Bearded Collie, or Beardie, is a herding dog breed that originated in Scotland at the beginning of the 16th century. They are well-prepared for the harsh terrain and climate of Scotland. They are smart and energetic, often described as having “bouncy” personalities. In other words, they are ready for work or a walk at any time of the day. 

1. Size

These are lean and muscular dogs, although you might not be able to see the muscles under the shaggy-looking coat. Bearded Collies are longer than they are tall, and male dogs are usually taller and heavier than females. Although, both males and females can weigh the same.

• Male height: 21 to 22 inches (53 to 56 cm)
• Male weight: 45 to 55 pounds (20 to 25 kg)
• Female height: 20 to 21 (51 to 53 cm)
• Female weight: 45 to 55 pounds (20 to 25 kg)

Bearded Collie has a smooth and long-reaching gait and is able to cover the ground with minimum effort. This is needed for the job this dog was originally bred for – herding. They had to be smooth, swift, and with lots of energy. 

2. Color

There are four coat colors:

• Blue
• Fawn
• Black
• Brown 

They can also have white and white-tan markings. Beardies have a double coat. The outer coat is long and the undercoat is soft and shorter. The white markings appear on the forehead, side of the muzzle, chest, tip of the tail, and legs and feet.

3. Social Traits

The Bearded Collie is a great family dog. They go great with other dogs and they are great with children of all ages. Of course, they require proper socialization, but they have a natural friendliness. Being herding dogs, they also naturally get along well with other animals. However, you can expect them to herd other animals or children if they are not given proper mental stimulation.

Good with other dogs: yes

Good with children: yes

Good with other animals: yes

Don’t forget that no matter how friendly a dog is, we need to give them proper socialization/habituation from an early age.

Important: Bearded Collies are known to bark quite loudly!

4. Trainability 

One of the best ways to describe Beardie’s trainability is “agreeable”. This doesn’t mean they are not smart or that they can’t be well trained. On the contrary, a Bearded Collie dog is smart and loves to work. The problem is they need constant mental and physical stimulation to be happy.

If they are not happy, they won’t learn. They’d rather do something else. So, in order to have less problems training them, give them enough daily exercise and mental stimulation. Also, keep the training sessions shorter and more interesting. Change the rewards or the style of the training.

5. Activity

Bearded Collie needs daily exercise. They need around 2 hours of everyday activities. This means you can play with them, go on a walk, go to the park, let them run loose in a fenced area, or combine walking with indoor games.

The important thing is to wake up their senses. You can’t just let a Beardie do nothing all day and take him for a quick walk in the morning and evening. They will turn boredom into misbehavior or even aggression.

This is very important. We said the Bearded Collie is a great family dog, but only if you can give him enough daily activities. The good thing is they’ll love doing anything as long as it’s with you and your family. That’s why they are great with children too. They’ll love to play and run around with them.

6. Feeding

Generally speaking, an adult Bearded Collie needs around 3 cups of kibble food every day. It is best to divide the amount into two meals. If it’s cups you plan on feeding your Beardie, then give 1.5 cups in the morning and 1.5 cups in the evening.

Of course, the amount can change. We have to follow our dog’s routine, activity levels, health, and age. A more active Beardie will need more than 3 cups a day. And if you are one of those people who happen to have a less active Bearded Collie (one in a million), then they can go with less than 3 cups.

The point is to keep our dogs healthy and normal weight. If you have any doubts, ask a vet how much food your dog should eat.

7. Grooming

The Bearded Collie needs to be brushed a few times a week if you want to keep the coat without tangles. They also shed moderately, so frequent brushing can help with the loose hair. Because they have long and double coats, it is recommended to use a combination of dog brushes. 

The best combination is a pin brush with longer wire pins and a slicker brush perfect for untangling hair and removing dirt. They require frequent baths, too. Usually, If they don’t get dirty, it is once a month. You can also combine trimming the nails with bathing them.

A Beardie doesn’t need a special trim unless you want to show the dog. However, it is important to regularly trim the area under the tail and around the anus to avoid infections. This is called the sanitary trim.

8. Possible Problems

Generally speaking, the Bearded Collie is a healthy dog breed. However, if the breeders don’t follow rules and don’t test screen their breeding dogs for some of the diseases, they can sell you a puppy that already has a predisposition or a gene for developing a health issue. One of those issues is hip dysplasia. Other issues are:

• Elbow dysplasia
• Autoimmune hypothyroidism
• Eye problems
• Addison’s disease

Apart from these health issues, it is important to regularly check and clean their ears. They have furry ears that can be a “perfect spot” for a bacterial infection if we don’t keep them clean and dry.

Final Thoughts

The Bearded Collie is a less popular herding dog from Scotland. However, all it takes is to have one meeting with this breed to fall in love with it. They are smart, loyal, playful, and adorable with their bushy-looking coats. 

If you do decide to get a Beardie, be prepared to give him a lot of daily physical and mental stimulation. They need this to be healthy and happy. You can play with them, go on hikes, walks, whatever you do they will be thrilled to do it with you.

And, finally, because they go great with other dogs, other animals, and with children, Beardies are great family dogs.

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