Breed History
The Bearded Collie is a very old breed of herding dogs, originating in Scotland and Northern England. As herding dogs, Beardies often worked in craggy mountainous areas. Hence, the Bearded Collie is also also sometimes referred to as the Highland Collie, the Mountain Collie, the Hairy Mouthed (“Moued”, in Scotland) Collie, or the Smithfield Drover. In order to leap across the cuts, burns, notches, crags, and mountainous terrain of its native lands, Beardies were bred to be agile. Beardies were frequently required to take off from a still position and clear four or five feet effortlessly. They had to be able to turn on a dime in order to herd the flock–all while out of the sight of the shepherd. Part of the requirement for an agile herding dog in this type of terrain required breeding for sound, strong, well-angulated rear and low hocks. These low hocks provide the propulsion which gives Beardies their incredible jumping power. And they CAN jump!
Because the Beardie frequently worked out of the sight of the Shepherd, he barked frequently. The barking served two purposes; to bunch the flock together, thereby making it easy to round them up….and to let the Shepherd know where the dog was working the flock. Hence, a Beardie should not be considered a “quiet” dog.
In 1944, Mrs. G. O. Willison of England acquired a Beardie while seeking a working Shetland Sheepdog. The dog captivated her heart, and she began a breeding program which rebuilt much of the stock in the breed in England. Although The Bearded Collie is one of Britain’s oldest breeds, It wasn’t until 1967 that the first litter of Bearded Collies was born in the United States.
Breed Nature–Living With A Beardie
Expect a happy grin, innocent expression, and a calculating mind–all covered in a shaggy coat which is cleverly invented to welcome cuddling.
Expect a rather insistent paw pulling the blanket from your shivering shoulders, and a chilly, damp nose nuzzling your neck at sunup.
Expect a dog who has carefully concealed coil springs within its hind legs. A dog who believes that heeling at shoulder height is a normal everyday activity.
Expect a dog who can jump into the air facing north, and come down facing south–removing your hat and kissing your ear in the process!
Expect a loving companion who will keep you on your toes.
A Beardie is a combination of:
- devotion with a dash of devilish trouble
- intelligence peppered with impish behaviors
- a magnificent whirlwind of flying fur
- a non-stop wag with a dog attached
- a pleading face in the window, a paw against the pane
- a “you’re not alone” nudge under your elbow when you are feeling down
- an inquisitive tilt of the head when your voice is heard
- a spirit filled to the brim with a sense of humor
- an audience, a companion, and a wonderful friend
Expect a dog who can hear you get your keys out from five rooms away — yet cannot hear your shout of “Come” from ten feet away!
Living with a Beardie is not always easy, but those who choose to share their lives with one find that living without one is impossible!
Breed Description
The Bearded Collie is a medium-sized dog. Males usually range 21 to 22 inches at the withers (shoulders); females are slightly less at 20 to 21 inches. Weight can vary with size and sex, but an average Beardie adult averages somewhere between 45 and 55 pounds.
The Beardie sports a double coat. The outer coat is harsh and long, repelling rain and snow. The undercoat is short and downy. A wave in the coat is permissible, although it should not curl.
Beardies are seen in four colors: Black, brown, blue, and fawn — with or without white markings. Blacks range from “stay-black” — no fading — to adults who fade to slate gray. Blues can be dark gray to silver. Browns appear in dark mahogany to blonde. Fawns vary from medium brown to champagne. As some of these shades can become confusing, the actual color of a Beardie can be made from the color of the pigment of the nose leather and the lips. Blacks should have black pigment, blues have gray-blue, and browns have brown. The pigment found in a fawn is a lighter brown, sometimes with a hint of lavender.
A Beardie’s eye color is an unusual characteristic. The breed standard states “Eye color will generally tone with the coat color. In a born blue or fawn, the distinctively lighter eyes are correct and must not be penalized.” Blacks and browns will have brown eyes with varying degrees of darkness. Blues will have smoky or grayish-blue eyes. A fawn will have a lighter brown eye that may contain a hint of hazel or lavender.
Breed Temperament
The Bearded Collie is stable, self-confident, inquisitive, energetic, and outgoing. They are very accepting of other animals and people. By nature they love to have something to watch over. As a result, they may take charge from instinct and start herding whatever they consider to be their flock. Beardies can become manipulative if given too free a hand when they are younger. They are very smart and have been known to outsmart their owners if they aren’t properly trained. Early on, gentle and consistent training is required in the breed. They are clowns, and only recognize two types of people: Friends, and Friends they haven’t met yet. Beardies will typically greet people with great enthusiasm. Above all, the Bearded Collie is a family dog who loves most people and children.