12 Facts About The Bouncy and Smart Bearded Collie

The Bearded Collie, or “Beardie” as fans lovingly call them, is one smart and spirited pup with a heart full of energy. Originally bred to herd sheep in the Scottish Highlands, these dogs are as brainy as they are bouncy. With their trademark shaggy coats and ever-wagging tails, they’re always ready for fun — and a bit of mischief too. Bearded Collies are quick learners and thrive on mental stimulation, making them excellent at obedience, agility, and even dog sports. But don’t be fooled by all that fluff — these dogs are hardworking and focused when it counts. They’re also incredibly affectionate and form strong bonds with their families. If you’re looking for a clever, lively companion who’ll keep you on your toes, the Beardie just might be your perfect match.

The Legendary “Beardie Bounce” That Stole Hearts Worldwide

Have you ever witnessed a dog literally springing through life with pure joy? The Bearded Collie, affectionately known as the “Beardie,” is famous for their signature move called the “beardie bounce” – a delightful jumping motion where these dogs leap up and down on their front feet when excited. This unique four-legged leap actually has a practical purpose – only by jumping high can these herders visualize a flock of sheep over tall grass or rocky terrain.

Imagine being greeted by a furry acrobat every time you come home! Bearded Collie Clubs across America now gather to pay homage to this feat in annual events called Beardie Bounces. They’ve been described as having Michael Jordan hang time, making every interaction feel like a celebration. This boundless enthusiasm isn’t just for show – it reflects their deep-rooted joy for life and their people.

Ancient Scottish Roots Mixed with Polish Heritage

The Bearded Collie is a herding breed once used primarily by Scottish shepherds, but now mostly a popular family companion. Legend tells us that around 1514, a Polish merchant named Kazimierz Grabski brought six Polish Lowland Sheepdogs to Scotland to help move sheep, and a Scottish shepherd was so impressed with their herding ability that he traded several sheep for several dogs. These Polish sheepdogs were then bred with local Scottish dogs to create what we now know as the Bearded Collie.

Think of it as an international love story that created one of Scotland’s most beloved breeds. A 1771 portrait painted by Thomas Gainsborough of the Duke of Buccleuch shows what appears to be a Bearded Collie, suggesting the breed was well-established by that time. These dogs were originally called Highland Collies because they spent so much time working in Scotland’s highlands as herding dogs.

The Amazing Color-Changing Coat That Defies Logic

Here’s something that would make a chameleon jealous – Bearded Collies are known as “dogs of changing colors” because many of them carry the fading gene. Around 8 weeks of age, a black puppy can fade to any shade of gray, a chocolate brown baby can fade to cream, and puppies born blue or fawn can turn almost white. The process usually starts around the puppy’s eyes, making the baby look like they’re wearing glasses!

By the time the dog is 9 to 12 months old, the fading covers the whole dog, but somewhere around a year, the fading stops and the color darkens up a bit, though usually not as dark as the very young pup was. A good indication of the final adult coat color can be given by looking at the tips of the dog’s ears, as this hair doesn’t pale along with the rest of the coat. It’s like having a living mood ring as a pet!

Intelligence That Ranks Among Canine Einsteins

Bearded Collies rank 34th on the list of most intelligent breeds and though stubborn at times, they can learn dozens of commands with minimal repetition. This stamina is matched by a fierce intelligence that makes training quite easy, but there’s a catch. Their brains need constant stimulation to fend off boredom, and if they aren’t properly trained and mentally stimulated throughout the day, this intelligence can lead to bad habits or stubbornness.

Think of them as the gifted student who either excels brilliantly or becomes the class clown when not challenged. With all that athletic ability and intelligence in one package, they definitely do best with firm, patient training and quite a bit of it. They’re regular winners at obedience, agility, and rally events and are among Hollywood producers’ favorite canine actors.

Medium-Sized Powerhouses Built for Action

Bearded Collies are medium-sized dogs that stand 20-22 inches tall and weigh between 45 and 55 pounds. They are longer than they are tall and underneath their coat are very lithe, athletic dogs. Don’t let their fluffy appearance fool you into thinking they’re couch potatoes – these dogs are independent, strong, and agile working breeds, but they’re also softies with their families and love playing with other pets and children.

Some bloodlines are quite slow to mature and don’t reach full size and weight until two or three years of age. They have long, lean bodies with level backs, deep chests, well-sprung ribs, and powerful, muscular hindquarters. Picture a marathon runner disguised in a shag carpet – that’s your Beardie!

Energy Levels That Put Energizer Bunnies to Shame

These dogs have a massive amount of energy – remember, they used to work on farms all day. This high energy level means that Bearded Collies require substantial physical activity, with regular exercise being vital to their well-being both physically and mentally – ideally, they need at least an hour of vigorous exercise daily. Pet parents need to provide one to two hours per day of exercise.

As already mentioned, the Bearded Collie has energy to burn and could do with around an hour’s activity a day, which can take the form of long walks or play sessions, with an ideal setup including a backyard to run around. These dogs will find ways to make their own fun if not entertained regularly, so their families should be prepared for consistent and ongoing training to raise a well-behaved Bearded Collie. Nuisance barking, digging and chewing habits can result if the Bearded Collie does not receive enough exercise.

