THE BEARDED COLLIE is the breed in our hearts and we want more
people to open their eyes to the beauty of their looks and mind. This
is our view of this remarkable breed and we hope that you will find
it both informative and entertaining.

Gertie Björklund & Kristina Holmqvist

 

 

all these fantastic people with an eye for a great picture - we bow to you!

Jesper Andersson, Carina Jansson, Camilla Karlsson, Anneli Dahl,
Jana Jezkova, Hobbe Lundahl, Jerome Pain, Angie Shahadey
Daugherty, Brenda White, Althea Richardson, Marie Wastegren,
Nina Lönner-Andersson, Oldrich Jezek

Parts of the text with kind permission from The Bearded Collie Club.

 

 

 

 

 

THE BEARDED COLLIE

is a Scottish herding dog with a long, shaggy coat and an exuberant, intelligent personality. They are also still used for herding on farms in Britain, as their style of working is particularly suited to cattle and hill sheep but nowadays
the majority of Bearded Collies are pets or show dogs.

Beardies make enjoyable and loving companions. They are lively,
intelligent, friendly and anxious to be a real part of the family,
usually being very good with children. They are not a dog to
be left alone on their own all day!

Beardies require adequate daily exercise and basic obedience
training. Without physical as well as mental stimulation,
these working dogs tend to get bored quite easily.

They are, therefore, not suited to everyone,
the very house proud, fastidious gardener or
those who can spend little time with their
dog should not consider a Beardie.
Parents with hyperactive children
should also consider that a Beardie
might not be the most suitable
breed for them.

Temperamentally, Beardies are most appealing to those who like an intelligent, responsive and energetic dog. They like human company, and can become difficult and destructive if left alone all day, as they like to have things to do. Generally they like children very much and love to play, but one should remember that they are herding dogs that will chase and nip when excited, so play with young children should always be supervised. Barking is an important part of this breed's working style with stock, so they will tend to express extremes of emotion this way. Beardies usually live peacefully with other breeds and species, and love to play with other pets as well.

They are independent thinkers, but are also anxious to please you. They will do just about anything for your approval, but sometimes they add their own special twist. They may not obey commands if they don't see the point.

They are very trainable and obliging when handled correctly, but do not respond well to harsh or confused training regimes, being sensitive to human mood and behaviour. Firm, confident and kindly, reward-based training with clear communication will produce a very engaging and amenable companion. Most Beardies love Agility, Obedience and herding and are always glad of a chance to work in partnership with their humans. Their boisterous, optimistic attitude and tendency to go for "lateral thinking" ensure that they will always be rewarding and interesting - if not entirely predictable! - to work with.

A sense of humour is a necessary attribute for a Beardie owner.

HERDING DOG

The Beardie was developed as an independent worker, capable of thinking on its own and making decisions about the safety of their flocks.

In these days not every Bearded Collie might be called to undertake the herding tasks, but nevertheless, they still harbour the skills and characteristics that made the original Bearded Collie breeding program successful.

Herding dogs, because of their high intelligence levels and great stamina, are great to work with. They are capable of learning several tricks and live to please their owners. They are great companions, are very willing to learn new things and are extremely loyal.

Most Beardies have a very limited hunting instinct.

SHOW DOG

Dog showing is a very sociable sport that attracts many people in Beardies,
it's no wonder, they are a very eye catching breed, looking just fabulous in
the ring, showing off with an aura of flamboyance.

Showing your dog means meeting like-minded people, enjoying your day
out with a little flavour and excitement in the competition. However, success
in the show ring is not just about the presentation when you arrive at the show,
a large part of the hard work starts in the preparation made; exercising,
grooming, bathing, cleaning teeth, ring training, and so on, making your dog
fit and ready for assessment. Then it is up to the judge to decide who - in his
opinion - is the best dog on the day.

Dog shows come in all kinds and shapes, from small events with a very limited
number of dogs, to gigantic ones counting thousands of entries in total, and
hundreds of dogs of the same breed, CRUFTS being the largest and most
prestigious Dog Show of them all. It's held every year in March in Birmingham
and attracts dogs and dog people from all over the world.

Every exhibitor dreams of showing their Beardie at CRUFTS, and, in 1989
Ch Potterdale Classic of Moonhill obtained eternal fame and wrote Bearded
Collie history when she went BEST IN SHOW at this world famous event.

COLOUR

Beardies can be found in a wide selection of colour shades with white collie markings which also vary considerably. The result of this is that Beardies tend to be very individual in appearance, no two looking exactly the same. The two basic colours are black and brown, with their accompanying dilutes (blue and fawn) making four possible birth colours. These colours go through a paling phase from late puppy hood to early adulthood before the final darker adult coat comes through. In the case of browns in particular it can be very difficult to predict the final adult colour, although the ears give a good indication, as they do not pale along with the rest of the coat. The color of the eyes and nose should tone with the coat colour.

SIZE

Beardies are medium sized dogs. Ideal height: dogs 53-56 cms (21-22 ins); bitches 51-53 cms (20-21 ins). The body is longer in proportion to the height in the ratio of 5-4. The ideal weight should be 20-26 kgs (44-58 pounds).

COAT

Beardies have a long close fitting double coat. Their top coat is long and harsh and the undercoat tends to be softer and woolly. The coat shouldn't be too heavy as the natural shape should still be able to be seen but should be adequate enough to keep the dog warm and fairly dry.

