Bearded Collie or Beardie most likely descended from the shaggy-haired herding dogs of Europe. They may have resulted from mixing Polish Lowland Sheepdogs imported into Scotland with local farm dogs.
Bearded Collies were quite popular as herders and drovers by the end of the Victorian era but seemed to disappear into the Highland mists after that. It remained for Mrs. G.O. Willison of England to spearhead a drive to revive the breed after World War II. By 1959, The Kennel Club (England) allowed the Bearded Collie dog breed to become eligible to compete for championships.
One of the oldest of the British herding dog breeds, the Bearded Collie has for centuries been the Scottish hill shepherd’s dog, used to hunt and gather free-ranging sheep on the Highlands. The breed was also popular as a cattle drover. Both jobs required a hardy constitution and intelligence, initiative, strength, stamina, and speed.
Bearded CollieBearded Collie FAQs Frequently Asked Questions:
Let us seek some answers related to the Bearded Collie breed. Are they hypoallergenic (non-shedding), or do they shed a lot? Do they bark a lot? Are they good guard dogs? Are they good family dogs? Good with children? And many more questions that a potential Bearded Collie owner may be concerned about.
Is the Bearded Collie a hypoallergenic (non-shedding) breed?
No. The Bearded Collie is not a hypoallergenic dog breed. However, this breed has a predictable, less-shedding coat that produces less dander too. The Bearded Collie’s coat isn’t prone to shedding if regularly brushed.
Do Bearded Collie dogs bark a lot?
No. The Beardie is not a yappy dog breed but may bark a lot when bored. Bearded Collies are an active breed. They need regular opportunities to vent their energy and to use their busy minds to do interesting things. Otherwise, they will become bored, which they usually express by excessive barking and destructive chewing.
Is Bearded Collie a good family dog?
Active, outgoing, and affectionate, the Beardie is a wonderful family dog. Beardies are very friendly with family members and other family pets, especially if raised with them. They are also great with older children, but Beardie’s natural energy can overrun toddlers.
Are Bearded Collies affectionate? Good with kids?
Yes. Beardies are outgoing, affectionate dogs, but they can have a stubborn and independent streak from a heritage that required them to make their own decisions while herding sheep. Bearded Collies are excellent with children; their high energy level makes them active playmates who will spend hours running and playing with kids.
Are Bearded Collies good guard dogs?
No. Bearded Collies are too friendly to be good guard dogs. They tend to bark a lot in excitement when someone is approaching. This quality may make allow them to serve as a watchdog. However, don’t depend on a Beardie to guard your property.
Are Bearded Collies aggressive dogs? Do they bite?
No. Beardies are not an aggressive breed. They may bark a lot when bored. This should not be misunderstood as aggression. Bearded Collies have high energy levels and need 1-2 hours of exercise per day. They enjoy playing games and will join in with plenty of enthusiasm, making them perfect family pets. Beardie puppies are smart, active, and can be stubborn or independent sometimes.
As with most intelligent, active dogs, if Bearded Collies do not receive enough exercise and attention, they can develop bad habits. Nuisance barking, digging, and sometimes chewing habits can occur. They are sometimes too active for small children and may nip at the heels of running children as if they were sheep. This behavior should be discouraged at an early age with a firm NO command.
Can Bearded Collies swim? Do they like it?
Yes, Bearded Collies can swim. You may have a Bearded Collie who is happy to swim, or you may not. Like people, dogs have unique likes and dislikes. If you have a Beardie who likes the water, remember, their coats get heavy when wet, so always keep swimming sessions short and closely watch your Beardie.
How much do Bearded Collies cost? How much is a Bearded Collie puppy?
Bearded Collie is not a popular breed. Puppies can be hard to find and cost about $1,800 to $2,500 from a good breeder. Some breeders may charge more for a Bearded Collie with top breed lines and a superior pedigree. The cost to buy a Bearded Collie varies greatly and depends on many factors. Expect to pay less for a puppy without papers, Expect to pay a premium for a puppy advertised as quality with papers.
How long do Bearded Collies live?
Bearded Collies is a generally healthy breed, and life expectancy is about 14 to 15 years.
Ok, so let’s assume you have chosen the Bearded Collie as the best dog breed suitable for yourself. You have decided to find yourself a Bearded Collie puppy as your next family member. How will you choose the best pup? Let us look at some standard characteristics of the Bearded Collie dog breed, which will help you select the right puppy. Keep reading.
Choosing a good Bearded Collie puppy
The definition of the best Bearded Collie puppy depends on your requirements. Your expectations from an adult Bearded Collie can be broadly categorized as follows: Confirmation for show or breeding; obedience; smart guard dog; companion; homely pet.
Although it is tempting to look for all these qualities in one Bearded Collie puppy you are planning to buy, it is seldom possible to find all qualities in a single pup.
If you want your Bearded Collie puppy to grow up to be a champion in the show ring, you should look for confirmation of the Bearded Collie dog breed standards. We have put together a general guideline for selecting an all-around good puppy for you. Our guideline includes breed standards and gives importance to temperament, appearance, physical details, gait, health issues, grooming needs, and maintenance.
