Bearded Collie Dogs

A side on of an adult Bearded Collie with a lovely thick coat

A beautiful young Bearded Collie with a lovely, long, grey and white coat

Three adult Bearded Collies enjoying each others' company

A beautiful adult Bearded Collie sitting neatly, resting

A close up of a Bearded Collie's healthy, long coat

A lovely adult Bearded Collie, lying on the grass with it's tongue out

Three beautiful, little Bearded Collie puppies, running around on the grass

A Bearded Collie waiting patiently for some attention from it's owner

A close up of a Bearded Collie's beautiful long coat

A lovely little Bearded Collie puppy enjoying the outdoors

History

The Bearded Collie or Beardie is said to have originated in Scotland in the 1500's when traders brought Lowland Polish Sheepdogs to the area. Locals were so impressed with their herding abilities that they were an immediate success. They were cross bred with local Scottish Sheepdogs to produce the Bearded Collie we know today. After World War I, they were bred solely for working but were soon becoming popular as a pet/show dog.

Behaviour

The Beardie is a lively, energetic dog that thrives on work. They need something to do with their time and are easily bored. A bored dog will result in destructive behaviour, so making sure that they are well exercised is important. They need a decent walk every day, lots of play, in the form of frisbee catching, fetch etc or a good run. Bearded Collies like being around people and fit in well in a family. They do have herding tendencies, so those with small children may find them a Beardies play thing. They are good with strangers as long as they receive attention. They want to be part of everything a family does and make an ideal dog to go on adventures with; they are always happy and willing to go. They are intelligent and willing to learn, obedience training is important to prevent them jumping up too much. They are bouncy and will want to lick your face whenever they see you, but some may not like this behaviour. Beardies do well with all forms of competition and are happy when working closely with their owner, hoping to please you. They have a stubborn streak, but really want to make you happy and excel with all forms of obedience. They can be greedy dogs and are well known for stealing food from the table, work top and bin, given half a chance. They are clown like and provide hours of entertainment to their owners, they also make good therapy dogs as they like attention from people.

Their coat requires a fair amount of grooming, with daily brushing to keep the long fur in good condition and free from tangles. Many owners opt for the 'puppy cut' to keep the coat more manageable. They rarely suffer illness and are classed as a relatively healthy breed.

Temperament

Bearded Collies have a playful yet independent temperament. Bred for herding cattle in the Scottish highlands they are strong dogs that love to be outside on an adventure.

They need a good walk everyday in order to prevent restlessness and they will love playing with children possessing an almost comical personality. Be warned that Bearded Collies need people around them to be happy and hate being left alone for long periods.

Health Problems

Health problems that may affect Bearded Collies include canine hip dysplasia (CHD), Addisons disease (deficiency in the adrenal glands) and colonic disease.