Profile of bearded collie | The Bearded Collie is a British dog

The Bearded Collie is a British dog breed classified as a herding dog. Its name, Bearded, refers to its distinctive facial hair, which might initially make its connection to the Collie group seem unclear. However, it is indeed a Scottish sheepdog with roots that likely trace back to Eastern Europe, possibly Poland. The exact origins of the breed remain uncertain, though connections to breeds like the Tibetan Terrier, Bobtail, and Briard have been speculated. Historically, these robust, long-haired dogs proved invaluable to Scottish shepherds as they excelled in guarding sheep and cattle, withstanding even the harshest weather conditions. The Bearded Collie was entrusted with specific tasks requiring an independent working style and exceptional intelligence, such as locating and retrieving lost animals. Official recognition by the FCI came relatively late, in 1967. Nowadays, the «Beardie,” as it is fondly known, has become a beloved companion and family pet.

I wait

Body type, height and weight

The Bearded Collie is a sturdy, athletic dog with long hair. It has a long, dangling tail, medium-sized asymmetric ears and expressive eyes. The hair is short on the nose, but lengthens towards the chin and cheeks, giving the collie the typical «beard». The Bearded Collie’s coat is medium length, smooth to slightly wavy and has a hard texture. The undercoat is dense and soft.

Male dogs reach a height (height at the withers) of approximately 53-56 cm and a weight of 23-28 kg. Females are slightly smaller and lighter (51 to 53 cm, 18 to 22 kg).

Fur and colors

In terms of colors, the Bearded Collie is quite diverse in different shades of grey, brown, red and sand with some white markings on the chest, legs, paws and tail.

Important: Unfortunately, there are still quite a few overbred Bearded Collies with overly long fur, some of which reach all the way to the ground. This literally causes body shapes to disappear and hinders dogs’ ability to see and move. It is not uncommon for these «show dogs» to be nervous and nervous. Therefore, when it comes to Bearded Collies, it is particularly important, also for animal welfare reasons, to choose a reputable breeder who values ​​the health and temperament of his charges. Such overbreeding is rejected by the VDH as a characteristic of the breed (so-called «errors»). For this reason, you should choose a breeder who is registered with the VDH.

Character and essence

Bearded Collies are good-natured, happy and active dogs. They are very intelligent and love to work with their owner. They understand quickly and are ready to take on the tasks assigned to them. Even family dogs have retained the vigilance they absolutely need as herding dogs. They are very observant and pay close attention to what is happening around them. However, they are never aggressive or nervous, but remain calm. They give the impression of always having everything under control. On the other hand, they can be real clowns and radiate great joy in life. They have this in common with children and this is perhaps why they get along so well with them and enjoy playing a bit. But they always keep an eye on their offspring. During a family trip, the Bearded Collie will never wander far away, but will always keep an eye on everything and protect its people.

Is a Bearded Collie right for me? How should it be held?

The Bearded Collie is an active and adventurous dog, but he also loves to cuddle. This is why he feels more at ease in a family like him: he does a lot and relaxes on the sofa in the evening! The Bearded Collie is originally a herding dog. If he is not allowed to look after a flock of sheep, he must be offered alternative employment. In addition to long walks, he is enthusiastic about all kinds of things, such as agility, dog dancing, mantrailing or Treibball. It is important to keep him occupied to avoid boredom and the associated unwanted behaviors. Thanks to his intelligence and attentiveness, he is relatively easy to train. “Loving consistency” is the magic word. You should always be friendly with a beardie: the sensitive and sensitive dog has difficulty tolerating harshness, pressure and noise. But luckily it’s not necessary, because beardies learn quickly and do it with pleasure!

taken

The Bearded Collie is energetic and persistent. He needs longer walks every day, preferably on different routes through woods and meadows, where there is always something to discover. Brain work (search games, smart toys, training with dummies, etc.) should also be in the program to mentally challenge and exercise intelligent sheepdogs.

Nutrition

The Bearded Collie has no breed-specific requirements in its diet. As generally recommended, you should choose a high-quality, meat-rich dog food. The Collie can be fed dry or wet food and also BARF.

