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Facts about Bearded Collie Puppies
Are you unsure how to care for Bearded Collie puppies or just want to learn more about this breed? Or maybe you are thinking about buying a dog and want to know if this is the right breed for you?
No matter what your situation may be, you will find the answers to your questions right here!
History
The breed, also known as a Highland Collie, Mountain Collie and Old Welsh Grey Sheepdog, is one of the oldest breeds in Great Britain. It's a descendent of Polish Lowland Sheepdog, which was introduced to Scotland in 1514.
The legend has it that a Polish sea captain traded some of his dogs to a Scottish shepherd for a ram and ewe.
Those dogs were bred to local herding dogs and formed the foundation for the breed as we know it today.
For centuries, the breed was used primarily for herding farm animals. Today, in addition to herding, these dogs are becoming very popular as pets.
The first Bearded Collie puppies in U.S. were born in 1967.
By the way, the word "Collie" is derived from the Scottish word "colley" and means a "herding dog". Because of the long hair under the chin that resembles a beard, and to distinguish it from other Collies, the word "Bearded" was used to describe the breed.
Physical Characteristics of Bearded Collie
This is a medium-size dog. It has a broad skull with a large muzzle, average drop ears and a large nose. The eyes are large, set wide apart and their color will generally tone with the coat color.
Almost forgot! There is very long hair (a "beard") under the chin.
The Bearded Collie has a double coat that consists of a dense, weatherproof outer coat and a thick, soft undercoat.
The coat comes in blue, black or brown with or without white markings. As the dog gets older, the coat may change in color.
| Height | Weight | ||
| Male | 21 to 22 inches | 40 to 60 pounds | |
| Female | 20 to 21 inches | 40 to 60 pounds |
Temperament
This is an intelligent, friendly and outgoing dog. It's loyal, devoted to its family and gets along well with other pets and children.
While males are more outgoing than females, both sexes are very playful and love to be with people. In fact, it's not a good idea to leave a Beardie alone without anything to do.
Like many other herding breeds, they may attempt to herd people by nipping at their heels. To discourage this behavior, I recommend obedience training while your pet is still young.
Best Owner
This is a very active breed and will do best with an active owner in a suburban environment, preferably with a fenced yard. It's not well suited for an apartment lifestyle.
Some Bearded Collie breeders will interview prospective owners to make sure they are qualified.
Activity and Exercise
These dogs are fairly active indoors. To prevent destructive behavior, provide plenty of exercise.
Allow them to play and run off leash in a safe place (that's where a fenced yard comes handy!). Better yet, because they excel at it, consider dog agility.
At a minimum, provide at least one long daily walk.
Grooming
To keep the long hair mat-free, I recommend daily brushing. At a minimum, you will need to brush your pet 2 to 3 times per week.
Contrary to what you may think, a Bearded Collie is just an average shedder. Still, it will shed twice a year.
If you live in a warm climate, consider taking your pet to a groomer for a professional clipping every 2 to 3 months.
Because of the long coat, take extra time to check your pet for any signs of ticks. To learn how to recognizing tick bite symptoms and how to remove ticks correctly, visit...
Health Concerns
Common health concerns include allergies, autoimmune disease and skin problems.
To avoid the above and many other problems, buy only from reputable Bearded Collie breeders.
Life Expectancy
The average life expectancy for a Bearded Collie puppy is between 12 and 14 years.
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