Bearded Collie

Breed Group: Herding

"You’ll see my big, shaggy coat bouncing from a mile away!"

Breed Profile

Bearded Collies are long-haired bundles of love that enjoy bouncing around, goofing off, and giving hugs. They’re high maintenance with grooming and exercise, but if you’re looking for a pup that can show you how to sit back and enjoy the ride, the Beardie may be your best buddy.

Behavior

These pups are spirited, independent, cheerful, and clever. With their sociable personality and humor, Bearded Collies are often considered the “Class Clowns” of dog breeds. They make great watchdogs and will let out a loud bark if anything suspicious is going on, but most of the time, you can find them goofing around, bouncing around the house, and spending time with their families.

Coat

The Bearded Collie’s big, shaggy coat is their defining feature. These dogs have dense, wooly undercoats and weatherproof outer coats made of straight, long, rough hair. Beardies can be various shades of brown or gray, with white on the chest, muzzle, tail, or feet. Puppies are usually born with a solid gray or cream coat, which darkens as they get older. Their coats are beautiful, but they come at a price; Bearded Collies need to be brushed and combed at least a few times a week to keep their hair tangle-free.

Lifestyle

Beardies are big, boisterous, and need attention. They’re happiest living indoors in a home setting, where they have a big yard to run and plenty of people to keep them company. Bearded Collies get along well with children, other pets, and even strangers, but due to their high energy level and size, they should be watched around young kids.

Activity

Bearded Collies are not the type of pup that will lounge all day on the couch; they’re high-energy dogs that need quite a lot of exercise. Beardies enjoy long walks in the country, loads of playtime in a big yard, and any activity that taps into their natural herding instincts.

Bearded Collie Characteristics

Space Needs
Activity Needs
Intelligence
Playfulness
Grooming Needs
Trainability
Watchdog Ability
Affection
Barking
Cat-friendliness
Dog-friendliness
Child-friendliness