Bearded Collie puppies

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 it will need a job to do long before it needs 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 it meets calmly now, from vacuum cleaners to men in hats, is easier for the rest of its 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

From Bearded Collie breed information at https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/bearded-collie/. Discuss any of these with your own vet.

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.

Other medium breeds

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