Bearded collie They are better known as Beardies and they are the lovable dogs that appear in movies, TV shows, and commercials because they are beautiful, agile, smart, and brave. For the newbie who is beginning the search for their perfect companion or family dog, let me introduce you to this trainable breed. These dogs make excellent pets and friends, as well as show dogs.
My sister has bred these dogs for decades and her winning show dogs are well known among the Beardie community. There are few among them who do not know the handsome Carol Scott Wathen. Top-hat, its current winner, known professionally as Ch. Brigadoon Showstopper at Scott, as his photos have been featured on the websites and newsletters of numerous Beardie organizations. Topper is just one of Carol’s ever-expanding and diminishing numbers, as litters come and go, and the dogs will be out for training, handling, and shows. As cliche as it may be, I always refer to her usual number of six to eight Beardies as a “pack” as they are herding dogs and it always seems like she has a lot more dogs in my perception than she does in reality.
When I get to my sister’s house, the dogs come running into the car yard, barking and trying to jump over the fence to see who has come. On their two hind legs, hopping in a row along the fence, the dogs look like a Chewbacca chorus. If you’re unfamiliar with this breed, this StarWars reference should give you an idea of what Beardies look like, at least with their front hair pulled back like Chewbacca’s. Usually you can barely see Beardie’s eyes.
The shaggy dog, a 2006 movie starring a Bearded Collie and the title is an apt description of this lovable, shaggy, long-haired breed. And in 2009, one played a prominent role in Hotel for dogs. Beardies look like Naughty daniel cartoon dog printed. However, in the TV movie version, a Briard (French Sheepdog) was chosen for its similar appearance, but with more playful cropped ears.
The Beardie seems all overcoat. Its long coat makes the dog appear larger and heavier than it is. It is surprising, therefore, that adult Beardies only weigh an average of 40 to 60 pounds. Males average around 21 to 22 inches tall and females average just an inch shorter. The Beardie coat enhances the shape of the dog, following the natural lines of the body. From the cheeks, the lower lips and under the chin, the fur increases in length towards the chest, forming the “beard”. Clever! This is a bearded collie, as defined by the American Kennel Club (AKC) guidelines.
All Beardies are born black, brown, or fawn, with or without white markings. As they mature, their color tends to lighten. A baby born black can turn into a shade of gray, with fur ranging from black to slate to silver. A baby born brown can turn into chocolate or sand. White appears on the front as a glow, as well as on the skull, chest and around the neck, on the legs and feet, and on the tip of the tail.
The history of the Bearded Collie goes back centuries, or at least according to one account. In this 500-year-old version, a Polish merchant, Kazimierz Grabski, exchanged a shipment of grain for sheep in Scotland in 1514. He brought six Polish sheepdogs from the lowlands to move the sheep. A Scottish shepherd was impressed with the herding ability of Polish dogs and traded several sheep for several dogs. The Polish sheepdogs were allegedly bred with local Scottish dogs, which produced the Bearded Collie.
Recent history traces the breed back to 1944, when Olive Willison of Bothkennar, Scotland, raised her brown dog, Jeannie of Bothkennar. Jeannie was considered a Shetland Sheepdog, but was actually a Bearded Collie of the Polish-Scottish lineage of 1514. Olive raised Jeannie with a male gray dog, registered as Bailie of Bothkennar. thus, Bailie and Jeannie de Bothkennar became documented founders of the modern breed in Scotland, where there are also some other recordable bloodlines.
The breed became popular during the latter half of the 20th century, which was highlighted when a Bearded Collie won Best in Show at the famous British Crufts Dog Show in 1989. The breed is also a regular winner at the great American Dog Show. , Westminster, held in New York.
The Bearded Collie is essentially a sheepdog, bred to stand up to the toughest sheep or cow. Away from the pampered family dog depicted in The shaggy dog The Bearded Collie is a tough and reliable working dog. The breed earned the nickname “Jumping Beardie” because these dogs work in the thick undergrowth of the slopes and bounce to see the sheep. Beardies also have a characteristic way of dealing with a stubborn sheep by barking and bouncing on its front legs.
For a time, the KC registered Bearded Collie fell out of favor with Shepherds in Wales, Scotland and elsewhere as they criticized the show breeding community for failing to produce truly “hardy and reliable” Bearded Collies and that dogs from breed show developing excessive costs. Due to his efforts, the “worker Beardie” has survived and is becoming more popular. In some countries, especially Sweden and the United States, grazing programs have been developed. Bearded Collie organizations now encourage breeders to emphasize herding qualities in addition to appearance. These favor the training of an independent and intelligent sheepdog. Herding instincts and manageability of Beardies can be assessed in non-competitive herding trials, and young Beardies exhibiting basic herding instincts can be trained to compete in herding trials.
Of the many Bearded Collie organizations, the mission of the Working Bearded Collie Society is to preserve the working skills of unregistered working dogs of “bearded” ancestors. While not solely focusing on the registered Bearded Collie, this organization reports all about the small population of Beardies that they work with. Their site is worth a visit to understand Beardie’s instincts. Also visit the website of the Bearded Collie Club of America. Your mission is to solve race-specific health problems and rescue Beardie. It offers a variety of opportunities for Beardie owners, their breeders, and anyone in the public to learn, connect, and compete in the Beardie ownership and breeding process. This is a great place to start your search for a breeder and puppy of your own.
As a pet, the Bearded Collie requires some grooming and time to keep this enthusiastic dog well-exercised, but it is a loyal companion and a magnificent-looking dog. Whether you want a trainable show dog, or you want a herding dog or not, the Beardie is a dog that can be enjoyed on a farm or ranch, where you can exercise these natural abilities. Or you can keep this dog in town where you can find spacious dog parks, herding training, and more. Additionally, this breed can also handle agility training and do some incredible gymnastics tricks. So see how you can make a bearded collie your best dog and a member of your family.
(c) 2012 Elizabeth McMillian
