Dog Breeds 101: Bearded Collie

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The Bearded Collie (nicknamed Beardie) is a dog breed known for its intelligent and curious nature. Originally from Britain, the Beardie is a hit with children and one of the best dogs to have as a family pet. Before coming to America, the Bearded Collie spent some time in Scotland as a sheep and cattle herder. Today, Beardies are mostly bred for dog shows. [1]

Other names of the breed are Highland Collie, Mountain Collie, and Hairy Mou’ed Collie. The shaggy herding dogs have been around for centuries but how the Bearded Collie came to be remains a mystery because farmers back then didn’t keep breeding records. It is widely believed, however, that a merchant visiting Scotland sometime in the 1500s traded a pair of Polish Lowland Sheepdogs for other commodities. Those dogs might have been crossed with local sheepdogs to develop the Beardie. G.O. Willison was the person who is credited the development of the modern Bearded Collie. She bred Beardies for the show ring after World War II and also helped establish the Bearded Collie Club in Britain in 1955. The breed quickly gained popularity after the Kennel Club granted the breed show rights in 1959. [2]

According to the American Kennel Club’s 2015 yearly ranking, the Bearded Collie ranks 117 out of 175 breeds base on popularity. These dogs are the perfect pets for people who are willing to deal with their enthusiastic and bouncy nature. These dogs have long, luxurious hair and it needs to be brushed once a week to keep it free from mats. The loyal and friendly Bearded Collie can surely add years of enjoyment to any home because its antics are so entertaining to watch. These dogs also tend to be independent and as a result, training them is harder compared to other dog breeds. They get fed up rather quickly when training gets too repetitive. [3]