One of Britain’s oldest breeds that goes back to 1514, the Bearded Collie, commonly called, “Beardie” is believed to be a cross of Polish Sheepdog, and Komondor and Old English sheepdogs. Initially, it was called by three names—Hairy Moved Collie, Highland Sheepdog, and Highland Collie—in Scotland as it were used to herd cattle and sheep. The name then was changed to Bearded Collie—“Bearded” because of growth of long hair on the chin (like a beard) and “Collie” for it is a Scottish word for a herding dog. During the Second World War, it was on the verge of extinction when a pair of this breed was bred by Mrs. G. Olive Willison in 1944—she resurrected the breed. Considered a rare breed, the first litter of the Bearded Collie came to the US in 1967.
Measuring 20 to 22 inches in height and 40 to 60 pounds in weight, the Bearded Collie is mediumsized, long and lean. It has a large, flat and broad head. The short muzzle is full and strong. The ears, hanging close to the head, are mediumsized and covered with long hair. In tone with the coat color, the eyes are wide set. The nose is black, square and large. The tail is carried low but when excited, it is carried high. Including the chin, the waterproof, shaggy, dense double coat hangs over the full body. The coat color starts with blue, brown, fawn, or black at puppy stage, then fades away giving place to cream or light gray after a year and finally, the coat color is between the 1-year old color and puppy color. The coat also helps in concealing the external parasite infestation.
A strong working dog, the Bearded Collie is cheerful, happy, lively and affectionate. It is an excellent companion dog for children. It barks is very noisy though it is not a watchdog. It loves to be among family members—this fact is clear by its tail-wagging humor. It is full of energy, exuberant, and known for its bounce. Its talents lie in herding, tracking, performing tricks and agility. From a very young age, it can be trained for various activities. It should also get obedience training—to follow a set of rules and sticking to them. While training, the consistent, confident, firm and calm owner should look into the fact that it does not turn aggressive, headstrong or shy. It should not be left alone or avoided for too long. One can then understand what the result would be—total destruction! It should be taken out daily for physical and mental exercise and long walks, without which it tends to be very mischievous. Bad weather, wet place do not make any difference to its exercise regime; it should not make any difference to the owner also. It prefers to be outdoor than indoor. Twice a day balanced meal is sufficient for this breed.
With a lifespan of about 14 to 15 years, the Bearded Collie is prone to hip dysplasia.
Measuring 20 to 22 inches in height and 40 to 60 pounds in weight, the Bearded Collie is mediumsized, long and lean. It has a large, flat and broad head. The short muzzle is full and strong. The ears, hanging close to the head, are mediumsized and covered with long hair. In tone with the coat color, the eyes are wide set. The nose is black, square and large. The tail is carried low but when excited, it is carried high. Including the chin, the waterproof, shaggy, dense double coat hangs over the full body. The coat color starts with blue, brown, fawn, or black at puppy stage, then fades away giving place to cream or light gray after a year and finally, the coat color is between the 1-year old color and puppy color. The coat also helps in concealing the external parasite infestation.
A strong working dog, the Bearded Collie is cheerful, happy, lively and affectionate. It is an excellent companion dog for children. It barks is very noisy though it is not a watchdog. It loves to be among family members—this fact is clear by its tail-wagging humor. It is full of energy, exuberant, and known for its bounce. Its talents lie in herding, tracking, performing tricks and agility. From a very young age, it can be trained for various activities. It should also get obedience training—to follow a set of rules and sticking to them. While training, the consistent, confident, firm and calm owner should look into the fact that it does not turn aggressive, headstrong or shy. It should not be left alone or avoided for too long. One can then understand what the result would be—total destruction! It should be taken out daily for physical and mental exercise and long walks, without which it tends to be very mischievous. Bad weather, wet place do not make any difference to its exercise regime; it should not make any difference to the owner also. It prefers to be outdoor than indoor. Twice a day balanced meal is sufficient for this breed.
With a lifespan of about 14 to 15 years, the Bearded Collie is prone to hip dysplasia.