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Bearded Collie: Characteristics, Exercise, Health (Beardie)
About Bearded Collie
Country of Origin, History of Bearded Collies
A Polish sea captain traded three of his Polski Owczarek Nizinnys, or PONs, to a Scottish shepherd for a ram and ewe in 1514. The dogs bred with local herding stock and their offspring formed the basis of the Bearded Collie breed, which became known as the ‘Highland Sheepdog’ or ‘Highland Collie’ or ‘Hairy Moved Collie.’ Collie is a Scottish word for sheep-herding dog. The dogs were (and still are) highly valued for their ability to do a good herding job in southern Scotland’s misty, rainy and cold.
The Bearded Collie nearly disappeared, but a mating pair revived it in 1944. The Bearded Collie Club was founded in England in 1955. The first U.S. litter was born in 1967.
Bearded Collie Tools
Breed Selector Tool - is the Bearded Collie the right breed for you?
Is the Bearded Collie the right breed for you and your family?
Find out by using our Free Dog Breed Selector Tool
Check Your Bearded Collie's Learning Style
Are you aware dogs also have a learning style that can greatly affect their ability to housetrain as well as be trained correctly. Evaluate your Bearded Collie's learning style and personality using our free Learning Style tool so that you are better able to provide him with the proper Bearded Collie training methods.
Is your Bearded Collie dominating over you?
Does your Bearded Collie bark unnecessarily? Does your Bearded Collie come to you when you call? Download a FREE Report on Dog Dominance for you and your Bearded Collie and learn how to control your dog.
Do you make these mistakes with your Bearded Collie?
Are you inadvertently snow-balling bad behavior in your Bearded Collie? Evaluate your Dog Training Style from our Free Tool and learn how best to deal with your dog.
Bearded Collie Calorie Calculator
Do you know how many calories your Bearded Collie needs every day and how many cups of food you should be giving it every day? Click here to use our Bearded Collie Calorie Calculator.
A General Appearance of the Dog
The Bearded Collie is a medium-sized shaggy herding dog whose face and tail are always happy. Beardies bounce (a type of trot) everywhere they go – and they are on the move much of the time. Its demeanor exudes strength, agility, and endurance. He appears to have stocky legs and a square head with a short muzzle, but part of that appearance is due to his long, flowing coat. He has a bright, inquiring expression.
Coat Color
All Bearded Collies are born black, blue, brown or fawn and may or may not have any white markings. With maturity, the coat lightens and white markings may appear as a blaze on the face, on the skull, on the tip of the tail, on the chest, legs and feet and around the neck. Tan accent markings can appear on eyebrows, inside of ears, on the cheeks, and on the legs.
Coat Type
Bearded Collie has a double coat with the outer coat being water-resistant. The undercoat is soft, furry, and close. The outercoat is flat, harsh, and shaggy (not woolly or silky) and has no curliness. The coat flows down both sides of the dog’s body.
Height
Male: 21-22”
Female: 20-21”.
Weight
40-60 lbs
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Free Course on Bearded Collie Training & Obedience
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Bearded Collie Personality Traits
Temperament of the Dog
The Bearded Collie, or 'Beardie', is known by its happy-go-lucky bounce, which shows its playful attitude. They can be mischievous.
Beardies are lively and playful and are very good with children. They need constructive activities such as herding, hiking, jogging, biking or watching over other pets to stop them from getting bored. If these dogs don't get lots of attention and exercise, they dig, chew and get into trouble.
Better suited to an indoor or outdoor lifestyle?
They love to be outside, but can overheat due to their heavy coat. Because they like to run and to be outside (in all types of weather), they are not recommended for apartment life. Even when they are indoors, they will bounce and play. They love to run rather than being on a leash, so a large, securely fenced yard is necessary.
Bearded Collies do not mind being outdoors most of the time as long as there is a sheltered place they can sleep and the weather is not too hot or humid. However, they should not be left to entertain themselves as they will get into trouble. They need a job to do such as herding sheep or goats. They also need interaction with people.
Are they suited to homes with kids?
Beardies are lively and playful and are very good with children. This is an excellent family dog.
Bearded Collie Activity Level
How active is the breed?
They are very active all through their lives. They love to play games with their owners. Even when they are indoors, they will bounce and play. They love to run rather than being on a leash, so a large, securely fenced yard is necessary.
How much exercise is needed at every stage of life?
Bearded Collies need quite a bit
of exercise at all stages of life. Everything and
everyone excites the Beardie, causing him to start
bouncing.
Grooming
Daily brushing is necessary for the long, heavy coat. Mats should be teased out as they are found. In spring and fall, when the dog is shedding, he may need the use of a shedding blade.
Professional grooming twice a year is a real help in coat care. Ears, eyes, and paws need to checked a couple of times a week.
Check for ticks and fleas and don’t forget use a monthly flea and tick preventative.
Free Bearded Collie Training Secrets
Free Course on Bearded Collie Training & Obedience
Stop All Bad Behavior, Excessive Barking and Biting
Health and Care
Genetic Problems
Hip dysplasia, Addison's disease, thyroid disease, and EPI (Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency) are possible health issues for Beardies.
Breeding the Dog and any Cautions
Breeding has no known problems.
Litter Size: Litter sizes are usually 6-8 but can be as few as 4 or as many as 12.
Life Span: They live to be 14-15 years of age.
National Breed Clubs
National Breed Clubs
US – Bearded Collie Club of America –
www.beardie.net/bcca
British – Bearded Collie Club – www.beardedcollieclub.co.uk
Other Recognition: AKC, CKC, FCI, UKC, CKGB, ANKC, NKC, NZKC, APRI, ACR
Rescue Link: http://beardie.net/bcca/rescue.htm
Group: AKC Herding Group, KCGB Pastoral
AKC Popularity Ranking: 127
Also Known As: Beardie
Train Your Bearded Collie To Listen To You
Get Instant Access to Your Training Now - For Free
Sign up for our Free Bearded Collie Mini Course to have a housebroken, obedient dog that happily comes to you every time you call.
You'll learn new commands to obedience-train your dog as well as how to housebreak your dog in 6 days or less.
You'll also learn how to eliminate bad habits like barking, nipping or biting, jumping, or pulling on the leash.Here's just s small fraction of what else you'll learn in the course:
How to lead and think like a pack dog - the new psychology.
3 dangerous mistakes that most Beardie owners make when they are trying to potty train their dogs.
The 2 main reasons why your dog barks excessively and how to control its excessive barking.
How to obedience train your Bearded Collie to permanently end behavioral problems like Jumping, Aggression, Pulling on Leash.
A surprisingly easy way to teach your dog cool new tricks.
How to improve your dog's lifespan and keep it from getting overly heavy with a healthy and nutritious diet.
Getting Pro help fast - how to get access to our expert trainers when you need them most.
One hidden psychological trigger that all Bearded Collies have... that practically allows you to "analyze" and "control" your dog's every action.
Priority access to the free online seminars conducted by our training experts.
Whereas other dog training related web sites and books offer generic information for dogs in general, ours is the ONLY web site that offers Beardie information specifically, from a renowned panel of experts - because as you probably know, Beardies have their own special training requirements that other dogs don't have.
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