Bearded Collie - TOP 10 Interesting Facts

1) Origin
Bearded Collies were developed in Scottish Higlands centuries ago, where they were used as herding dogs and drove dogs. We are not completely sure about the ancestry, but it is believed that they are mix of various sheep herding dogs of Great Britain and some European herding dogs, possibly Polish Lowland Sheepdog or Komondor, which were brought to Scotland in 1500s.
2) Modern breed
The first pictures of Beardies are from the end of 18th century, but it is agreed, that the modern breed we know today was developed by Mrs. Olive Willison in 1940s. She wanted to buy a Shetland Sheepdog, but she received a Bearded Collie by accident. She was fascinated with the breed, that she decided to start breeding them and she brought the breed to recognition of The Kennel Club in 1959.​

3) Herding
Even today, many Bearded Collies still serve their original purpose – herding. And they are great at it. They are independent, athletic and they have thick coat, so they can work in any weather. They are bred to be hardy and reliable. The working Bearded Collie can be seen in United Kingdom, USA or Australia.

4) Name
Originally, the Bearded Collie was known under some other names, such as Highland Collie, Hairy Mou'ed or Mountain Collie, but those are not very common these days. Today, Bearded Collie is often times called just as Beardies.

5) Companions
The Bearded Collie is not only a great herder, it is also a very good companion for active people and families. If you ill choose a Bearded Collie as a pet, you should be prepared for a highly energetic, playful, enthusiastic and lively dog. They are also very very smart and lets say charismatic. It is impossible to be bored with these dogs and they seems to be always happy with their constantly wagging tail. The Bearded Collie is a great playful partner for older kids, but you should always supervise them with young children.

6) Size
The Bearded Collie is a medium sized dog and underneath the dense coat, they are very lithe and athletic. The average height is between 51-56 cm which is 20-22 inch and weight should be between 18-27 kg, which is 40-60 pounds.

7) Bouncing Beardie
The Bearded Collie is very fun loving, energetic and, well bouncy. They just love to jump. It is very fun, but if you live with a very old person or on the other hand very young kid, it can be little bit problematic and you will have to teach your dog some boundaries. But it is very likely, that they did not get their nickname, Bouncing Beardie, from jumpin around. They might have earned their nickname bouncing beardie because the dogs would work in thick underbrush on hillsides; they would bounce to catch sight of the sheep.

8) Coat
Because the Bearded Collie needed a protection from Scottish harsh climate, they have very strong, dense, shaggy and flat outercoat and furry soft undercoat. And of course, they do have a beard, which is formed of long hair on the cheeks, under the chin and lower lips. You can find this breed in black, brown, fawn or blue color with white or tan markings.

9) Maintenance
Just like all doublecoated dog, the Bearded Collie does shed, but with regular brushing, you can minimize the shedding. Most owners groom their dogs once or twice a week, which is enough to keep the coat in great condition. The biggest shedding occurs during the puppy shed, when the puppy changes hair, which is around one year of age. Just like with all dogs you should also regularly check the dogs ears, eyes, nails and teeth and clean them or clip them if needed.

10) Health
The Bearded Collie is a sturdy and usually healthy dog breed, but they can ocassionaly suffer from some health issues, for example from hip dysplasia, epilepsy or hypothyroidism. The average lifespan is between 12-14 years.