The Bearded Collie is intelligent and boisterous. Its stubbornness can be too much for some people and the dog needs almost constant attention to its fur: grooming will play a big part of the ownership of a Beardie. It is an independent dog but also loyal, exceptionally loving and demanding of human interaction. Here is a family dog for people who intend to be hands-on with their pet.
The first recorded evidence of Bearded Collies came in the late 1500s. It is believed that the Beardie came about after an influx of highly successful Polish sheepdogs into the Scottish highlands. These sheepdogs were bred with local Scottish dogs (that were already hardy) to produce the Beardie. The current popularity of the Bearded Collie is said to be due to the breed’s winning of Best in Show at Crufts in 1989.
FCI breed nomenclature
FCI Group
Group 1 - Sheepdogs and Cattledogs (except Swiss Cattledogs)
Section
Section 1 : Sheepdogs
Physical characteristics of the Bearded Collie
Adult size
Female :
Between 20 and 21 in
Male :
Between 21 and 22 in
Weight
Female :
Between 44 and 55 lb
Male :
Between 44 and 55 lb
Coat colour
Beardies are born black, blue, fawn or brown. Some pups also have white markings. The colour of the fur of some members of the breed fades with age.
Black
Blue
Red
Brown
Sand
Type of coat
Long-haired.
The rugged outer coat of the Beardie is weatherproof; beneath it is a thick, soft and insulating undercoat.
Long
Eye colour
General speaking, the colour of the eyes of the Bearded Collie match the colour of its fur (i.e. black, brown, blue (grey-blue eyes) or fawn).
Brown
Description
The Bearded Collie has a large head set on top of a robust and rectangular body; this gives the dog the impression of being ‘chunky’. Its eyes are set wide and high in its skull and ears are set close to the head. Its long tail is usually carried low.
Good to know
Bearded Collies can be easily bored. If they are not played with, exercised and groomed regularly their behaviour will suffer. What’s more, Beardies that feel enclosed in gardens try to escape. Their ability to bounce gives them an advantage over other dogs when trying to jump over fences.
Temperament
100%
Affectionate
The male of the breed tends to be more affectionate and outspoken than the female. However, both genders are exceptionally lovable and loyal. The charm of the Beardie is infectious, and its love of interaction with humans makes it a perfect family pet. This dog is affectionate but demands equal affection from its owner.
100%
Playful
Beardies love to play. They thrive on interaction with humans and will often ‘play up’ to us if they think they have a captive audience. Their bounce brings laughter and their overall playful nature is one of the blessings of owning a Beardie.
66%
Calm
The Bearded Collie was (and still is) a herding dog. Dogs such as these tend to be boisterous and energetic. They are not easily scared but their vitality and excitable demeanour are such that ‘calmness’ is rarely a feature of the house of a Beardie.
100%
Intelligent
Beardies love connection: it is a way for them to learn about you and to seek more from your friendship (such as cuddles and play). If you have a good approach to training a Beardie you will create an exceptional loyal and obedient dog that likes nothing more than to please its owner.
66%
Hunter
Bearded Collies are not hunters. They are herding dogs, and as such do not have a high prey drive. They are reluctant to give way if they feel their way is the right way. This stubbornness can be eliminated with training.
66%
Fearful / wary of strangers
This breed interacts well with new people and animals, and lives in relative harmony with other pets of the household. Some dogs can be protective of their owners but of the Beardie this protective manner brings no more than a bout of barking.
66%
Independent
The Beardie was designed to work on its own. In its early years as a breed it would have herded stray animals from the foothills of the mountains of Scotland. This independence can leach into some of its other behaviour: toy hoarding and bossiness are two such traits which result from this background.
Behaviour of the Bearded Collie
66%
Tolerates solitude
Dogs need people, and the Beardie is no exception. He minds not being on his own for a limited period of time, but leaving any dog for a long time on its own is not advisable. Doing so can cause behavioural issues in even the most mild-mannered animal.
66%
Easy to train / obedience
A very easily trained dog is the Beardie. Training however must be done right: a confident master who is consistent and varies their style of training is essential. Bearded Collies get bored easily of routine. A Beardie will eventually do what it is told but will not necessarily do so in an expected fashion. The breed’s intelligence makes it a formidable pupil!
66%
Barking
The Beardie has an inquisitive mind; this manifests in its excellent ability to raise an alarm. Do not expect the Beardie to back up its vocalisation with aggression though. This dog is not known for its predatory exploits.
