The Bearded Collie is a medium-size herding dog with a shaggy coat and an ever-wagging tail, and is ancestor to the Old English Sheep Dog. The Bearded Collie's name comes from the Scottish word "colley," meaning "working dog," and hair under the chin that flows into the chest coat forming the "beard." To those who know and love the dogs, they're known as "Beardies."
Size: Males should be 21-22 inches at the shoulder and may weigh 45-60 pounds. Females should be 20-21 inches at the shoulder and weigh 40-50 pounds.
Personality: Bearded Collies have a friendly, optimistic, happy-go-lucky outlook on life; a combination sensible working dog and enthusiastic playmate. They are good with children and are alert and quick to announce a stranger. They are active, athletic dogs that get along well with other pets. Some Beardies are a bit choosy as to whom they will be best friends with, but do not confuse this aloofness with shy or frightened behavior. A spooky Beardie is not typical.
Male or Female: Male Beardies are apt to be larger and have more hair (requiring more grooming), and have a bold, boisterous, outgoing personality. Female Beardies are smaller, have less hair, and sometimes have a less dominant, more 'home body' attitude. These, of course, are generalizations, and your Beardie may not fit into this pattern. But, there are differences between the sexes.
Coat: Beardies have a medium-length harsh outer coat and a soft, close undercoat. A correct adult coat falls in a natural part along the back and arches around the eyes.
Color: Beardies are the chameleons of the dog world. They may be born one of four colors: black, brown, blue or fawn- with or without white markings. From the dark puppy color, they fade until, by a year of age, the born-blacks and -blues can be light gray and the born-browns and -fawns can be a light cream color. After Beardies reach the pale stage, their coats continue to change color and begin darkening as their adult coats come in. Normally, when a Beardie reaches maturity (between two and three years of age), the coat color is somewhere between the dark puppy shade and the pale yearling color.
Grooming: How much grooming your Beardie will need depends on the individual dog. As an average, you can expect to spend at least an hour a week keeping your Beardie beautiful and comfortable. Beardies shed very little, but this means all the loose hair stays in the coat and will mat unless brushed or combed out. Beardies also require periodic nail trimming and ear cleaning to prevent infection.
Exercise: All Beardies need regular running exercise. If you do not have a large fenced yard, daily walks or throwing a ball in the park will keep both you and your Beardie in shape. Beardies will do well in any environment as long as the necessity for regular, running exercise is understood.
Socialization: This is the way you teach your Beardie puppy how the world works. This is done by going on 'field trips' to the park, playground, shopping center, a friend's home or gatherings where your puppy is welcome. A puppy that is not given this frequent away-from-home experience between 12 and 20 weeks of age may not develop the outgoing, friendly Beardie temperament.
Training: Beardies require training, as do all medium- to large-sized breeds of dogs. Beardies are happiest when they are participating members of the family. This is difficult unless your Beardie will 'stay' when told, 'come' when called, and walk happily on a leash at your side. Beardies are ready for obedience classes at four to six months of age.
Availability: Bearded Collies are not a common breed. If you decide a Bearded Collie is indeed the dog for you, the best way to go about finding one is to contact an established breed club. The Bearded Collie Club of America has a Puppy Referral person, and whoever you contact will give that person's number as it is really very hard to find a litter of Beardies. You will most likely be placed on a reservation list for a planned litter. Since the Beardie will be a member of your family for 12-15 years, it is worth the wait.
Hip Displasia: Before buying a puppy, ask if the parents have been x-rayed for hip displasia. This hereditary condition is present in most breeds of dogs. An Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) number is given to dogs free of this condition. The OFA clearance is not a guarantee that your puppy will not develop hip displasia, but breeding only from x-ray-cleared stock limits the possibility of developing the problem.
Price: Companion puppies range in price from $300 to $500. A show quality Bearded Collie can run from $500 to $1000.
Note: info received in early 1998 indicates prices may be somewhat above this figure: pet quality puppies are generally in the $500 to $800 range; show quality dogs range from $800 to $1200. Cost is generally higher on the coasts.)