Treatment

The Bearded Collie’s coat is much easier to care for than it seems. Due to the hard consistency, much of the dirt caught during a walk in the forest falls off on its own. It is absolutely sufficient to brush your Bearded Collie properly 1-2 times a week and more often during coat changes. This way you will free him from excess undercoat and put his beautiful upper hair back into shape. Dental care, regular eye and ear checks, and nail trimming when necessary are all part of the routine for all dogs, including Bearded Collies. You can find general information on the topic in our article “Dog care from head to toe”.

Typical diseases

The Bearded Collie is an extremely healthy and robust dog breed. However, there are some diseases that occur more frequently in Bearded Collies. These include:

Pemphigus foliaceus: Pemphigus foliceus is a rare skin disease in which the body produces antibodies against structures in the skin. The top layer of skin loosens and blisters form which burst very quickly giving rise to scabs and eczema. Blisters usually appear on the head, paws and groin area. The formation of blisters and subsequent crusting are accompanied by severe itching and hair may also fall out in the affected areas. As part of possible drug therapy, immunosuppressants are administered to suppress the immune system.

Ellenbogen dislocation: An elbow dislocation is the dislocation or dislocation of the affected joint, leading to a temporary or permanent misalignment of the bone ends that form the joint relative to each other. Associated symptoms include extreme lameness, limited mobility of the elbow joint, and significant swelling of the affected tissue. In most cases, a surgical procedure is required to correct the misalignment.

Retinal atrophy: Die Retinal atrophy is a degenerative disease of the retina in which the retina is gradually destroyed due to a metabolic disorder in the tissue until the affected animal becomes completely blind. Retinal atrophy is an autosomal recessive inherited disease for which unfortunately there are currently no medical or surgical treatment options. Affected dogs usually become completely blind in both eyes.

Cataract: Cataract (also known as cataract) is a pathological change in the lens of the eye, during which the lens gradually becomes opaque, so much so that the vision of the sick furry friend slowly decreases. The characteristic symptom of cataracts is the clouding of the lens, which in the advanced stages of the disease manifests itself with a bluish-white color of the eye. This clouding means that light can no longer penetrate the eye, so that the dog perceives the surrounding environment as if through a veil or fog. Disorientation or frequently bumping into objects may then occur as additional symptoms. If the cataract is not treated, the dog will become blind, and in the final stage, the lens may detach and, as a result, painful eye inflammation may occur. The only effective treatment is surgery, in which the diseased lens is destroyed and a new artificial lens is inserted into the eye.

Corneal dystrophy: In hereditary corneal dystrophy, a metabolic disorder leads to the accumulation of calcium- and fat-containing metabolic products in different layers of the cornea. These deposits may become visible as a white cloudiness in the center of the eye. As a rule, the disease is not painful and rarely leads to visual impairment. However, if the dystrophy is age-related, the increased deposits can cause pain, so drug treatment may be necessary.

Frequently asked questions about the bearded collie

How much does a Bearded Collie shed?

Contrary to what one might assume given the length of the coat, the Bearded Collie sheds very little compared to other dogs.

Is the Bearded Collie a beginner dog?

Thanks to its good-natured and balanced character and its relatively easy training, the Bearded Collie is also suitable for beginners. However, this does not mean that education is a sure success. As a dog owner, you should always consider the peculiarities and needs of the breed you breed – for the sake of the dog, but also for the sake of a functioning and happy coexistence. Bearded Collies react sensitively to hardness, pressure and volume. Training works best on the basis of patience, praise and calm. Bearded Collies are intelligent and quickly understand what you want from them. They also want to please their employees and have fun working with them. These are the ideal conditions to achieve good success even as a beginner.

Can you clip a Bearded Collie?

The Bearded Collie’s coat is not only beautiful, but also has specific functions: in winter it protects from the cold and in summer from the heat. It also keeps moisture out when it rains. This protection is lost with cutting, which is why it is not recommended. Furthermore, shearing can lead to negative consequences such as post-clipping alopecia syndrome and actual excessive growth of the undercoat. If necessary, the fur can be shortened using dog scissors (rounded tip).