Bearded Collie
Temperament:
The Bearded Collie, also affectionately called "Beardie", belongs to the herding and driving dogs (FCI group 1). Behind his fuzzy head hides a charming and intelligent, but also sensitive nature. He feels most comfortable with families and active people who have a lot of time for him.
Characteristics
Externally, the first thing that catches the eye of the Bearded Collie is its fuzzy coat. The coat is standard medium length, shaggy and rather rough with a soft undercoat. Partly Bearded Collies are bred today also with clearly longer fur.
The most common color is probably gray. But there are also Beardies in black and in blue and brown tones. Common to all are the white markings on the chest, paws, face and tail.
The Bearded Collie reaches a height at the withers of about 51-53 cm (females) or 53-56 cm (males). Under their shaggy coat, they are surprisingly slender and wiry. The average normal weight of a Beardie is about 18-27 kg. Bitches usually weigh a little less.
Typical of the breed are the drooping, medium-length ears and the low-set tail. This reaches almost to the ground.
As a herding dog, a Bearded Collie is used to demanding tasks. A dog bred to herd and drive livestock has intelligence and a willingness to work. He is also very independent and self-confident, yet sensitive.
Serene by nature, sovereign with no tendency to aggression, the Beardie is a unprecedented family dog. His alertness and good nature make him a loyal companion who goes with his people through thick and thin.
When buying a Bearded Collie, you must be aware that this breed is very active. These dogs want to be stimulated both physically and mentally. Extensive walks and bike rides are a lot of fun for these dogs. Classic dog sports are also a way to keep them busy and exercised.
His intelligence and willingness to learn make the Bearded Collie a relatively easy dog to train. Nevertheless, you should absolutely have the necessary consistency. It is also important to have empathy for your dog, because this breed is sensitive and very attentive. In addition, the dogs of this breed tend to be sensitive to noise. The decisive factor here is your ability to lead your dog confidently and safely without frightening him.
The Beardie has no hunting instinct, but as a herding dog a pronounced Pursuit. Therefore, it is important that you always have contact with your dog when free running and are able to call him back.
Dogs of this breed are not suitable as a guard dog. For they are alert, but always friendly and very people-oriented.
This also shows in his need for cuddling. A Bearded Collie prefers to be always with his "herd" and enjoys cuddles very much.
These lovable, active and good-natured dogs are optimal for families and for people who like to be out in nature.
Coat care:
Shedding:
Energy level:
Trainability:
Children suitable:
The right food
It is important to know that depending on the level of activity, the need for food also increases. A dog bred for herding and driving livestock will consume more energy than a pure companion dog.
Nevertheless, above all, you should watch your dog and adjust his food accordingly. Very active and athletic dogs have higher food requirements than more sedate contemporaries. Of course, the age of your dog must also be considered in the amount of food.
In general, the Beardie does not tend to be overweight due to its activity. Nevertheless, it is important that you pay attention to balanced and healthy food.
As with all dogs, do not feed anything sweet!
Also taboo are "leftovers" from the table.
A treat, as a reward, of course, the docile Bearded Collie appreciates very much. Here, too, you should absolutely avoid sugary foods.
In general, this dog breed is very robust. However, there is a certain susceptibility to some autoimmune diseases. Here can be a sparing but regular administration of Omega-3 fatty acids and Zinc be useful.
A special feature of Beardies is their long and shaggy coat. You can promote a healthy shine by using for example once a week one raw egg mix it into the food. These dogs are real foodies and will thank you for it!
Bearded Collie Care
When purchasing a long-haired dog, you must be aware of the higher maintenance requirements. The Bearded Collie is still comparatively easy to care for. Nevertheless, his coat needs your attention. This is especially true for the representatives of the more modern breeding form with sometimes very slow coat.
Regular brushing is mandatory. Otherwise, the coat can become unattractively matted. It is best to get your dog used to regular grooming when he is still a puppy. Then he will know the brush and other grooming utensils and will later be able to be coiffed without any problems. Some Bearded Collies even enjoy the gentle brushing very much!
Optimal is a flat and suitable for the size of the dog brush with soft metal bristles. . Combs with coarse tines perform well in the care of the coat.
You can also use special care sprays buy, which facilitate brushing. However, please always use these sparingly!
In the case of the Bearded Collie, during grooming you must also keep the Paws attention should be paid! The long hairs can easily get tangled and matted with dirt between the pads.
If necessary, you can shorten the hair here a little with scissors.
Also a Mild dog shampoo can be helpful. However, regular bathing or washing of your dog is not necessary. Should he ever have a little more dirt or mud in the fur: Just let it dry and brush it out thoroughly!
You should refrain from completely shearing your Beardie! Otherwise, the soft undercoat can quickly take over in long-haired dogs. The stronger and protective top coat falls by the wayside, and the natural structure of the coat is permanently disturbed.
Since the Bearded Collie has droopy ears, you need to take extra care to keep them clean. For this purpose, an occasional check and, if necessary, gentle cleaning with a soft cloth is sufficient.
The same applies to the eyes, in the corners of which can sometimes accumulate dirt.
As with dogs alone, the observation on Fleas, ticks and co. To the care program, as well as the removal of pests, if necessary.
Suitable accessories
Brush and Comb for coat care you should have in any case in the basic equipment for your dog. For dogs that are prone to rapid matting, a special Care spray helpful to facilitate brushing. Also a Dog shampoo is a sensible purchase for representatives of the longhaired breeds.
Speaking of which, some Beardie owners use Hair clips, to keep the fur out of the eyes of the fuzzy head!
Bearded Collies are active dogs. To keep them busy and exercised are Apporting balls or Distorting Ropes well suited. For mental fitness you can use so called Intelligence toys consider.
Origin & History
The long and robust coat of the Bearded Collies already suggests it: they come from a cool regions with a damp climate. Probably the breed was first bred in the Scottish Highlands by shepherds. Hence the common name "Highland Collie".
The origins of the breed go back to the 15th century back. At that time, Polish herding dogs were preferred in Scotland. The Bearded Collie emerged from this breed and has a more robust and low-maintenance coat. This undemanding nature was important, as he was used as a working dog.
The breed later enjoyed great popularity in noble circles. Gradually, however, it fell more and more into oblivion and was even on the verge of extinction. There have been unsuccessful attempts to crossbreed the quite similar Bobtail. It was not until 1944 that Olive Willison, a Scottish pet shop owner, succeeded in finding and mating two purebred Beardies. Since about 1950, the population of the breed is again considered secure.
Today, Bearded Collies are still very popular in Great Britain. They are also popular as herding dogs in France. In general, they are widespread and popular throughout Europe.
Over time, a breeding form was formed, which places more emphasis on longer and silkier coat than the original type has. These dogs are mainly shown at exhibitions and are clearly more elaborate in the coat care.
