Dog Breed - The Bearded Collie

The Bearded Collie is a bouncy happy-go-lucky dog breed. A shaggy whirlwind of activity and playfulness. They are a dog who possesses a great sense of humour and a bit of a mischievous side. A highly energetic breed, they need to be kept busy or they will get into trouble. Bearded Collies that are not exercised adequately are prone to chewing, digging, whining and barking, herding family members and other pets and roaming.

When at leisure the Bearded Collie is happy and fun-loving. When at work they are attentive, steady and dependable. They are a courageous and alert dog breed that makes a solid home guardian, who will if necessary protect their family with their life. Like all herders they are intelligent and independent and capable of making their own decisions and acting on them.

The Bearded Collie is best for someone with experience. Though they are fairly easy to train, they can be stubborn and need a fair amount of dedication to bring out the best in them. They are a charming dog breed, full of life and enthusiasm and needs a family with a similar disposition.

CHILDREN: The Bearded Collie is playful and patient and makes an excellent choice for families with children of all ages.

OTHER ANIMALS: The Bearded Collie gets along well with other animals and makes a fine choice for those with other pets.

EXERCISE: Like any herder the Bearded Collie needs a fair amount of daily activity, both mental and physical to keep them happy and well-behaved. They were once a herder of semi-wild herds of sheep and cattle and when given a job is a very industrious no-nonsense worker. Though better suited for country life than city, they can do well in an urban setting if given enough daily exercise. City dwellers will need to be dedicated to keep up to their needs.

The Bearded Collie makes a good bicycling and jogging companion, a great friend to take camping and hiking and a fine choice for many of the different dog sports and trials available. They can excel in obedience, agility and herding trials, scent hurdles, flyball and conformation shows.

APPEARANCE/COAT CARE: The Bearded Collie measures 20-22 inches at their withers and weighs around 45-55 pounds. They have a long shaggy coat that must be brushed every other day or they will become a tangled mess. They come in black, brown, blue, grey or fawn.