Highland Collie, Mountain Collie, Argle Bargle, Hairy Mou'ed Collie, Beardie
Overview
The beardie is a medium-sized dog with a long, lean, strongly made body, which gives the impression of both strength and agility. Its gait is supple and powerful, with good reach and drive. The ability to make sharp turns, quick starts and sudden stops is essential in a sheep-herding breed, and the beardie must be able to keep this activity up for a long period of time under all conditions. Its coat is double with a soft, furry undercoat. The outer coat is flat, harsh and fairly straight; it is sufficient to protect the dog but not so much as to obscure the dog's lines. The beardie's expression is bright and inquiring.
The boisterous beardie is lively and playful, full of enthusiasm and energy. It is smart and obedient, but it is an independent thinker with a clownish sense of humor. It likes children, but it may be too rambunctious for small children and may try to herd them when playing.
| Size | Medium |
| Height | 20-22 inches (51-56 cm) |
| Weight | 40-60 pounds (18-27 kg) |
| Lifespan | 12-14 years |
| Colors | Black Blue Brown Fawn |
| Origin | United Kingdom |
| Classification | Purebred |
| Good Lapcat |
| Good In Apartments |
Bearded Collies are boisterous indoors and as such probably not well suited for apartments or very small living spaces. |
| Good With Children |
Good with Kids: This is a suitable breed for kids and is known to be playful, energetic, and affectionate around them. |
| Good With Dogs |
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| Good With Cats |
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| Exercise Needs |
This is an active dog that needs lots of exercise, which includes a long daily walk. This breed also will greatly enjoy time to run free in a safe area. |
| Trainability |
Easy Training: Bearded Collies are easy to train as they learn very quickly, but they do have a stubborn streak. The Bearded Collie responds best to a gentle, kind approach. They are able to learn a wide variety of tricks as well as herding, dog agility, and competitive obedience tasks. Obedience training is highly recommended. Beardies may be difficult to house train. |
| Affectionate |
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| Playfulness |
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| Grooming Requirements |
High Maintenance: With long flowing double coats that do shed they will require daily to weekly brushing to prevent mats, so plan to spend a part of every day grooming your Bearded Collie. This breed has a heavy shed once a year so more frequent grooming during that period can be expected. Their nails should be trimmed regularly to avoid overgrowth and cracking. Their ears should be checked regularly to avoid a buildup of wax and debris which can result in an infection. Teeth should be brushed regularly. |
| Shedding |
Moderate Shedding: Expect this dog to shed regularly. Be prepared to vacuum often. Brushing will reduce shedding as well as make the coat softer and cleaner. |
| Vocalization/Barking |
Frequent |