That Famous Shaggy Coat Requires Serious Commitment

The first thing that’s almost certain to draw your attention is their long, shaggy coat, which is actually a double coat with a soft, furry undercoat and an outer coat that is flat, harsh, strong, and free from wooliness. The Bearded Collie’s name comes from the longer, beard-like hair on the cheeks, lower lips, and chin. The glory of the Bearded Collie is his coat, but it’s also the most difficult part of caring for a Beardie – expect to spend half an hour to an hour weekly grooming it with brushing and combing using a pin brush or slicker brush and stainless steel comb.

Brushing the Bearded Collie is no small task – you must brush daily, lifting up the coat to brush right from the skin, as brushing just the top coat will create unruly frizz and matting. Bearded Collies can be messy eaters, so brush their beards after they eat or drink unless you don’t mind watching them track food and water through your house!

Health Champions with Impressive Longevity

Bearded Collies are a relatively healthy breed with an average lifespan of 12-14 years. A 2024 UK study found a life expectancy of 13.9 years for the breed compared to an average of 12.7 for purebreds and 12 for crossbreeds. The median lifespan across the breed in the UK is 13.4 years, which places the Bearded Collie at the high end of the average range for longevity for dogs of a similar size, with the oldest recorded bearded collie reaching almost 20 years old!

The Bearded Collie is considered to be a relatively healthy breed, with the Royal Kennel Club placing them in the lowest category of risk when it comes to inherited health conditions. However, they can be prone to Addison’s disease, which affects approximately 2-3.4% of Bearded Collies in the USA/Canada and causes the death of at least 1% of Bearded Collies in the UK – much higher percentages than the general dog population (0.1%).

Natural-Born Comedians with Endless Personality

A Beardie is smart, resourceful, and confident, and they’re boisterous playmates for children with a sense of humor that makes them a joy to be around. The Beardie is boisterous and ebullient, silly but smart. That is, when they’re not being a clown! The Bearded Collie has a sense of humor – their antics are always entertaining. Their bouncy, bubbly personality makes them fun to be with, but when it comes to training they can be independent thinkers who like to have their own way.

This breed is independent and athletic, and you can expect them to come up with their own methods of getting what they want, as they enjoy a challenge and have the intelligence to puzzle things out as needed. Whatever their temperament, all Beardies like to give kisses, and all Beardies have waggy tails.

The Breed That Almost Vanished Into History

Here’s a heartwarming tale of rescue and redemption. Despite recognition in 1912 when the first breed standards were set by a Scottish kennel club, numbers of Bearded Collies plummeted in the first half of the 20th century and the breed was potentially heading towards extinction. Thankfully, they were saved by one Mrs. G.O. Willison, who was mistakenly given a Bearded Collie puppy instead of a Shetland Sheepdog by a breeder – she called this dog Jeannie and was immediately taken by her, so much so that she searched high and low for a mate.

It is generally agreed that Mrs. G. Olive Willison founded the modern Bearded Collie in 1944 with her brown bitch, Jeannie of Bothkennar, and while walking along the beach, she met a man emigrating from Scotland who gave her his grey dog, David, who became Bailie of Bothkennar. She set up an organization dedicated to breed preservation, which led to Royal Kennel Club recognition in 1959 and American Kennel Club recognition in 1976.

Perfect Family Dogs with Important Considerations

Bearded Collies are happy, energetic and lively dogs that make excellent family pets, and they remain popular family dogs thanks to their friendly and loveable nature, although they will need supervising around young children. As well as being intelligent and easy to train, Bearded Collies are a sociable breed who usually live well with other dogs and children – although as with any dog, these interactions should always be supervised. Beardies typically get along with other pets and children, but because of their strong herding tendencies, they may try to corral kids or herd other animals.

Although a Bearded Collie may be comfortable in an apartment with plenty of exercise outside the house, this breed is better suited for a single-family home with a large yard to run around. Don’t leave your Bearded Collie alone for more than six hours at a time, as this dog gets bored and lonely, and they may use their intelligence to get up to no good around your home.

Hollywood’s Secret Weapon and Cultural Icons

Many of the cute fuzzy dogs in commercials and Disney films are Bearded Collies or part Bearded Collie. The Bearded Collie named “Shaggy Dog” appeared in the Disney film “The Shaggy Dog,” bringing attention to this charming breed. A Bearded Collie was the star of the movie, The Shaggy Dog, which was released in 2006. Their photogenic qualities and trainable nature make them naturals in front of the camera.

In fact, Reynolds, Gainsborough, and other artists featured Bearded Collies in portraits of their well-to-do clients throughout history. The breed became popular during the last half of the 20th century – propelled, in part, by Potterdale Classic at Moonhill, a Bearded Collie who won Best in Show at Crufts in 1989. Their shaggy appearance and expressive eyes have made them go-to choices for filmmakers wanting to capture hearts on screen.

The Bearded Collie represents everything we love about dogs – loyalty, intelligence, boundless energy, and an unshakeable zest for life. From their legendary bouncing abilities to their color-changing coats, these Scottish shepherds turned family companions continue to surprise and delight everyone they meet. Whether they’re herding sheep in the highlands or stealing scenes in Hollywood, one thing remains constant: their ability to bring joy wherever their four paws take them. What would you have guessed about these remarkable “Beardies”?