The Bearded Collie, a longhaired sheepdog developed in Scotland, is known for his gentle demeanor and confident (almost noble) temperament. He is independent and bred to make decisions on his own – the human shepherd could be miles away yet he was still responsible for his flock. This said, he can be clownish and silly when he wants to be, and enjoys making his owner laugh! Beardies have a curiosity about life and may be persistent and even stubborn when trying to satiate their curiosity. This said, when it comes down to it, these loving creatures bond closely to their humans and grow to be very loyal.
The Bearded Collie is an outgoing fellow to strangers while retaining an affectionate nature toward his family. In fact, this breed must live indoors with the family and doesn’t do well being left at home with barely any interaction. Most destructive Beardies became this way because of a lack of human contact (the owner works all day). He gets along well with other dogs and pets as well (including cats), especially if he has been raised around other animals. Some have been known to be possessive over toys, and so precautions should be taken from the start to rid him of this bad habit. Most get along well with children, although he should be trained from an early age not to herd the kids!
As with all breeds, Beardies are not for everyone. Some can test their independence quite stubbornly when they reach adolescence, they can be very strong for their size, and individuals of all ages love to jump. The “Beardie Bounce” is a coin termed just for the breed because of their love of leaping! They also require a good bit of grooming upkeep – their long hair must be kept brushed out to avoid huge tangles, they are prone to tracking dirt all over their house (again, because of their long hair), and they always sport a wet, dripping beard after getting a drink of water. Some members of the breed are fond of digging, as well as barking.
Beardies are generally active dogs, although there is a range in activity level with some being more low-key while others are very rambunctious. A responsible breeder can help pick out the right pup for each family, although a would-be owner should expect the dog to be fairly active and plan accordingly. After all, Bearded Collies were bred to work outside for long hours every day. The breed needs ongoing training and mental/physical outlets for their energy, even when the weather is less-than-accomodating. A hyper dog usually means that he has not been given enough exercise, as Beardies shouldn’t be hyper normally but rather it comes about because of a lack of stimulation. 
While very smart, the Bearded Collie might decide that His way of training is better than Your way of training, and act accordingly! It is therefore recommended that you convince the dog that the idea was his the whole time, and make it a fun experience. Adding games into training usually works well for this breed, as Beardies are very playful and always up for a game. Once you’ve got his attention, you’ll have a very responsive and energetic working dog! The breed is also very sensitive to human moods, so it is best not to train a Bearded Collie if you’ve been having a bad day. Furthermore, never play into his temper tantrums, as many a Beardie has conned his owner into thinking that he is un-trainable, simply because he throws a fit.
Beardies are medium-sized dogs that come in a rainbow of colors. When born, they are either black, blue, fawn or brown but the colors tend to change and lighten as they get older. This means that blacks can stay black or become slate or silver, while a brown can be a light sandy color or become a deep chocolate. Blues and fawns may be dark or light. Most Bearded Collies also sport a white trim which complements the main color, and they may also have tan points. They may continue to change shade until they reach 4 years of age. This gives the breed a great variance of possible appearances! All Beardies, regardless of color, do shed. Most of the time this shedding is minimal although once a year they will shed a great deal more.
The Bearded Collie is fairly healthy with only occasionally incidences of hip dysplasia and autoimmune disorders popping up here and there. Problems may arise if they aren’t taken care of properly, such as leaving them with wet, tangled hair for long periods of time. Sound sensitivity, while not a health problem, is a common psychological occurrence with the breed. When well taken care of, however, it is common for them to live to around 14 years of age.
