Bearded Collie

The Bearded Collie is a popular herding breed that was primarily put to use for tending livestock by the Scottish shepherds. These medium-sized dogs with a longish body stature are characterized by a broad head, lean and sturdy built, big, expressive eyes, hanging ears covered with hair, broad chest and a low set tail. Its main USP lies in its dreamy eyes and long hair hanging down its chin, giving the impression of a beard. 

Bearded Collie Pictures

History

Having an ancient lineage, they are said to have existed in Britain since long, being perfect helpmates to farmers.

Various stories have been circulating about the origination of this breed. Specific sources mentioned it to have existed before the 1^st century B.C., prior to Rome’s conquest of Britain.

Some documents even state the Beardies to be descendants of Komondorok and Polish Lowland Sheepdogs imported to Scotland in the 16^th century.

Another story suggests that a Polish merchant named Mr. Kazimierz Grabski had purchased 6 Polish Lowland Sheepdogs for herding his sheep. They came into the notice of a Polish shepherd who being impressed with their herding skills bought a few of them in exchange for his sheep. They were further crossed with the local dogs of Scotland, resulting in the development of the Bearded Collie.

Paintings of eminent personalities like Joshua Reynolds and Thomas Gainsborough in the 17^th century portrayed breeds similar to the Collie accompanying Scottish aristocrats, thus indicating its popularity with the upper strata of the society too, besides being herding companions to farmers.

Popular in show circuits in the Victorian era, the numbers of this breed diminished rapidly post World War I. However dog enthusiasts took initiatives in recreating it again post the two devastating wars.

The existence of the present-day Bearded Collie has been accidental and the credit for the same goes to Mrs. G Olive Wilson. She had asked for a Shetland Sheepdog from a farmer but ended up getting a Bearded Collie. Utterly fascinated by its charm, she called it Jeannie and began to search a companion for her. Bailey of Southern England became her mate, and both these dogs were the forerunners of the present day breed.

Besides Britain, the breed gained popularity in the United States of America with the first litter being born in 1967. The Bearded Collie Club of America was founded in 1969, while this breed also attained recognition in AKC’s Working and Herding Group in 1977 and 1983 respectively.

Temperament and Personality

Smart, energetic, vibrant, bubbling with energy— this is what describes the disposition of the Bearded Collie in short. Their high level of enthusiasm can be seen through their bouncy nature which could perhaps be due to the manner in which they tended sheep, where they would bounce up for tracing the sheep and even to warn it if it got stubborn or showed an unwillingness to move forward.

They are great entertainers, keeping everyone amused with their clownish antics, which makes them used as therapy dogs in nursing homes, hospitals and schools for autistic kids, to cheer up those in distress.

Despite the Beardies sociable, affectionate and friendly nature, they suit only those who can keep pace with their high levels of energy, as it is challenging to keep these intelligent dogs entertained for long since they get bored quickly.

Though they share a great rapport with children, emerging as their perfect playmates, these dogs have a rambunctious nature. Hence parental supervision is necessary when the young ones interact with them.

Because of their herding instinct, they are wary and suspicious towards strangers, letting out a loud bark quite often if they sense anything unusual in their domain, which indeed makes it an effective watchdog though not a guard dog.

They would get along well with other dogs, and cats provided socialized with them since childhood. However, they are possessive and would not be comfortable enough in sharing something that belongs to them. If you have smaller pets at home, it is better to keep them away from the Beardie because of their herding instinct.

Bearded Collie Mix

Bearded Collie x Poodle = Beardoodle
Bearded Collie x Beagle = Beacol

Care

• Exercise

• Grooming

• Health Problems

Energetic and boisterous, the Bearded Collie has high exercise requirements, needing to be worked out on a regular basis. Besides taking them on a long walk, jog or hiking, you can also make them exercise for an hour in a fenced yard. Dog sports like herding, obedience, rally, and agility would interest them. They would be well-suited for big homes with a spacious yard, rather than small apartments.

Having a long, double coat, the Beardie needs to be combed every week using a pin or bristled brush to remove the dead hair as well as prevent the formation of mats and tangles. Misting the coat with a conditioner before brushing would minimize chances of the hair to break. You need to be patient enough as brushing its full coat would take about an hour. Take care in brushing or wiping its long beard after every meal to make sure that you properly clean the water dripping from its chin.  Bathe it only when it gets dirty. Trimming its nails, brushing its teeth as well as cleaning its eyes and ears are the other grooming needs you should implement. If your dog has been overly exposed to snow and develops frostbites, then bandage the affected area well and also consult a doctor.

Though sturdy and healthy, some of the common problems it could be prone to include hip dysplasia, hypothyroidism, allergies, progressive retinal atrophy, persistent pupillary membrane (eye problem) and autoimmune diseases.

Training

These intelligent dogs may be a challenge to train, and following the same schedule, every day could make them bored. They are strong-willed and might at times try to get independent, thus needing a skillful master to handle him with a firm hand.

• To help it get over its problem of barking unnecessarily, giving it obedience training is of utmost importance since the time your Beardie is a puppy. Teach it to follow commands like “Stop”, or “Quiet” and associate it with his barking behavior, so that the moment he gets noisy, hearing your voice could help him calm down. Engage it in interesting activities and also try teaching it to differentiate between the good and the bad so that it would alert you only when needed and not always.
• Give it socialization training by acquainting it with different kinds of people and also let it mingle with other dogs as well as pets so that it would learn to live amicably with everyone and also get over its possessive nature.

Feeding

High-Quality dry dog food would be best suited for your Bearded Collie. The inclusion of a homemade diet would also be okay when given in measured amounts, though with the consultation of a veterinarian.

Interesting Facts

• The Bearded Collie made its appearance in several films like Hotel for Dogs (2009) as Ralphie and the Shaggy Dog (2006) in the character of Coal.