BEARDED COLLIE
APPEARANCE
A herding dog of great stamina and high intelligence, the Bearded Collie is noted for its shaggy coat and never flagging wagging tail. The Bearded Collie has a short muzzle, a broad skull, and large teeth. The Bearded Collie has a shaggy coat that covers the entire body, even under the chin. The outer coat has a softer, close set undercoat. There are various colorings to choose from with the Bearded Collie, and this includes black, slate, various shades of blue, fawn, or brown. The height of the Bearded Collie is around 20-22 inches, and the weight around 40-60 pounds.
PERSONALITY
The Bearded Collie has a charming personality that will surly please its master. Cheerful and affectionate, the Beardie is a perfect companion for children and the family. This dog is without a doubt one of the largest clowns in the canine world. This dog needs to be a part of the family unit and would wither without human contact. Some Bearded Collies can be very independent and stubborn, so this should be taken into consideration when training, although these dogs are still well suited to both inexperienced and experienced dog owners.
TRAINING
This breed is highly trainable for various activities. Obedience training is a must as they have a tendency to be headstrong. They excel in tracking, agility, herding, performing tricks, and competitive obedience. Obedience training must be fun, consistent and fair. It should also start at a young age and continue into adulthood. As independent thinkers, the Bearded Collie will occasionally decide that they know best.
EXERCISE
The Bearded Collie is a highly energetic breed and needs daily occasions to work out the excess energy. An ideal workout for your Beardie would be game of fetch with balls or a Frisbee, throw in some swimming, running along side you while you bike and hiking. The best exercise regimen for your Beardie would be at least two 45 minute walks a day. You need to also include at least 20 minutes of obedience training, trick training or other activities that keep your dog’s mind sharp.
SOCIALIZATION
The Bearded Collie is good with children, and is fine in households with older children. Since they are herding dogs, this breed may attempt to perform the task with everyone and everything that moves. Friendly and active, the Bearded Collie is a great companion pet that will get along well with other pets, and although he can be reserved around strangers to begin with will soon start to welcome them.
LIVING CONDITIONS
The Bearded Collie is not recommended for apartment dwelling, as they prefer to have free run. Fairly active indoors, they do best with a large yard or on a farm. The Bearded Collie prefers to live outdoors in temperate to cool climates, as it is able going out in any weather condition.
GROOMING
The Bearded Collie need lots of grooming. Around half an hour to an hour and a half of grooming is recommended each week, and this includes combing and brushing of the shaggy coat. During the time that he is shedding more heavily, you will need to groom your Bearded Collie more regularly. Make certain to check for ticks during tick season and pay attention to the length of the toenails.
HEALTH ISSUES
The Bearded Collie has a life expectancy of around 12-14 years. This breed is prone to allergies, hip dysplasia, eye problems, and auto-immune disease. They are also extremely sound sensitive to things like thunder or large trucks. Have your Beardie Vet checked for Hypothyroidism.
HISTORY
The Bearded Collie is a descendant of the Polish Lowland Sheepdog which was brought to Scotland in 1514 by a Polish sea captain that traded his dogs with a Scottish shepherd. For centuries was used as a cattle and sheep herder. The breed was registered with the AKC in 1976.
