Bearded Collie
The fluffy Bearded Collie is a dog breed that originated in Scotland and was primarily bred for herding purposes. It is a part of the Collie family, and the Collies are known for their intelligence and friendly attitudes. This breed is often nicknamed the “Beardie,” and it is not hard to imagine where that nickname comes from. They have distinct facial hair that falls from their face and forms a beard.
This diverse and adaptable breed was created to herd sheep in the Scottish Highlands, and their coat kept them sheltered from weather conditions. They have a longer outercoat that shields them from wind, rain, and snow and a soft, wooly undercoat that insulates them and helps them to control their body temperature in such hard conditions.
Their coat is beautiful and soft but does require a decent amount of grooming if you would like to keep it that way. You should brush your Bearded Collie regularly as their coat can quickly tangle and mat. Brushing two times a week should be more than enough to prevent tangles and mats.
Height:
20–22 in (51–56 cm)
Weight:
45–55 lb (20–25 kg)
Origin:
Great Britain
Life Expectancy:
12-14 years
Dog Breed Characteristics
Grooming
Bearded Collie has a harsh and shaggy outer coat and a soft undercoat. This type of coat requires regular weekly brushing to prevent tangles and mats and to reduce shedding. Bath is only required a few times if you regularly brush your dog.
Bearded Collie coat colors:
- Black
- Blue
- Brown
- Fawn
Colors can be with or without white markings.
The rest is basic care; trim their nails when needed (if they don't wear them down naturally), brush their teeth weekly to prevent tartar buildup and bacteria development. Regularly check their ears for any sign of redness or a bad odor that can indicate an infection. You can wipe their ears with a cotton ball dipped into an ear cleaner.
The key for your dog to get used to all things mentioned above is to start early with them. Make a positive experience for the dog, full of praises and rewards, and you can be sure that your dog will enjoy all these things when they grow up.
Exercise
Bearded Collies are active and require a lot of daily activities to be happy and healthy. With these dogs, you can take long walks, throw them a ball, or simply play various games inside. If their physical needs are met, you will have the most lovable and calm dog at home, and you don’t have to worry that your dog will misbehave.
Since this is a versatile dog breed, it is a great participant in canine sports such as tracking, agility, rally, or obedience.
Socialization
These dogs are smart and cheerful. They have a sense of humor that can keep you entertained for hours upon hours. The Beardies are enthusiastic workers with plenty of energy that goes with it. They are also alert, reliable, hardy, and active and require a decent amount of daily exercise to remain happy and healthy.
Just like many other herding breeds, the Bearded Collie needs early socialization and training so that they don’t start seeing you or your children as a part of their flock and start herding you. Socialization will help them learn to adapt to any sort of situation and react in an appropriate manner.
Bearded Collie training
They are quite intelligent and resourceful, and it was expected of them to work independently. This isn’t a dog breed for everyone, and if you do get a Bearded Collie, make sure you have enough time to invest in grooming, training, and socializing them.
They can get pretty stubborn, so make sure that you have enough patience and consistency in every training session. They are a breed that reacts best to positive training methods, treats, and praises. Harsh training methods will not work with this breed.
The Bearded Collie likes to express their feelings through barking. They take any chance to bark when they are happy, scared, bored, irritated, playing, etc. Ensure you teach your dog to stop barking on command while they are still young so they do not develop into a problematic barker when they are older.
As with all other Collie breeds, the Bearded Collie gets exceptionally well with other dogs, pets, and children. They are always in the mood for playing, even when the other side isn’t. One of their favorite playing activity is chase, and they will chase anything or anyone. They are true family dog that is always interested in whatever their family is doing.
Health problems
Bearded Collies are dogs with a life expectancy of 12-14 years. Like any other dog breed, they are prone to health problems that every (future) owner should be aware of. To ensure you'll get the healthiest possible dog, never buy a dog from a puppy mill breeder or a pet store.
Bearded Collie can suffer from
- Hypothyroidism - A health problem caused by the hyperproduction of hormones from the thyroid gland.
- Hip dysplasia - Genetic problem affecting hips resulting from an improperly formed hip joint.
- Progressive Retinal Atrophy - Group of diseases that affect the retina and cause it to deteriorate over time.
- Allergies - these dogs are prone to have allergic reactions to specific foods, products, or medications.
Breeders
When getting a dog, the most important thing is to get it from a responsible and reputable Bearded Collie breeder. Responsible breeders will breed dogs that don’t only look good but have great characters as well. You must find a good Bearded Collie breeder that can help you learn about this breed and make an informed choice about getting a dog with these characteristics.
When you bring your new puppy home, start with the training and socialization immediately. By doing so, you will end up with a well-behaved dog whom you can trust. Provide him with enough daily exercise for him to be happy. If you devote your time and energy to this dog, you can be sure that you will end up with a companion for life.
If you are unsure whether this is the breed for you, check out this FREE GUIDE that will help you decide which dog breed is right for you.
SEARCH BEARDED COLLIE BREEDERS
World Dog Finder team
Updated at31.08.2023.
Breed History
The bearded Collie is one of the oldest dogs from Britain. These dogs are excellent herding dogs that helped farmers for centuries. They were bred for working purposes, and it is uncertain how these dogs developed.
First dogs were imported in the US by the end of the 1950s, and by 1969 people started to show interest in these dogs. In 1977 Bearded Collies were accepted into the American Kennel Club.
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