TAKING GOOD CARE OF YOUR BEARDIE

It is imperative that Beardies are regularly and thoroughly groomed. Inadequate grooming will result in the coat matting up and the skin becoming unhealthy so a recurrent combthrough of the Beardie is an unavoidable necessity. How often varies, depending on age, weather and amount of coat. A monthly bath with a deep cleaning schampoo and then a moisturizing conditioner, is highly recommended to keep the dog in healthy coat condition and helps keeping those mats away. Don't hesitate to use a blowdrier every now and then to get your Beardie accustomed to it, as it may come in handy after a walk in the rain.

Beardies look stunning when the coat is well- kept and slightly less wonderful when it is not. If the coat is too much to handle they can be clipped in some very attractive ways - not a purist's choice, but better a smart clip than an unhappy, matted dog. An alternative is to get help from a professional groomer if the grooming task becomes difficult.

HEALTH

Generally Beardies are a very healthy breed. There are a few incidences of Hip Dysplasia and Auto-immune diseases but not as many as in other breeds. Skin disorders can occur if the coat is not adequately groomed or if the dog is not properly dried off in wet weather.

The average life expectancy for a Beardie would be around 14 years.

LIFE WITH A BEARDIE

Come rain or shine, the Bearded Collie is a life affirming breed that enjoys outdoor activities. Living with a beardie means spending time outside the house. It's essential that these bundles of energy can canalize their exuberance by running free in the fields or exploring the woods, bouncing, barking, and rolling about as the rollicking fun loving creatures they are.

A Beardie is a long lean dog with the ability to run fast, jump high and turn on a threepenny bit, and given the opportunity they won't miss out on using their vigorous body. Preferably with a pal, as running and chasing each other usually is one of their favorite games. Watching them is a pure joy as they are radiating happiness.

In order to get a really happy Beardie, the mind needs exercise too, you need

to engage their limitless curiosity and high intelligence. They have a high energy level and working the mind will make them more tired than working the body.

So, if you get a beardie you get a friend who will never let you down when asked for a walk, an agility round, an obedience class, a ball game, sheep herding, ..., you name it. And when you get home what can be more rewarding than having a content beardie snuggling up on the sofa getting comfy to share your meal and bed.

If this is the kind of friend you want you should most definitely consider this breed. Life with a beardie is seldom boring, this canine clown offers numerous frolicsome moments and occasions for laughter, tricks, and playing pranks. Together with a beardie - or two - life can be hilarious!

The breed is sometimes called Bouncing
Beardies and there is a good reason for it...
When least expected there might be a light jump, most certainly not at the best place or time. There are several Beardie owners out there suffering from a sour lip or an aching chin. Paw prints on your coat is another sign that reveals that you are living with a Beardie. But who can blame a happy agile Beardie for wanting to express its love and joy of living?

Bouncing and jumping is a part of their charm and a breed trait along with the wagging tail and that bright inquiring, kind expression with a little bit of mischievous twinkle in the eye.

PUPPY OR ADULT

If you feel that a puppy isn't ideal then the other option is to take on an adult Beardie from the breed rescue. Some Beardies need new homes due to change in family circumstances and some breeders part with dogs that they find are unsuitable for breeding.

Taking care of an adult beardie has its advantages, you will most likely get a housetrained dog who is done with teething and has some basic obediance. Living with a puppy is quite a time-consuming task whereas a more mature

beardie can perhaps more easily be received in your family and admitted to your daily routines. But there might be drawbacks as well, an adult has also had its time to develop some bad habits so make sure you get acquaintanced with your dog before bringing him home so that your accustom process runs smoothly for both of you.

The Bearded Collie Club Rescue Co-ordinators spend a lot of time giving advice and help to Beardie owners who are having problems and possible is in need of a new home for their Beardie.

If you consider taking care of a rescue dog, contact The Bearded Collie Club and sign up on their list of available homes.

although they wee on your carpet,
shred your newspapers and wake
you up 5.30 for their morning meal

BUYING A PUPPY

If you are considering buying a Bearded Collie puppy –
always buy from a reputable breeder. A good breeder will
ensure that the puppy has been well socialised and is
in good health before they go to their new homes.
Reputable breeders will have hip scored their
dogs and will be happy to give you advice
on feeding and grooming and other
aspects of looking after a Bearded
Collie as well as answer any other
questions you may have and
they can always be contacted for
advice and help. You will also
be able to meet the mother of the
pups and often other relatives as well!

The Bearded Collie Club runs a puppy list
only available for members of the Club who
hip score their dogs and abide by the Clubs
Code of Ethics, so this is a good way to find
a puppy from a good breeder.

Each purchaser of a puppy should be
provided at the time of sale with a
pedigree, diet sheet, and information
about grooming, training, worming
and inoculation. KC Registration
papers and transfer document and
purchasers should be provided with
a 'sale of agreement’ signed by both
parties.

It's wise to take out insurance on the dog.

The puppy shall be at least 7 weeks of age
before going to its new home.

THE BEARDED COLLIE CLUB
is the first club established for
Beardie enthusiasts. It was granted
registration of title by the General
Committee of the Kennel Club on
5th April 1955.

In 1972 the Club was granted championship show status and
holds its championship show in December at a central location.
The Club produced its first yearbook for 1976, which was entirely
the idea of Jenny Osborne. A book has been produced for each
year with the exception of 1981. These books provide a valuable
reference to the breed.

by Alfred Ollivant

Once you get to know this breed, there will be