The Bearded Collie: temperament, price, health, and breeders

Originally from Scotland and northern England, the Bearded Collie appears in Scottish writings as early as the 16th century. Probably resulting from crosses between the ancestor of the Polish Sheepdog and local herding dogs, it distinguished itself by its abilities to drive and gather flocks. The modern selection of the breed really took off in the 1940s under the impetus of Gwendoline Olive Willison. The standard bears the number FCI 271 and the breed was definitively recognized by the FCI on 30 August 1967. It is also known under the names Bearded Collie, Bearded Colley, Highland Collie and Beardie.

The Bearded Collie is a medium-sized dog, sturdy without being heavy, whose body, slightly longer than tall, has a straight back, a strong loin and a well let-down chest. Its broad, flat and square head has large eyes with a gentle and lively expression, as well as medium-sized drop ears. Its long, double coat combines a soft and dense undercoat with a plentiful, harsh and flat topcoat, with the breed’s characteristic beard. The coat can be grey, brown, sable, black, blue or fawn, with or without white markings. Its long tail, abundantly fringed, reaches the hock and is carried low.

Active, alert, confident and sensitive, the Bearded Collie is deeply attached to its home. It is gentle, affectionate and playful with its family, especially with children. Intelligent and well-balanced, it is not aggressive, but its vigilance and natural reserve towards strangers allow it to play an alert role. Its herding temperament remains pronounced and it enjoys shared activities.

On a daily basis, the Bearded Collie seeks the presence of those close to him and willingly takes part in games as well as outings. Lively, hardy and sometimes impulsive, he needs long walks, exercise and mental stimulation every day. A house with a garden suits him particularly well, but the garden never replaces outings. Apartment living remains possible only with several active daily walks and real availability from his owner.

His intelligence makes learning easier, but his sometimes stubborn temperament requires a consistent, gentle and firm method. He cooperates better when he understands the point of the exercise and when sessions are short, varied and playful. Socialization must begin early with people, other dogs, other animals and different environments. Recall, leash walking and managing excitement deserve particular attention.

The purchase price varies depending on the breeder, the pedigree, the quality of the line, the health tests of the breeding dogs, the age and the dog's intended purpose. The overall budget must also include the maintenance of the long coat, food, veterinary care and activities.

The Bearded Collie has generally good resilience, but it must benefit from regular monitoring of its ears, eyes, hips, skin and overall condition. Suitable activity during growth helps preserve its joints.

The Bearded Collie is generally not difficult. Its diet must provide quality proteins and energy suited to its often high activity, while maintaining a stable weight and good skin and coat quality.

The name of the breed directly refers to its very visible beard. The Bearded Collie is also called Bearded Collie, Bearded Colley, Highland Collie or Beardie. Classified among sheepdogs and cattle dogs of FCI group 1, it bears standard number 271. A litter generally includes 4 to 12 puppies.