Bearded Collie

The Bearded Collie is a hardy and active dog that has an aura of strength and agility-as a real working dog has. They were bred for centuries as a companion and servant of man, and they are a devoted and intelligent member of the family. They are stable and self-confident, showing no signs of shyness or aggression. They are a natural and unspoiled breed.

They are sometimes known as the Highland Collie, Mountain Collie, and the Hairy Mou'ed Collie. At the end of the Victorian era, they were fairly popular in southern Scotland-both as working and show dogs. The local popularity of the breed continued until World War I. By the 1930s there was no kennel breeding the Bearded Collies for show purposes.

Beardies nearly died out-the only thing that saved them was their ability as workers and the devotion of the Peebleshire shepherds and drovers. They are still highly valued as sheepdogs due to their ability to turn in a good day's work in south Scotland's misty, rainy and cold climate.

The Beardie can work with little direction from the butchers and drovers who find them very valuable in moving troublesome cattle. They valued these dogs to such an extent that they have been very reluctant to sell any puppies (especially females) unless they could be sure the puppies would actually be worked.

After World War II, the owner of Bothkennar Kennels saved the Beardie from further chance of extinction when they began to breed them for show purposes. They were introduced into the United States in the late 1950s, but none were ever born in this country until 1967.

Males should be 21-22 inches tall, females 20-21 inches. Their coat is double with the undercoat soft, furry and close. The outercoat is flat, harsh, strong and shaggy-free of woolliness and curl. Their colors can be black, blue, brown or fawn with or without white markings. The coat color may lighten when the dog gets older.

Without frequent brushing, Bearded Collies become a matted mess. If you can't commit to the brushing, you have to commit to frequent trimming to keep the coat short, neat, and healthy. Bearded Collies definitely shed, though some of the shed hair gets caught in the long wavy coat rather than ending up on your floor. Thus, frequent brushing is essential not only for keeping the coat mat-free, but for removing shed hair.

Like all shaggy dogs, the Bearded Collie is a messy dog. leaves, mud, mulch, and other debris cling to his rough coat and ends up all over your house. When they get a drink, they will then walk around the house dripping water from their beards. Many owners of bearded breeds prefer to use a water bottle instead of a water bowl to help eliminate this problem.