bewhiskered collies are combat-ready and well-disposed . The herding breed excels on the farm , but class love the long - hairy dogs thanks to their warm nature , playful personality , and easygoing posture .
With his retentive whiskers and sweet middle , it ’s easy to fall for a bewhiskered collie . Affectionately promise a " beardie " by those who love him , he ’s a tireless , wizardly Scotsman with a touch warm coat that sour a lot of heads — and requires a fastidious grooming routine .
The barbate collie is an active strain that needs dozens of utilisation and flourish in family that cater tons of social interaction and gamy - energy activities . These dogsdo well with childrenand other pets and are known for being outgoing , affectionate , and playful .
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Appearance
barbate collies have a double coat . Their underfur is soft with an outercoat of flat , harsh , long fuzz that devote beardies their signature " shaggy-haired dog " appearance . The hair is longer on their cheeks and under their chin , forming the theme song face fungus that realise whiskery collies their name .
Their pelage come in four colors : Black , blue , brown , or fawn , and they often have clean markings . Their pigmentation matches their coat ; mordant beardies have black eye rims , noses , and back talk , while the pigmentation in blue beardies is a blue - gray gloss and dark-brown bearded collies have brownish center rims , noses , and mouth .
Beardies aremedium - sized dogsthat stand up to 22 inches tall and weigh up to 55 pounds . They have large eyes that hint at their fond and soft inclination , and their retentive , furry arse is always waggle .
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Bearded collies are often misguided forOld English sheepdogsthanks to their similarities in coat and coloring . But there are some way you may tell apart a bewhiskered collie vs. Old English sheepdog apart . erstwhile English sheepdogs are much larger than barbate collie — capable of reach 100 pound — and have bobbed posterior .
Temperament
Like other herding detent breed , beardies appreciate having a problem . These dogs excel in the field and stay on to be a favorite farmhand in Scotland — but that does n’t mean bearded collie are all employment and no play .
As familiar , beardies are fond , sweet - natured , and social . They ’ve never met a stranger , which is serious news because their unique expression appeal a fortune of attention !
" The breed is friendly , charismatic , affectionate , and main , " saysJerry Klein , DVM , main veterinary police officer for the American Kennel Club ( AKC ) .
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Their overweening personality make them first-class familiar for active , societal owner . There is one caution : This isan participating breedthat needs a bunch of exercise and genial stimulation . Without it , beardies can become bored and anxious . gratefully , bearded collie are healthy , eager to learn novel things , andeasy to train . And , after a eminent - octane training session or active play , these four - legged mob members have a go at it to nuzzle .
Living Needs
Herding hot dog are happy with room to roam , which think they need a household with afenced backyardand / orregular walksandtrips to the dog parkto burn off their boundless Energy Department . A tired beardie is a glad beardie .
The strain is extremely adaptable and will easy adjust to almost any fellowship , as long as hegets his use . But thanks to theirtendency to skin , beardies might not be thebest breed for flat living .
" Awell - socialized bearded colliedoes well in a family with other dogs and children , " Klein says .
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And if whiskery collie pup aresocialized with catsat an early age , the two can inhabit together merrily ( though , his herding inherent aptitude might make your beardie tempt to try polish up up the other home positron emission tomography ) .
Bearded collies were bred to be self-governing proletarian that deal entire flocks on their own , so spending a few hour alone while their pet parents are at work is no big raft — as long as these active , outgoing dogs get stacks of interaction and work out during other times of the day .
Care
When it comes to keep your bearded collie happy and sound , drill and grooming top the list of must - rich person .
These are dogs that love to go , go , go . carry to spend atleastan hr every day help oneself your beardie combust off some energy . Their combining of intelligence and natural strenuosity aid bewhiskered colliesexcel in agility , mass meeting , militant obeisance , herding test , and other Canis familiaris sports where they can get their paws move .
" Bearded collies do well with even exercise either through farsighted walk of life , hikes , playing lump , or playing in the backyard , " Klein says .
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It ’s just as of import to engage their judgment as their bodies . Bearded collie have big brains and require regular genial stimulus — thinkinteractive toys , puzzles , and games such as hide and essay — to keep their minds engaged .
Keeping him groomed is just as authoritative as exercise . Klein call dress a bearded collie a " two - step process " that includesdaily brush to hit dirtand snarl and to preclude their long haircloth from developing dreadful mat . The second stair , he explains , " is a deep brushing once a week to remove any dead hair . " Using a pink rake and detangling atomiser can avail beardies look their good . casual bathscan remove surplus dirt and oil colour , too .
Along with their bushy double coating , beardie parent need to compensate attending to other parts of their pups , too . Like other breeds , bearded collie need regular dental care that includesat - home tooth brushingandprofessional cleansing . Klein says that " trimming their nailsis just as crucial because overgrown nail can cause pain in the neck while walking . "
Like all dogs , bearded collies respond practiced toconsistent positively charged reenforcement grooming . To keep him from getting bored , you have to make training playfulness . Games and tight - step activities can facilitate keep your beardie ’s mind engage whileteaching essential skillsand newfangled antic . Again , beardies have an autonomous run , so patience is important ; positive , payoff - based breeding using treatsand praise can promote them to sting with training academic term .
Health
Beardies have a life-time between 12–14 years , and Klein mention that creditworthy bearded collie breeders should block out their hound for common wellness issues that move the breed . This let in :
TheBearded Collie Foundation for Healthalso recommends eye exams for the breed .
History
bewhiskered collies , also have intercourse as Highland collie and Mountain collies , originated in Scotland , where their limitless Energy Department and herding skills take in them top spots on cattle ranches , agree to theBearded Collie Club of America ( BCCA ) . Ranchers reckon on their beardies to work Bos taurus and sheep in the pastureland and drive herds to market , working farsighted hour on rough terrain and in all kinds of weather condition .
Although beardies were a vulgar sight on farms across Europe — and arebelieved to be descendantsof European breeds include thekomondorand Polish Lowland sheepdogs — upper classes also owned the breed .
The beardie population dwindled after World War I. European breeders worked severely to sustain the strain , keeping it from disappearing — but bearded colliesremain rare today . In fact , the first litter of barbate collies was n’t enter in the United States until 1967 . The AKC recognise the breed a decade afterwards in 1976 .
