fellfolioHerding dog
Bearded Collie
The Bearded Collie is a cheerful, agile herder with a long coat. It enjoys walks with its people, and its dense coat needs thorough combing every day.
At a glance
- Size
- Medium
- Height at shoulder
- 51 to 56 cm
- Lifespan
- over 12 yearsUK Royal Kennel Club breed profile
- Activity
- Moderate
- Grooming
- Daily
- Training
- Often cooperative
- Owner experience
- First dog with support
Lively, friendly and involved
Bearded Collies helped move sheep and cattle in the Scottish Highlands and Borders. Their light, springy movement suits a dog that notices action around it. Many enjoy human company and learn happily when exercises vary. That herding background may show when a dog follows running children or playing dogs.
Practise recall even in exciting games and reward breaks before the dog becomes over-aroused. A dog that looks friendly still needs the option to step away. With very young children, supervise and teach clear rules on both sides.
Everyday life
The Royal Kennel Club puts the breed in an up-to-one-hour-a-day exercise category. Your dog’s age, health and fitness also affect how much exercise it needs. An adult Beardie may enjoy longer family outings when fit for them. Walks with time to sniff and brief finding or retrieving games are good ways to share the day.
Practise useful little tasks: pausing when a bike approaches, turning back on cue and waiting on a mat at home. This gives its quick mind work without turning every outing into frantic sport. After a wet trip, allow time for drying and combing as part of the plan.
Staying home alone
Dogs learn to stay home alone in small steps. The RSPCA advises no more than four hours at a time. Puppies and dogs that become unsettled when left alone need shorter absences and gradual practice. Arrange someone to care for your dog when you will be away longer.
Day-to-day care
The long, harsh outer coat covers a soft undercoat. Comb in layers through to the skin every day. Knots hide behind the ears, in the armpits and along the legs even when the surface looks neat. A wet beard can hold food and soil; wash and dry it as needed.
The British standard describes a natural coat, not an artificially cut shape. For a family dog, being able to see and move comfortably matters most. Start puppy grooming with a few minutes and reward calm standing before the adult coat becomes dense.
Size and build
The Bearded Collie is longer than tall, lean and sturdy without being heavy. The British standard gives shoulder heights of 53 to 56 cm for males and 51 to 53 cm for females. A long ribcage and a flowing, ground-covering stride suit work on uneven ground. Hair forms the familiar beard under the chin without completely hiding the eyes.
Slate grey, black, brown and fawn shades with white markings occur. Puppy colours can change markedly. Final coat colour tells you less about daily life and health than the movement and behaviour of the parents.
Health
The Royal Kennel Club recommends hip and elbow grading for breeding dogs and a DNA test for Collie Eye Anomaly, an inherited developmental disorder affecting the back of the eye. Depending on its severity, vision may remain normal or be substantially impaired. Ask for both parents’ written results and discuss what a particular gene status means for a litter with a veterinary professional.
Watch for pain on rising, repeated limping or a change in vision. Long hair over the face may hide irritated eyes, so check for redness or discharge.
Could this breed fit your life?
Could work well if …
- You enjoy a sociable, active dog and practising small tasks.
- Daily combing and drying after wet walks fit your routine.
May be more difficult if …
- You want long hair without a grooming schedule.
- The dog would often be alone with little company or variety.
Similar needs, different dogs.
Selected by shared size, activity, grooming and training characteristics.
Spitz and companion dog
Keeshond
A medium-sized, silver-grey spitz with an alert expression and a great deal of coat. The Keeshond likes staying close to its people and often announces visitors aloud. Its dense undercoat needs daily attention.
Tibetan herding and companion dog
Tibetan Terrier
An agile dog from Tibet with strikingly large feet and a long double coat. Despite its name, it is not a terrier. It enjoys being near its people but also wants walks, play and room to explore.
Scent hound
Basset Hound
Easy-going with people and tireless on a trail, the Basset Hound is a sociable hunting dog with a substantial body and a nose that can set the pace outdoors.
Sources and photograph credit
- Teaching your dog to be left alone
Used in this profile for: Staying home alone
- Bearded Collie, Breeds A to Z
Used in this profile for: Temperament, Everyday life, Day-to-day care, Size and build, Health, Lifespan, Could this breed fit your life?
- Bearded Collie breed standard
Used in this profile for: Size / Weight, Temperament, Everyday life, Day-to-day care, Size and build, Lifespan, Could this breed fit your life?
- Disease Descriptions
Used in this profile for: Health
Portrait · A shaggy dog story! · John Haslam · CC BY 2.0 · Edited
Side view · Bearded Collie Don · Maja Dumat · CC BY 2.0 · Edited
Puppy · Beardie Puppies corrected · Blake Handley · CC BY 2.0 · Edited
Coat and features · Bearded collie · Caroline Léna Becker · CC BY 2.0 · Edited