Bearded Collie Dog Breed Introduction
Bearded Collie( nickname: Beardie) is a medium-sized herding dog breed from Scotland. Currently, they are largely kept as companion dogs. Bearded Collies make great pets for parents who are willing to accommodate the high energy of the breed. These dogs bear a passing resemblance to the Old English Sheepdog. Although, Bearded Collies are more angular and lean of the two.
Bearded Collie Origin | History
The folk tale of the origin of Bearded Collies states that they were developed from the progenitors of what we know today as Polish Lowland Sheepdog and native Scottish herding dogs. The Bearded Collies were used for herding and driving the cattle to the market. These dogs were also popular during the Victorian times. However, the population of Bearded Collies decreased due to the disruptions of World War I.
Fortunately, devoted breeders from Britain rebuilt the population of Beardie in the years between the two world wars. Generally, Mrs. G. Olive Willison is credited for developing the modern Beardie in 1944 using her brown Bitch that was supposedly a Sheltie but she received a Bearded Collie. She then crossed the dog with a grey pooch that was previously owned by an emigrant from Scotland. The first litter of Bearded Collies was born in the USA in 1967. The breed became AKC recognized in 1983.
Bearded Collie Lifespan
The lifespan of Bearded Collies is 12 to 14 years.
Bearded Collie Grooming | Grooming Tips
The Bearded Collies have a long double coat that requires daily grooming to keep the coat mat-free. The grooming routine consists of two sessions. The first session takes 5 to 10 minutes if the dog has not gotten into something messy to remove dirt, foreign material, and tangles. This session takes place on a daily basis.
The second session is done on a weekly basis for a period of 30 to 60 minutes using a brush, comb, a pin rake, and a detangling spray to remove loose hair and return the coat to its previous state. The Beardie needs a bath every 6 to 8 weeks. Before a bath, ensure the coat is tangle or mat-free since matting gets messier when the coat is wet. Thoroughly rinse off the grooming products from the coat after a bath to prevent skin irritation.
Trim the nails fortnightly using nail clippers or grinders to prevent overgrowth, splitting, and cracking. Clean the ears on a weekly basis using an ear cleanser solution and cotton balls to remove excess wax and dirt. Brush the teeth of Bearded Collies twice a week if not daily to remove tartar buildup using a tasty canine toothpaste and toothbrush.
Bearded Collie Grooming Products | Tools
To groom a Bearded Collie you will require the following grooming tools: a detangling spray, a brush, pin rake, comb, nail clippers or grinders, a hypoallergenic shampoo and conditioner, a tasty canine toothpaste and toothbrush, cotton balls, an ear cleanser solution, and a dry towel.
Bearded Collie Haircut | Haircuts | Hair Clips | Grooming Styles
The following are the suitable haircuts for Bearded Collies:
Puppy Cut – This cut minimizes the length of the coat to about an inch. However, the hair on the head and tail is left a bit longer.
Teddy Bear Cut – To achieve this look, the coat on the body is shaved to a uniform length of about 2 inches while the facial hair is left longer and trimmed in a circular manner to get a teddy bear look.
The Show Cut – This is a suitable grooming style for Bearded Collies that participate in conformation shows. Naturally, the coat falls to each side of the body and it must not be artificially parted. The coat is not clipped. However, the hair on the bottom of the feet is trimmed for traction. Daily brushing is a must to keep the coat free of mats and tangles.
Bearded Collie Short Hair
For Bearded Collies that are primarily kept as pets, parents may opt to clip the coat to get short hair length. This may be achieved by trimming the coat to an inch when targeting a puppy look and to a length of two inches for a Teddy bear cut.
Bearded Collie Shedding
The Bearded Collies shed all-year round at moderate levels and heavily twice a year in Spring and Fall when blowing off the coat.
Bearded Collie Coat | Coat Type
The Bearded Collies have a double coat consisting of an undercoat that is furry, soft, and close and a top coat that is harsh, flat, strong, and shaggy.
Bearded Collie Hypoallergenic
A Beardie is not a hypoallergenic breed. It has a long double coat that sheds all-year round at moderate levels and heavily twice a year. A moulting coat allows the loose hair and dander to spread around the house causing inflammation. Apart from fur and dander, a Beardie’s urine, mucus, and saliva contain a protein allergen that triggers an allergic reaction.
Bearded Collie Training | Training Tips | How To Train A Bearded Collie
The Bearded Collies are intelligent dogs that easily get bored with repetitive lessons. Parents should hence keep the training sessions upbeat, challenging, and short to avoid boredom. As with all herding breeds, a Berdie is an independent thinker which makes training a challenge. In this case use of positive reinforcements methods such as treats, verbal praise, playtime, petting, and toys will help to encourage positive behaviors.
The Bearded Collies are also sensitive dogs that shut down during training if negative correction methods are used such as yelling. To raise a well-mannered and well adjusted dog both at home and in new situations, socialization is key. This training exposes a Beardie to wide variety of places such as malls, soccer games, grocery parking lots, and school playgrounds, surfaces, experiences, animals, people, sight, smell, and sounds such as door bells, lawn mowers, sound of a backfiring car, sirens, washing machines, and vacuum cleaners.
Enrolling Bearded Collies in a puppy class will also serve as a form of socialization. These classes create a controlled environment where dogs interact with each other. Socialization starts from the age of 7 weeks up to to 16 weeks. Although, it may be a life-long process to ensure you have a Beardie with a well-rounded temperament.
