What is a Bearded Collie?

Bearded Collies are sheep herding dogs, originating in Scotland. They were kept primarily by farmers and herdsmen as working dogs until the mid 1940's when Mrs. G.O. Willison began breeding them in England. Beardies were first shown at dog shows in England in the 1950's. The Bearded Collie Club was formed in 1955, and the breed was granted championship status by the Kennel Club in 1959.

Beardies were first imported into the United States in the 1960's, and the first litter was whelped in 1967. In 1969, the Bearded Collie Club of America was founded and in 1976, Beardies were granted full show status by the American Kennel Club.

Beardies are intelligent, active, and energetic dogs with a long, shaggy coat. They are medium in size, with a height at the withers of 20 to 22 inches, and a weight of 40 to 60 pounds. Beardies are born either black, brown, blue, or fawn, with or without white markings. Blue is a dilute form of black, and fawn is a dilute form of brown. Nearly all beardies will fade from their birth color, becoming very light at around 18 months. They will then darken toward their birth color, never quite reaching it. A blue 4 year old female is shown below.

tess Many other pictures are also available.

Beardies make good members of the family and are good with children. They are very friendly and like people, including strangers. They thrive on human companionship. Beardies are trainable, but do have a bit of an independent streak and a sense of humor.

Beardies are not for everyone. They need plenty of exercise, and love to play. They are not content to just lie at your feet all day long. You will also need to dedicate one to two hours per week for grooming. Their high energy, intelligence, and independence do not make them a good dog for a novice owner.

More information can be found on the Beardie FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions). The official standard for the breed can be found on the AKC Home Page. Many other Beardie Links are maintained by Glenn Short.

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This page last updated on February 17, 2001