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Bearded Collie
Working
| Group: |
Working |
 |
| Size: |
large |
| Lifespan: |
12-14 years |
| Exercise: |
high |
| Grooming: |
high |
| Trainability: |
medium |
| Watchdog ability: |
high |
| Protection ability: |
low |
| Area of Origin: |
Scotland |
| Date of Origin: |
1800’s |
| Other Names: |
none |
| Original Function: |
sheep herding |
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| History |
| A true
working dog, the Bearded Collie traces its roots back to 16th
Century Scotland. The Captain of a Polish ship arrived in Scotland
to buy sheep; a local shepherd, impressed with the Captain's
Polish Lowland Shepherds, offered two ewes and a ram in exchange
for one male and two female dogs. These three dogs were crossed
with the local Highland Collies and the result was the present-day
Beardie. However, because the owners of the Bearded Collies
were more concerned with the breed's ability to work and herd,
the dogs were rarely shown. It wasn't until 1912 that a breed
club was formed and it wasn't until 1944 that the breed was
officially recognised in England. The Beardie was first introduced
into New Zealand in 1972 by Mrs. Elizabeth McConnell. Because
the Beardie is such an active dog, it prefers its family to
be an active, outdoors one. |
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| Temperament |
| Described
as exuberant, happy go lucky and affectionate, the Bearded Collie
is a natural herder and sometimes a barker, but they do not
make good watchdogs. Beardies should not be left alone with
nothing to do. Male Beardies are more outgoing than females.
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| Upkeep |
| This
active dog needs a good jog, a very long walk or a vigorous
play session every day. It especially enjoys herding. The Beardie
can live outside in cool climates, but it is happier when allowed
access to the house with its family. Its long coat needs brushing
or combing every other day. |
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Official Breed Standard |
CHARACTERISTICS:
The Bearded Collie should be alert, lively,
self-confident and active. The temperament should be that of a steady
intelligent working dog, with no signs of nervousness or aggression.
GENERAL APPEARANCE:
A lean active dog, longer than it is high
in an approximate proportion of 5-4, measured from point of chest
to point of buttock. Bitches may be slightly longer. The breed,
though strongly made, should show plenty of daylight under the body
and should not look too heavy. A bright, enquiring expression is
a distinctive feature of the breed.
Head and Skull:
The head should be in proportion to the size
of the dog. The skull broad and flat and square, the distance between
stop and occiput being equal to the width between the orifices of
the ears. The muzzle strong and equal in length to the distance
between the stop and the occiput, the whole effect being that of
a dog with strength of muzzle and plenty of brain room. The stop
should be moderate. The nose large and square, generally black but
normally following the coat colour in blues and browns. The nose
and lips should be of solid colour without spots or patches. Pigmentation
of lips and eyerims should follow nose colour.
Eyes:
The eyes should tone with coat in colour,
be set widely apart and be large, soft and affectionate, but not
protruding. The eyebrows arched up and forward but not so long as
to obscure the eyes.
Ears:
The ears of medium size and drooping. When
the dog is alert, the ears should lift at the base level with, but
not above, the top of the skull, increasing the apparent breadth
of the skull.
Mouth:
The teeth large and white, the incisors of
the lower jaw fitting tightly behind those of the upper jaw. However,
a pincer bite is acceptable.
Neck:
Moderate length, muscular and slightly arched.
Forequarters:
The shoulders should slope well back: a line
drawn through the centre of the shoulder blade should form a right
angle (90 degrees) with the humerus. The shoulder blades at the
withers should be separated only by the vertebrae but should slope
outwards from there sufficiently to accommodate the desired spring
of rib. Legs straight and vertical, with good bone and covered with
shaggy hair all round. Pasterns flexible without weakness.
Body:
The length of the back should come from the
length of the ribcage and not that of the loin. The back level and
ribs well-sprung but not barrelled. The loins should be strong and
the chest deep, giving plenty of heart and lung room.
Hindquarters:
Well-muscled with good second thighs, well-bent
stifles and low hocks. The lower leg should fall at a right angle
to the ground and, in normal stance, should be just behind a line
vertically below the point of the buttock.
Feet:
Oval in shape with the soles well-padded.
The toes arched and close together, well covered with hair, including
between the pads.
Gait:
Movement should be supple, smooth and long
reaching, covering the ground with the minimum of effort.
Tail:
Set low, without kink or twist, and long
enough for the end of the bone to reach at least the point of the
hock. Carried low with an upward swirl at the tip whilst standing
or walking, but may be extended at speed. Never carried over the
back. Covered with abundant hair.
Coat:
Double with the undercoat soft, furry and
close. Outercoat flat, harsh, strong and shaggy, free from woolliness
and curl, though a slight wave is permissible. Length and density
of the hair should be sufficient to provide a protective coat and
to enhance the shape of the dog, but not enough to obscure the natural
lines of the body. The coat must not be trimmed in any way. On the
head, the bridge of the nose should be sparsely covered with hair
which is slightly longer on the side just to cover the lips. From
the cheeks, the lower lips and under the chin, the coat should increase
in length towards the chest, forming the typical beard.
Colour:
Slate grey, reddish fawn, black, blue, all
shades of grey, brown and sandy, with or without white markings.
Where white occurs it should appear on the foreface, as a blaze
on the skull, on the tip of the tail, on the chest, legs and feet
and, if around the collar, the roots of the white hair should not
extend behind the shoulder. White should not appear above the hocks
on the outside of the hind legs. Slight tan markings are acceptable
on the eyebrows, inside the ears, on the cheeks, under the root
of the tail, and on the legs where white joins the main colour.
Size:
Ideal height at the shoulder: Dogs 53 - 56
cm (21-22 in).
Bitches 51 - 53 cm (20- 21 in).
Overall quality and proportions should be considered before size
but excessive variation from the ideal height should be discouraged.
Faults:
Any departure from the foregoing points should
be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault is
regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree.
Note:
Male animals should have two apparently normal
testicles fully descended into the scrotum.
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