Teach basic commands word such as come, wait, lie down, heel, sit, drop it, etc. immediately the dog joins your home. Teach one basic command at a time until the pet is well-acquainted before proceeding to the next command word. Effectively housebreak Bearded Collies by creating a feeding schedule, crate training, and potty training.
Bearded Collie Temperament | Personality | Traits | Characteristics
- Independent.
- Intelligent.
- Energetic.
- Enthusiastic.
- Loyal.
- Friendly.
- Lively.
- Outgoing.
- Stubborn.
- Playful.
- Cheerful.
- Curious.
Bearded Collie Exercise
The Bearded Collies are playful, lively, and energetic dogs that are happy to play or run regardless of the weather. This breed needs daily activity whether a hike, run, a long walk, playing ball, or just playing in a large fenced-in yard. These dogs may also participate in athletic events such as obedience, agility, rally, and herding.
Bearded Collie Barking
Typical Bearded Collies are enthusiastic herding dogs that bounce on the forelegs and bark when facing a stubborn sheep.
Bearded Collie Height
A female Beardie has a height of 20 to 21 inches ( approx. 51 to 53 cm ) while a male Beardie has a height of 21 to 22 inches ( approx. 53 to 56 cm ).
Bearded Collie Weight
Mature Bearded Collies have a weight of 45 to 55 pounds ( approx. 20 to 25 kg ).
Bearded Collie Size
The Bearded Collies are medium-sized herding dogs with a height of 20 to 22 inches ( approx. 51 to 56 cm ) and a weight of 45 to 55 pounds ( approx. 20 to 25 kg ).
Bearded Collie Health Issues
Although sturdy and healthy dogs, Bearded Collies are susceptible to certain diseases including hypothyroidism, allergies, hip dysplasia, Addison’s disease, skin problems, arthritis, and eye diseases like progressive retinal atrophy, cataracts, and corneal dystrophy.
Other dog breeds include:
Bearded Collie Names
A Beardie parent may decide to find a name for the pet before it joins them home or days after the dog settles home to understand better its personality. Parents may get name inspirations from the Scottish heritage of the breed, the coat color and texture, celebrity Beardie, movies, books, food, nature, and historical figures.
Ensure the name chosen freely rolls off your tongue and wont make you embarrassed when uttered out loud in the public places. Bearded Collies and other dog breeds better understand a name that has vowels. Avoid giving your pet a name that rhymes with a command word to prevent confusion.
If a Bearded Collie shares a name with any household member or guest that frequent your home, it may cause confusion. Some of the names that Bearded Collies owners give to their pets include:
- Buddy.
- Jazzy.
- Duke.
- Stella.
- Star.
- Rover.
- Sally.
- Terra.
- Sophie.
- Abby.
Bearded Collie Food | Dog Food
The amount of food that Bearded Collies feed on depend on the metabolism, size, age, activity level, and body build. This breed should thrive on high-quality home-made food, raw, or even commercial dry or wet food. Feed a Beardie food formulated for medium-sized dogs. It should also be appropriate to the dog’s age i.e. puppy, adult, and senior.
Some Bearded Collies may be prone to getting overweight. Therefore, watch out the calorie consumption, weight level, and the treats given to the dogs when training. Ensure a Beardie has access to clean fresh water at all times. Learn on the human food that is safe for the dogs.
Bearded Collie Colors
A Bearded Collie may have a blue, black, brown, or fawn coat color with tan or white markings.
Bearded Collie Allergies
The Bearded Collies are prone to allergies such as:
Food allergies – Rarely, a Berdie suffers from a true food allergy that causes an immune response. It is accompanied with a wide range of symptoms ranging from a skin issues to gastrointestinal stress.
Skin allergies – This allergy is caused by food, contact, and environmental allergies that manifest on the skin.
Contact allergies – Some of the contact allergens that affect Beardies include plastics, certain fabrics, lawn chemicals, nylon carpet, grooming products, bed linens, and carpet cleaning detergents.
Environmental allergies – The environmental allergies that affect Bearded Collies include ragweed, pollen, trees, grass, mites, fleas, house molds, and dust and dust mites.
Bearded Collie Eyes
The Bearded Collies have large and expressive eyes that are affectionate and soft but neither protruding nor round.
Bearded Collie Price | Cost
The average price of a Bearded Collie is $1500 to $2500 depending on the location of the breeder, age, and pedigree of the dog.
Do Bearded Collies Shed
Yes. Bearded Collies shed all-year round at moderate levels and heavily while blowing off the coat twice a year in spring and Fall.
Are Bearded Collies Hypoallergenic
No. Bearded Collies are not hypoallergenic dogs. They have a profuse shedding coat that spreads fur and dander around the house triggering allergies.
Are Bearded Collies Good Family Dogs
Yes. Bearded Collies are energetic, lively, playful, intelligent, outgoing, and cheerful dogs. However, they are independent thinkers.
Are Bearded Collies Aggressive
No. Bearded Collies are friendly, outgoing, lively, and cheerful. Although they are independent, they are neither aggressive or shy if well-socialized.
How Long Do Bearded Collies Live
The Bearded Collies have a life expectancy of 12 to 14 years.
Bearded Collie Quick Facts
- They are high maintainance dogs that require daily grooming.
- Bearded Collies possess keen problem solving abilities and are entertaining to watch.
- They are also known as Mountain Collie, Hairy Mou’ed Collie, or Highland Collie.