With their scruffy faces in a perpetual pout, bearded collies make for an adorable new addition to any family. This affectionate dog breed is especially known for being good with young children. They can be protective over their household members, and are especially loyal, cuddly dogs.
If you’re looking for a new best friend that your children can grow up with, a bearded collie may be a smart choice for your family.
Characteristics of Bearded Collies
Bearded collies are a mid-sized dog. They are considered a breed with one of the longest lifespans and have an average lifespan of 12-15 years.
The name bearded collie comes from the distinct appearance of this long-haired dog breed. The fur on their face grows long and shaggy, giving them a double-beard appearance. They have black beards and hair-covered ears. They stand at a height of 20 to 22 inches and weigh an average of 30 to 50 pounds.
Originally bred in Scotland as working dogs, bearded collies can have a willful, independent personality. They have a shaggy double-coat that’s reminiscent of the Old English Sheepdog, a breed to which they may have contributed genetically.
Bearded collies are extremely energetic dogs and are happiest when playing outdoors, regardless of the weather. They prefer a fenced-in yard, and are best suited for large yards in rural areas.
Caring for Bearded Collies
There’s a lot that goes into caring for a dog, including brushing their teeth daily and keeping up with obedience training at home. But bearded collies also have special care requirements.
Because of their long, luscious hair, bearded collies need to be combed regularly. They require a quick combing on a daily basis to ensure tangles don’t grow into mats, as well as a weekly session with a pin rake and some anti-tangle spray. And like all dogs, bearded collies also need their nails trimmed on a regular basis.
Bred as sheep dogs, bearded collies require lots of exercise every single day. A simple walk after work won’t be enough to keep these energetic dogs out of trouble. They thrive best in an environment, such as a farm or rural home, where they can engage in regular runs around the yard and athletic endeavors.
Bearded collies are considered to be a dog with a higher-than-average metabolic exertion, which means that they use up more calories throughout the course of the day than many other dog breeds.
While it may be tempting to give these dogs lots of treats, especially since they do so well with positive reinforcement, it’s important to remember that doing so can lead to obesity and other health problems. Just as you would limit snacks with toddlers, you should limit treats with dogs and supplement with a healthy, high-quality dog food that's either homemade or factory produced. If you opt for homemade dog food, it’s vital that you speak to a veterinary nutritionist to ensure your bearded collie is getting all the nutrients they need on a daily basis.
It’s also important to remember to vaccinate your bearded collie. According to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), “Vaccinating your pet has long been considered one of the easiest ways to help him live a long, healthy life”.
Vaccinations that are recommended for all dogs include:
- Canine Distemper Vaccine
- Parvovirus Vaccine
- DHPP Vaccines (a combination vaccination to prevent Distemper, Hepatitis, Parainfluenza, and Parvovirus)
- Rabies Vaccine
Other recommended vaccines include vaccinations against bordetella, lyme disease, coronavirus, and leptospirosis.
While there is no vaccine for heartworm, it is preventable with regularly administered medication.
Speak with your veterinarian about heartworm preventatives that are recommended for your bearded collie.
Training can be a challenge with bearded collies, who are an independent breed by nature. However, starting early and using lots of positive reinforcement can make training a success. This is especially true if you give your bearded collie a clear role in your family. Having their own responsibilities can help bearded collies feel useful and respected, which can keep them from getting into mischief during the rest of the day.
Bearded collies demand to be included in all family activities. They deal best with resourceful, engaging humans who are okay with hairy feet tracking mud through the house. Their energetic nature, combined with their natural intelligence, can make bearded collies great family companions, but it can also lead to rebellion if these friends find themselves bored.
Health Problems to Watch for With Bearded Collies
Bearded collies are generally considered a healthy breed. But like any dog, there are certain health conditions for which bearded collies are known.
Bearded collies can be susceptible to allergies and hip dysplasia. They have also been known to develop hypothyroidism, which can lead to obesity if left unchecked. Hypothyroidism can also cause other health issues, including lethargy, low heart rate, cold intolerance, and skin issues.
Eye problems are common with bearded collies. Some of the most prevalent vision problems include progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) and persistent pupillary membranes (PPM). While PPM usually goes away on its own or can be cleared up with eye drops, PRA is a degenerative eye disease that eventually leads to blindness.
Special Considerations for Bearded Collies
These long-haired dogs are not a hypoallergenic breed, and owners need to be prepared to comb out their long hair on a daily basis.
It’s also important to keep the bearded collie’s high energy levels in mind before purchasing this breed. They have a bouncy sort of energy, and are happiest when they can spend the majority of their days outdoors. An intelligent, resourceful breed, they can cause mischief if their owners don’t keep them physically and mentally stimulated on a regular basis.
Obedience training is important for bearded collies, who need to know early on who’s in charge in the household. Poor training can lead bearded collies to practice digging, chewing, or nuisance barking in the household. Bearded collies are most receptive to training that occurs when they’re between seven weeks and four months old.
Although bearded collies are intelligent dogs and can be trained, it’s important to remember that they can grow bored easily. Training needs to be kept engaging and fresh to keep bearded collies from getting rambunctious or mischievous. Training also needs to be consistent, and bearded collies may need to be re-trained over the years.
Bearded collies can get along well with other animals and kids. They’re not usually dog-aggressive, and are happy to play with children, puppies, and smaller dogs. However, it’s important to remember that bearded collies are used to being herding dogs. They may be prone to chasing cats or shuffling errant toddlers into line.
Bearded collies are also extremely social creatures, and can develop anxiety if left alone or confined for long periods of time. This is not a dog to leave crate-bound while you head to work. Bearded collies need owners who are around for most of the day, or they need to be brought to a place like Doggy Daycare where they can run around and interact with other dogs.
And while they are not watch dogs, and typically will not become aggressive when new people visit their homes, bearded collies have been known to bark.
History of Bearded Collies
The bearded collie has also been known, throughout the years, as the highland collie or the mountain collie. These dogs were originally bred in Scotland, and were popular on farms to keep livestock in check.
Their exact heritage is unknown, though the most common theory is that they are descendants of the Polish lowland sheepdogs and Hungarian komondoroks that were brought to Scotland in the 1500s. We do know, for sure, that bearded collies as we know them were established by at least the 1800s, though there is artwork to indicate that they might have been around as early as the 1700s.
The popularity of bearded collies began dwindling in the 1800s, and they might have been bred to extinction were it not for G. O. Willison. She began breeding the dogs after World War II.
The Bearded Collie Club of Britain was established in 1955, and their popularity rose from there. The first American litter of bearded collies was born in 1967.
