Bearded Collie

From Pet Encyclopedia

Bearded Collie

Bearded Collie

Origin of Breed

Scotland

Breed Nick Names

Mountain Collie Highland Collie

[edit] Introduction

Beardies are used for sheep droving and gathering, which is done by running and barking, were originally used to drove sheep to Smithfield market in London, are still used to day up and down the country and is a noisy worker, a desirable trait. Was also used as a hillworker, thick skin and a waterproof coat, ideal for this, very intelligent dogs , self assured, but does not like being shouted at, can be quite sensitive, just ask a Beardie to do somthing, no need to shout at it, also used for search and rescue in the mountains, ideal for this as they enjoy barking, and have the ideal coat and temperament. They love people, and can be quite mischeavious, bit of the joker.Not to be taken on lightly as their coat needs a lot of work to keep it looking good, dont really moult, just comes out when you brush them, they also love water and getting muddy, so dont get one if you are houseproud, or are at work all day. They need plenty of excercise and mental stimulation, easily trained.

[edit] Origin and History

It is difficult to distinguish between fact and legend when looking at the history of a breed, but it is believed that Kazimierz Grabski, a Polish merchant, traded a shipment of grain for sheep in Scotland in 1514, and brought six Polish Lowland Sheepdogs to move them. A Scottish shepherd was so impressed with the herding ability of the dogs that he traded a few sheep for a few dogs. These were bred with the local Scottish dogs to produce the Bearded Collie.

[edit] Appearance

The Beardie should be lean, not heavy or short legged, and be able to see plenty of daylight under the coat.Head, broad, flat and a strong muzzle, and in proportion to the body,pigmentation of nose, lipsand eye rims should be asolid colour.Eyes set widely apart, with a soft expression, ears medium sized, and droop to side of the head.The Beardie is longer than it is in height, Bitches may be slightly longer.The coat is a double with soft, furry and close undercoat, slight wave allowed, the ideal height of a Bitch is 51-53cms(20-21)ins andDog 53-56cms(21-22)ins although a lot of them are now getting taller in the breed.They come in Slate, reddish fawn, black, blue and all shades of grey, when white occurs its on the face,ablaze on the skull, tip of tail, chest, legs and feet,around the collar, but not behind the shoulder, white should not appear above hocks on outside of hind legs.

[edit] Temperament

Friendly, brainy, naughty, playful, and hobbies are Barking, and any thing to do with chasing, good at agility, frisbee catching.Good with children and other dogs, as they are not aggressive, can be a bit mischevious if left unattended for a long time, but do need plenty of exercise as with any collie breed. Always get mistaken for an Old English Sheepdog, but you just learn to ignore these people and their paint jokes.

[edit] Health

Beardie owners should take special note of the frequency of Addison's disease in this breed. Addison's disease is characterized by insufficient production of gluticocorticoid and/or mineralocortoid in the adrenal cortex. It occurs in at least 2%-3.4% of Beardies in the USA/Canada survey and is the cause of death in at least 1% of Beardies in the UK survey. Although these numbers seem low compared to other health conditions, the percentages are much higher than for the general dog population (0.1%), and Addison's is responsible for a disproportionate number of deaths among young dogs. Addison's is often undiagnosed because early symptoms are vague and easily mistaken for other conditions. Bearded Collies with unexplained lethargy, frequent gastric disturbances, or an inability to tolerate stress should be tested for Addison's. Addison's can cause fatal sodium/potassium imbalances, but, if caught early and treated with lifelong medication, most dogs can live a relatively normal life.

[edit] External Links

[Collie Club of America] [Bearded Collie Club (UK)] [Bearded Collie General Information]

[edit] References

http://www.akc.org/reg/dogreg_stats.cfm American Kennel Club: Dog Registration Statistics. Retrieved April 24, 2007 http://users.pullman.com/lostriver/breeddata.htm Dog Longevity Web Site, Breed Data page. Compiled by K. M. Cassidy. Retrieved July 8, 2007 http://users.pullman.com/lostriver/weight_and_lifespan.htm Dog Longevity Web Site, Weight and Longevity page. Compiled by K. M. Cassidy. Retrieved July 5, 2007 a b c d http://www.beaconforhealth.org/HealthSurveys.htm 1996 Bearded Collie Health Survey. Presented as part of the BCCA Health Committee Annual Report for 1997-1998. (But report suggests survey was not sponsored by BCCA. Not clear exactly who to cite.). Although called a 1996 health survey, the data apparently come from surveys submitted in 1997 and 1998. Retrieved July 22, 2007 a b c d http://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/item/570 Kennel Club/British Small Animal Veterinary Association Scientific Committee. 2004. Purebred Dog Health Survey. Retrieved July 5, 2007