Look for the following characteristics while choosing a Bearded Collie puppy.
Bearded Collie’s General Appearance
This is a lean, active dog, longer than it is high in an approximate proportion of 5:4, measured from the point of chest to buttock. Bitches may be slightly longer. Though strongly made, the dog should show plenty of daylight under the body and should not look too heavy. A bright, enquiring expression is a distinctive feature of the breed.
Bearded Collie’s Temperament
The Bearded Collie must be alert and self-confident and should be lively and active. The temperament should be that of a steady, intelligent working dog and must show no signs of nervousness or aggression.
Bearded Collie’s Size
Ideal height at the shoulder: dogs, 21-22 inches (53-56 cm); bitches, 20- 21 inches (51-53 cm). The overall quality and proportions should be considered before size, but excessive variation from the ideal height should be discouraged.
Bearded Collie’s Coat
The coat must be double with the undercoat soft, furry, and close. The outer coat should be flat, harsh and strong, shaggy, free from woolliness and curl though a slight wave is permissible. The hair’s length and density should be sufficient to provide a protective coat and enhance the shape of the dog, but not enough to obscure the natural lines of the body. The adult coat may break along the spine but must not be artificially parted. The coat must not be trimmed in any way. On the head, the nose’s bridge should be sparsely covered with hair that should be slightly longer on the sides to cover the lips. From the cheeks, the lower lips, and under the chin, the coat increases in length towards the chest, forming the typical beard.
Bearded ColliesBearded Collie Colors
Bearded Collies are born dark, pure black, brown, blue, or fawn, with or without white markings. The base colors mature to any shade of black, grey, blue, brown, or fawn, with the coat usually having a mixture of many shades at once and individual hairs showing bands of light and dark. Grey hairs may be lightly interspersed in all colors. Where white occurs, it should only appear on the fore-face, as a blaze on the skull, on the tip of the tail, on the chest, legs, and feet, and, if, round the collar, the roots of the white hair should not extend behind the shoulder. White should not appear above the hocks on the outside of the hind legs. Slight tan markings are acceptable on the eyebrows, inside the ears, on the cheeks, under the tail’s root, and on the legs where white joins the main color.
Bearded Collie’s Head
The head should be in proportion to the size of the dog. The skull is broad and flat, the distance between stop and occiput being equal to the width between the ears’ orifices. The muzzle is strong and equal in length to the distance between the stop and the occiput, the whole effect being that of a dog with strength of muzzle and plenty of brain room. The stop should be moderate. The nose is large and square. Pigmentation of nose leather, lips, and eye rims follows coat color at birth and should be of solid color without spots or patches. The eyes should be set widely apart and are large, soft, and affectionate, but not protruding. The eyebrows are arched up and forward but are not so long as to obscure the eyes. Eyes should tone with a coat in color. Born blues and fawns will have lighter eyes with a coat’s shades than born blacks or browns. The ears are of medium size and drooping. When the dog is alert, the ears lift at the base, level with, but not above, the top of the skull, increasing the skull’s apparent breadth. The teeth are large and white, the lower jaw’s incisors fitting tightly behind those of the upper jaw. However, a level bite is acceptable. A full set of forty-two teeth is desirable.
Bearded Collie’s Neck
The neck must be of a fair length, muscular, and slightly arched.
Bearded Collie’s Forequarters
The shoulders should slope well back, a line drawn through the center of the shoulder blade should form a right angle (90 degrees) with the humerus. The shoulder blades at the withers should only be separated by the vertebrae but must slope outwards from there sufficiently to accommodate the desired spring of rib. The legs are straight and vertical, with good bone, and covered with shaggy hair all-round. The pasterns should be flexible without weakness.
Bearded Collie’s Body
The length of the back should come from the length of the rib cage and not that of the loin. The ribs are well sprung but angled back, making the rib cage appear flat, and the chest is deep, giving plenty of heart and lung room. The back must be level, and the loins should be strong. The level back blends smoothly into the curve of the rump and must not fall away in croup.
Bearded Collie’s Hindquarters
The hindquarters are well-muscled with good second thighs, well-bent stifles, and low hocks. Below the hock, the leg falls at a right angle to the ground and, in normal stance, will be just behind a line vertically below the point of the buttock. The distance between the hocks should approximate the distance from the hock to the ground.
Bearded Collie’s Feet
The feet are oval in shape, with the soles well padded. The toes are arched and close together, well covered with hair, including between the pads.
Bearded Collie’s Tail
The tail is set low, without kink or twist, and is long enough for the end of the bone to reach at least the hock’s point. It is carried low with an upward swirl at the tip while standing. When the dog is excited or in motion, the tail may be extended or raised but must not be carried forward over the back.
Bearded Collie PuppiesThe Beardie’s Gait
Seen from the side, a correctly moving dog appears to flow across the ground with minimum effort. Movement should be supple, smooth, and long-reaching, with good driving power in the hindquarters and feet, lifted just enough to clear the ground. The forelegs should track smoothly and straight. Each hind leg should move in line with the foreleg on the same side. The back should remain level and firm.
Beardie with her pupsBearded Collie Videos
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