Bearded Collie
History of the breed
The Bearded Collie or Beardie is a herding breed of dog, once used primarily by Scottish shepherds, but now mostly a popular family companion, bred almost exclusively for dog shows. The Bearded Collie was used to herd both sheep and cattle. As such it is essentially a working dog, at one time bred to be hardy and reliable, able to stand up to the harshest conditions, and the toughest sheep.
It is difficult to distinguish between fact and legend when looking at the history of a breed, but it is believed that 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.
Appearance of the breed
An average Bearded Collie weighs 40-60lbs and is 20-22 inches tall. Average litter size is 7 pups.
The Bearded Collie ranks 104 out of 155 breeds in popularity in the United States, according to the American Kennel Club's yearly publishing of breed rankings. A Bearded Collie is best obtained from a reputable dog breeder or a dog rescue, not from a pet store situation where dogs are bred specifically for profit. Bearded Collies make excellent pets for those who are willing to accommodate their high energy level and grooming requirements. Weekly brushing is mandatory for keeping their long hair mat-free. Some Bearded Collie owners opt to keep their pets in a "puppy cut" haircut, which does reduce the need for brushing, but does not eliminate it. Bearded Collies are a very high energy breed, originally bred to work in the Scottish Highlands herding sheep. Bearded Collies also excel at dog agility trials. They also prefer to be kept indoors with their families.
Health Concerns of the breed
Median longevity of Bearded Collies was 12.8 years. Most purebred dog breeds have median longevities between 10 and 13 years and most breeds similar in size to Bearded Collies have median longevities between 11 and 13 years.
Leading causes of death among Bearded Collies were old age, cancer, cerebral vascular, and chronic kidney failure.
Bearded Collie most common health issues among living dogs were musculoskeletal (mostly arthritis and CLR), gastrointestinal (mostly colitis and diarrhea) and urologic. Bearded Collies most common health problems were hypothyroidism, cancer, Addison's disease, arthritis and skin problems.
Addison's Disease
Bearded Collies 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. 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.
