The Bearded Collie, also known as the Hairy Mou’ed Collie, the Highland Collie, the Mountain Collie, the Hairy Mountain Dog or simply the Beardie, is one of Britain’s oldest dog breeds. They were introduced to the United States in the late 1950’s, but it was not until 1967 that the first litter of Bearded Collies was officially born in this country. The Bearded Collie Club of America was founded in 1969. The breed became eligible to be shown in the Miscellaneous class in American Kennel Club dog shows in 1974. The AKC Stud Book was opened to Beardie registrations in 1976, and the breed became officially part of the Working Group in 1977. In 1983, Bearded Collies joined the newly-formed AKC Herding Group.
The ideal adult height for a Bearded Collie is between 20 and 22 inches at the withers. Height over or under the standard is to be severely penalized in the breed. Beardies have beautiful long double coats which require significant attention and grooming. They need to be brushed and cleaned on a regular basis, or their beautiful fur can become tangled and matted. They are quick and agile dogs, and for their size they have a uniquely graceful gait. They need exercise and attention more so than many other breeds, as they are exuberant, energetic and high-spirited. These dogs are uniformly bouncy, bubbly and boisterous, but can be stubborn and strong-willed as well.
The original history of this humble herding breed has largely been lost to history. However, photographs of the breed date back to the 1770’s. There are several theories about the origin of this breed. Some think it began as a cross between the Scotch Collie and the Bobtail, or Old English Sheepdog, although this is unlikely. Some think that the Beardie descended from the shaggy-coated Polish Lowland Sheepdog and/or the Old Welsh Grey, which may
The Bearded Collie is one of Great Britain’s most ancient breeds. This shaggy, humble herding dog is still prized by shepherds because it is smart, strong, focused, agile, and willing to put in a good day’s work. Butchers and cattlemen/cattlewomen in Great Britain and elsewhere also value their assistance in herding and moving cantankerous cattle.Beardies are happy dogs, with an adorable, inquisitive personality. They bond firmly with their people but are not particularly possessive or
Bearded Collies are descendents of and have a strong resemblance to the Old English Sheepdog. They are medium sized, agile dogs with shaggy coats and perpetually wagging tails. Beardies have broad heads, short muzzles and long coats that form “beards” under the chin. Their coat color can change many times throughout their life thanks to a “fading” gene, though dogs who do not carry this gene stay the same color from puppyhood into old age.
The saying goes, “a picture is worth a thousand words”. Check out the many different Bearded Collie Pictures and Bearded Collie images. Get an in depth look at the Bearded Collie and see the many things that this breed has to offer.