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The Bearded Collie (sometimes called the Highland Collie or the Mountain Collie) is one of Britain's oldest breeds. Originating in Scotland, it is believed that he was developed from the breeding of the Polish Lowland Sheepdog (Polski Owczarek Nizinny) to local herding dogs during the 1500s. A common breed in his native land, he was bred to work long hours and think for himself as a tireless sheep herder and cattle drover. By the 1940s, the breed became familiar to other parts of the world and has since become very popular.
As a herding dog, he may try to take charge from instinct and start herding whatever he considers to be his flock. Energetic and enthusiastic, but not hyper, a Beardie needs regular daily exercise. Above all, the Bearded Collie is a family dog who loves children. He is very intelligent, friendly, exuberant, fun-loving, outgoing, and he gets along well with other dogs and family pets.
With the Beardie's intelligence and energy level, he is happiest when he is busy and there are several sports and activities that a Beardie can be involved in, including: Agility, Herding, Obedience, Tracking, Conformation, as well as working as Therapy dogs.
The Beardie's appearance is one that conveys an impression of strength and agility. He has a harsh and long outer coat that repels rain and snow, while the undercoat is short and downy. Beardies can be seen in four colours: black, brown, blue, and fawn, with or without white markings. One unusual characteristic of the breed is the eye colour which generally should be toned to the coat colour — The Black and Brown Beardies have brown eyes, the Blues have smoky or grayish-blue eyes; and the Fawns have a lighter brown eye that may contain a hint of hazel. All Beardies are born a dark colour and as they grow, they begin to lighten. It is very difficult to predict the adult colour of a puppy.
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Health Issues:
The Bearded Collie breed is generally a very healthy one with an average life expectancy of about 12 to 14 years. However, as with all breeds, the Bearded Collie may be susceptible to some health concerns, including: Addison's Disease and some eye problems.
If you are considering the adoption of a Bearded Collie puppy, or any breed, it is very important to be selective in choosing a responsible and reputable breeder. Ensure that the prospective puppy's parents have all health clearances. Breeding of any dog should not be done until after they have been proven to be free of evidence of significant hereditary diseases. (For more information on selecting a breeder, see the articles on the main Breed Listing and Breeders page.)
Additional Health Resources:
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Breed Standards:
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Grooming:
The Bearded Collie's long coat requires regular brushing — for adult dogs, generally about one hour per week. For the transition stage between puppy to adult coat, around one year of age, considerably more brushing is required. It is not unusual for older Beardies, or for those involved in various activities, to be kept with a coat clipped short.
- Grooming — Grooming information, tips & techniques along with listings of Groomers from across Canada.
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Training Resources:
The Bearded Collie is very intelligent and quick to learn. However, he is an independent thinker and can be very stubborn. Obedience training must be fun, consistent and fair. It should also start at a young age and continue into adulthood.
- Training — For information on training your Bearded Collie, see this growing section of Canada's Guide to Dogs for tips, articles, as well as listings of training centres across Canada.
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Additional Information:
For a great selection of books, visit Amazon.com by selecting one of the links above, or see the Beardie Book Store for even more books from Dogwise.com and Amazon.ca.
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