Bearded Collie
Group: Pastoral
Size: Large
Coat length: Long
Grooming required: Every day
Coat sheds: No
Home size: Large House
Garden size: Small/Medium
Lifespan: Over 10 Years
Exercise: Up to 1 hour per day
They are a strong dog, leaner than they look because of their long coat. The double coat is shaggy and waterproof and it hangs over the whole body, even the chin, hence the name "Beardie". They can come in a variety of colours with white but the coat changes colour often as they mature.
They are one of Britain's oldest breeds and originate from the 1500s from a cross between Polish sheepdogs and Scottish herding dogs but the breed type as we know it today was set in the 1940s.
Beardies are never happier than with people and their intelligence makes them very trainable. As a result, they are very good working dogs but if kept as family pets it's good to give them plenty to do. They are great with people and children. They will generally get on well with other dogs but have a natural tendency to herd everyone and everything. They are happiest outdoors and active with lots to exercise their body and brain.
Their thick coat needs quite a lot of brushing to keep it looking good. They can be prone to hip dysplasia.