Bearded Collie Puppies: Everything You Should Know

You’re probably already familiar with the bearded collie breeds and border collies if you’ve seen the movie “The Shaggy Dog”.

After seeing this movie, you probably fell in love with the idea of owning a big shaggy bearded collie dog of your own. Before running off to the bearded collie rescue, take the time to learn a few things about this wonderful breed first.

Things such as their history, temperament, health, and most importantly- grooming needs. Even if you think you may get a bearded collie mix, rather than a purebred, this information is still relevant.

History

History tells us that this magnificent breed of the dog even predates the times of the Romans conquering Britain in the first-century b.c. This ancient breed is believed to have evolved from older breeds of Polish herding dogs of the time period. By the 1500s beardies were introduced into Scotland and its famous highlands, where they were greatly utilized by shepherds and peasants who could use the extra hand on their farms.

Once World War 1 took its toll on the world, the bearded collie as a breed was nearly wiped out, along with many other breeds of dog. Thanks to a few dedicated beardie breeders, the breed repopulated during the time between World War I and World War II, finally, in 1967 the first liter of bearded collies was born in the United States of America. After which, this beautiful breed became a member of the American Kennel Club, in no time flat. 

Personality

The one word that is used most often to describe most Collie dogs is “Intelligent”. This breed of dog is so incredibly smart and trainable. Meaning, they will get bored very easily if left to their own devices. Beardies are great pets for families with children as well as other pets. Beardies get along great with everyone and love to have the company of a loving family. Especially when they are puppies and raised in such an environment.

The Bearded Collie is also a hard-working dog by nature. They work great with busy, always on the go lifestyles and love to be put to work and keep moving. Even if you don’t own a farm and have a herd of cattle in need of a herding dog, the beardie makes a great companion just to have by your side while going about your daily business. 

Health

The Bearded Collie is a generally healthy breed of dog. When adopting from a breeder, the breeder should have screened their dogs' health and verified that there are no problems going on before adopting out the pups. 

Some common issues that Bearded Collies can face include hip dysplasia, thyroid problems, and autoimmune diseases. Hip dysplasia is common in many breeds of dogs and is something that should be watched out for from a young age. The breeder from who you adopt your beardie should also be able to tell you whether the pup’s parents suffered from and condition or not, making them at a possibly higher risk for the development of health problems. 

Grooming

Beardies are well known for their shaggy dog appearance, with their long grey and white blanket of fur that they sport. That being said, best grooming practices with this breed include a daily brushing session to help remove any tangles and stop any mats from forming. Daily brushing also helps to remove any loose hairs or debris that they have in there. 

You can take their grooming a step further and use grooming tools such as a specialized pin brush or comb a couple of times a week to help remove any extra loose hairs and detangle their coat if you choose to. If all of this seems overwhelming, there is also always the option of taking your bearded collie to the groomer on a regular basis for some pampering. 

Care Needs

Bearded collies don’t require any sort of special diet or nutritional considerations. Any high-quality dog food should do the trick. If you aren’t sure exactly which food would be best for your bearded collie, asking your dog’s vet is always an option. They can give you their opinion on various brands of  vet-recommended dog food, and often they will even have their preferred brands available for purchase right there in their office. 

This breed also loves to be active, so having space for them to be able to run around and be active in is important. Having a home with a large, fenced-in yard is ideal, but there are alternatives in the case that you do not have this kind of property. For instance, going on daily walks with your collie is one option. There’s also the option of finding a local, dog-friendly park that you can take your collie to run around and play fetch a few times per week. 

Conclusion

If you are on the hunt for a big, lovable breed of dog that loves to play but can also be a hard-working companion, the Bearded Collie is undoubtedly the best choice for you. Or maybe you are just looking for a loving family pet who is also very smart and loyal. The Bearded Collie meets that bill as well. 

The Bearded Collie requires minimal upkeep, aside from regular mental and physical stimulation. Their grooming may seem like a lot, but in reality, their daily brushing sessions should only take up to 15 minutes at most. Keeping in mind that this time can also be considered as time spent bonding with your beardie. Beardies personalities and lovable nature make them well worth the work of grooming and other care needs they may require.  

Do bearded collies shed?

Bearded Collies are a breed of dog who shed heavily once or twice a year, seasonally. During these “shedding seasons,” the bearded collie is an extreme shedding dog, which means as their owner you will want to keep up with brushing them regularly through these periods of heavy shedding throughout the year.

How much is a bearded collie?

Depending on the breeder that you choose to adopt from, a healthy, purebred bearded collie price can range from $1,500-$2,000. When adopting a bearded collie from a breeder you will want to request paperwork ensuring their pedigree as well as medical clearance.

How to groom a bearded collie?

Some Bearded Collies’ prefer to groom their dog while they are side-lying on the floor. Once you have your Beardie in a position that you are comfortable with, using a bristle brush start on the bottom layer of fur and work your way outward.