gentle.

Training

Intelligent and capable but independent and sometimes stubborn, so training needs early start, consistency, and a sense of fun.

Start training and socialisation early — this large, strong breed needs good manners established while it's still manageable.
Keep methods positive and consistent; the OES is clever but can be independent and a little stubborn.
Redirect the herding instinct with games and jobs so it doesn't nudge or circle running children.
Make training varied and fun to hold the interest of this smart, sometimes cheeky breed.
Teach loose-lead walking early, because a fully grown OES is powerful and will pull if allowed.

Keep sessions varied and rewarding, and establish good manners early while this strong dog is still easy to handle.

For Pet Parents

The Old English Sheepdog wears a huge, profuse, shaggy double coat that is one of the most demanding of any breed. It mats heavily close to the skin and needs thorough brushing several times a week; many owners choose to keep it clipped shorter to make care manageable.

Difficulty: High

Grooming Commitment

The Old English Sheepdog's magnificent shaggy coat is one of the biggest grooming commitments in the dog world. It needs thorough brushing several times a week — often a couple of hours in total — to prevent heavy matting. Many owners keep the coat clipped shorter to make life manageable. Add ear, eye, and dental care to complete the routine.

At-Home Basics

Difficulty: High

Caring for Your Old English Sheepdog at Home

Brush thoroughly several times a week

Work right down to the skin across the whole dog several times a week. The dense coat mats close to the skin where surface brushing misses, so line-by-line brushing is essential to stay ahead of tangles.

Consider keeping the coat shorter

Many owners have the coat clipped short by a groomer to make day-to-day care far easier, cooler in summer, and cleaner after muddy walks — a practical choice for a busy family.

Keep the face and ears clean

The long hair over the eyes traps debris, and the coat over the ears holds moisture. Keep both clean, check the ears weekly, and make sure the eye hair isn't causing irritation.

Check for hidden mats and debris

After walks, check the coat, feet, and rear for burrs, mud, and mats. The dense coat easily hides tangles that quickly worsen if left, especially in the armpits and behind the ears.

Mistakes to Avoid

Only brushing the top of the coat and missing the dense layer near the skin, where painful mats form.
Underestimating the sheer time the coat takes, then letting it mat badly between sessions.
Leaving the coat wet or muddy, which speeds up matting and can irritate the skin.
Overheating the dog on warm days because the heavy coat traps so much heat.

When to Call in a Professional

Most Old English Sheepdog owners rely on a professional groomer every six to eight weeks, whether for a full brush-out and tidy or a shorter, easier-care clip. Book a visit sooner if the coat becomes badly matted, so it can be dealt with humanely rather than causing skin problems.

Coat & Colors

Type: Profuse and shaggy
Family: Double coat
Undercoat: Yes
Shedding: High
Seasonal Change: Seasonal moults
Matting Risk: High

Common Problem Areas

Behind the earsArmpitsRear and trousersBellyFeetOver the eyes

Frequently Asked Questions

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