Bearded Collie – Scottish Dog With The Cool Beard

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Quick Overview

Name:                                                                                  The Bearded Collie (Beardie if you are a Scot)

Size:                                                                                       Medium-Large, 22 inches tall when grown

Weight:                                                                                Between 45 and 55 pounds

Grooming:                                                                          Maximum Difficulty

Training:                                                                               Not too tough, boisterous but aims to please

Exercise:                                                                              2 big walks a day

Temperament:                                                                 friendly with EVERYONE, silly and goofy

Lifespan:                                                                              Up to 14 years

Origins:                                                                                 Scotland

Breed Type:                                                                        PASTORAL (herders)

Bearded Collie Breed History

Most of the Scottish breeds have this rough, wiry coat and the Bearded Collis is no different. Reared on the hills, crags, and absurd mountain fields of Scotland, the Beardie has a few other nicknames, developed through generations of appreciation. They are also known as the Highland Collie or the Mountain Collie, an observance to their heritage as big balls of cultural fluff.

They look a little like an Old English Sheepdog, with the raggedy hair over their eyes and that blows in the wind when they run. They are a little smaller, as the terrain called for a dog closer to the ground in high winds.

Their history is contested. Some say they came over during the Roman invasion of Britain, which would have put their early ancestors around 80AD. Other records suggest a Polish merchant brought a few litters of the Polish Lowland Sheepdog to the shores of Britain in 1517. These dogs were so impressive that the Scottish farmers adapted them and bred them with the local Scottish sheepdogs. Of course, both of these stories could be true… especially given the resemblance with other sheepdogs of the same kin.

Big Hit With The Victorians

The Bearded Collie was hugely popular as a show dog in the Victorian Era, but they were largely eradicated during WWII… something society doesn’t like to talk about. When the Luftwaffe was flying overhead every night, millions of pets in Britain were put to sleep to stop them from attracting attention. Combined with bombings, popular dog breeds suffered immensely.

In 1944, a woman in Scotland accidentally founded the breed standard as we know it today. She had a bitch named Jeannie and inherited a man’s dog when he emigrated. The two dogs became Baillie and Jeannie of Bothkennar and are known to be the most predominant of the registered bloodlines.

Nowadays, you can examine the breed standard of the Bearded Collie on the UK kennel club website, on the American Kennel Club website, or even join the UK based club, here. They have evolved to become a companion breed due to their wonderful good natures. If you want a breed of dog that makes you smile every day, this is it.

Fun Facts!

Every breed has special aspects to it that we like to highlight with this category. Here are the Five Minutes Spare fun facts about the Bearded Collie:

• The Bearded Collie breed celebrated their Golden Jubilee in 2005… more than 15 years ago!
• There are rescue organisations specifically set up for those that want to rescue a Bearded Collie puppy. See Beardies in Need for more or search in Google.
• They have genuine beards; you just don’t notice because their whole body is so hairy.
• If you want a dog who will produce fur to spin into yarn (it’s a real thing!), a Bearded Collie is one of the best breeds for your money.
• In case you are still thinking about it, you get one glove’s worth of yarn from a plastic shopping bag full of fur.

We feel this is a natural stopping point for this section. Sorry about that.

Do Bearded Collies Need Lots of Exercise?

The Bearded was bred to run loose on the hills of Scotland, making decisions of its own about the safety of its flock. They would round up sheep, guard them at night, and would even lead farmers to injured sheep. All of this adds up to an empathetic, caring, and attentive dog. Add another few hundred years as family pets and you get an energetic-yet-moderated dog, just as adapted to the couch as it is to the field.

Let’s just say it can probably keep up with you and leave it at that.

Are They Easy to Train?

The Bearded Collie was bred to independence. This means obedience training will vastly improve the relationship that you have with your pup. Early socialisation will help them stop thinking everyone is a burglar. They are intelligent and will work things out in time, which makes them on the medium-easy training scale.

How Often Do I Groom My Bearded Collie?

Every single day without fail. Matted fur is physically painful to your dog and, when the groomer shaves it off, it can bruise their skin. Brush a long haired dog daily, at night, before bedtime, and it will be a great bonding experience. Don’t neglect their claws or teeth either, trimmers or toothbrushes cost much less than the price of repairing the damage they will do if neglected. You will need to trim your Beardie too, or he won’t be able to see…

Associated Health Problems

Weirdly, your Bearded collie has a higher life expectancy in the UK than in the US, we wonder if this has something to do with the weather. The Bearded Collie was bred to withstand the harsh Scottish climate, it is where it thrives best.

Since this is the case, look out for arthritis, crucial ligament rupture to tummy troubles. This breed also suffers from the full range of ‘ancient breed’ conditions that have developed over time. Addison’s Disease is inherent to this breed. Check Wikipedia for the full rundown.

Where To Buy a Puppy?

Always get any new dog from a rescue centre if possible. If it isn’t possible, get over to your nearest Kennel Club as they keep a registered list of bloodlines and breeders. Puppy farmers are all-too-real, and it is our job as responsible pet owners to stop them. If you are buying a puppy from someone who refuses to introduce you to the pup’s parents, you may have a farmer on your hands. You can find a list of other clues, here.

Just…Five…More…Minutes!

If you love reading about dog breeds as much as we adore writing about them, check out our pages for more. If you are looking for a dog similar to the Bearded Collie in nature but with less hair, we recommend the Basset Griffon Vendeen in Petite size. There is much less to brush but they come with equal amounts of love.