Bearded Collie puppies

About the Bearded Collie

The Bearded Collie is a Scottish drover's dog, bred to move sheep and cattle across rough hill country in weather nobody would choose. They stand 51 to 56cm and weigh 20.4 to 24.9kg under a long, harsh double coat that hides a lean and athletic frame. Beardies are exuberant by design: bouncy, vocal, quick to make friends with people and other dogs, and rated at the top of the scale with children, which still depends on supervision and early socialisation.

A Beardie asks two things of you. The first is exercise, since they want daily running and a purpose, and herding, agility or rally suit them far better than a lap. The second is the coat: a short daily brush to catch tangles, plus a longer weekly session with a pin rake, brush and comb. Beardies also rate at the top of the scale for barking. New owners most often underestimate the grooming, then clip off the coat they bought the dog for.

What to expect at eight weeks

At eight weeks a Bearded Collie puppy is sleeping around 18 to 20 hours a day, is not house trained, and cannot hold on for more than an hour or two at a stretch. A medium breed puppy at eight weeks is a manageable armful that will not stay that way. Most of the growth happens between now and six months, so buy for the adult dog where you can. This is a high energy breed. At eight weeks that shows up as intensity rather than stamina, and they will need a job to do long before they need long walks. Grooming needs are high. Start daily brushing and short, positive handling sessions at eight weeks, well before the adult coat arrives, or the first professional groom will be traumatic. The socialisation window is open and closing: everything they meet calmly now, from vacuum cleaners to men in hats, is easier for the rest of their life.

Health worth knowing about

Conditions this breed is reported to be predisposed to. Predisposed does not mean inevitable, it means ask about it.

• Hip and elbow dysplasia, screened by hip and elbow evaluation of breeding stock
• Hypothyroidism, screened by a thyroid evaluation
• Inherited eye disease, screened by an annual ophthalmologist evaluation
• Autoimmune disease, investigated by blood testing when a dog shows vague signs such as weight loss or lethargy
• Skin allergies, diagnosed once parasites and infection have been ruled out

Your Bearded Collie puppy's first six months

• Vaccination schedule, dated for your country.
• Worming and parasite schedule.
• Feeding calculator. Set expected adult size to Medium for a Bearded Collie.
• Adult size predictor, to check growth against the 20.4 to 24.9 kg adult range.
• Puppy names and the first week checklist.

Kit sizes: crate 36 inch (36 x 24 x 26 in, 91 x 61 x 66 cm) for an adult of up to 24.9 kg; chew toys made for medium breeds. Worked out the same way as the crate size calculator. PetMD bases a crate on the dog's own measurements, not weight or breed alone, so measure once the puppy is home.

Buying guides for this

• Best crate for a puppy: wire, plastic or soft, and how to size one with a divider

Other medium breeds

More on the Bearded Collie

Previous: Beaglier · Next: Beauceron

Sources

• akc.org for adult weight and height, life expectancy, energy, grooming, shedding and the temperament ratings, coat type and health notes
• fci.be for country of origin
• Health notes from Bearded Collie breed information at https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/bearded-collie/. Discuss any of these with your own vet.

Photo: marbla123, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped. All photographers are listed on the photo credits page.