Bearded Collie
A bouncy long-coated Scottish herding dog with an exuberant, sociable character. Needs an hour or more of activity daily, and the coat mats within days if you skip it.
- Weight
- 20–25 kg
- Lifespan
- 12–14 years
Weight and lifespan are reference ranges from the breed guide. They vary by sex, lineage and individual dog and do not predict your dog’s ideal weight or lifespan. Read the care descriptions alongside the individual dog’s history.
Background and characteristics
The Bearded Collie worked sheep and cattle in the Scottish uplands, in weather that explains the long harsh outer coat over a soft undercoat. It also worked at a distance from the shepherd, so this is a dog inclined to act rather than wait for instructions. Owners often describe the breed as bouncy, and that is literal: a happy Beardie moves in springs.
They are cheerful, sociable and enthusiastic about strangers, but that energy needs an outlet or it turns into barking, counter-surfing and chewing.
Exercise and play
Plan on sixty to ninety minutes of daily activity with a thinking component. Walking alone rarely satisfies a Beardie. Training, agility, herding, scent work and games with rules all suit them well, and they are quick learners with a streak of independence that keeps things interesting.
The herding instinct can show up as chasing and barking at runners and bikes, which is easier to shape early than to unpick later.
Coat and everyday care
Coat care is the part people underestimate. Brushing to the skin two or three times a week is the minimum, and mats form fast behind the ears, in the armpits and on the rear trousers. Between roughly eight and eighteen months the puppy coat gives way to the adult coat, and during that transition daily brushing is realistic rather than dramatic.
Plenty of pet owners clip the coat short and never look back, which is a perfectly reasonable choice.
Health considerations
On health, ask about hip dysplasia, cataracts and autoimmune conditions, and be aware that hypoadrenocorticism, or Addison's disease, is reported relatively often in the breed. Vague, recurring lethargy with vomiting or poor appetite deserves specific testing rather than being treated as a stomach upset, because an Addisonian crisis is an emergency.
Home environment and care planning
The breed suits an active household with a fenced yard or reliable access to open space. It is a poor match for a home where the dog is alone most of the day.