Bearded Collie

Like every breed, the Bearded Collie is not the right fit for every home. Based on the breed’s typical traits:

• Use reward-based methods: Beardies enjoy training and learn well this way.
• Try dog sports and activities, which many do very well at.
• Teach your Beardie from an early age to relax for grooming, bathing and drying.
• Redirect herding behaviour, especially around children.

• Children

  Usually better with older, calmer children.

• Other dogs

  Usually sociable with other dogs.

• Flats and smaller homes

  Usually needs a roomy home.

• Garden

  A garden is helpful.

• Being left alone

  Usually copes only with short periods alone.

• First-time owners

  Some dog experience helps.

Not yet reviewed by a vet. This is general information, not veterinary advice: speak to your vet about your own dog’s health.

• Hip dysplasia

  Looseness in the hip joint caused by poor development, which eventually leads to arthritis. The Royal Kennel Club recommends hip testing under the BVA/KC Hip Dysplasia Scheme.

• Elbow dysplasia

  Elbow dysplasia is listed among the conditions the breed can suffer from. The Royal Kennel Club recommends elbow testing under the BVA/KC Elbow Dysplasia Scheme.

• Collie eye anomaly (CEA)

  An inherited condition in which the eye does not develop properly, which can lead to blindness. A DNA test for collie eye anomaly/choroidal hypoplasia is recommended as best practice before breeding.

• Addison's disease

  A condition in which the adrenal glands produce abnormally low levels of hormones such as cortisol.

• Immune-mediated haemolytic anaemia (IMHA)

  The dog's own immune system destroys its red blood cells, leading to anaemia.

• Allergies

  Bearded Collies can be prone to allergies, including skin allergies.

Responsible breeders and rescues are happy to talk about health, and any pressure to decide quickly is a reason to walk away. Before taking a Bearded Collie home, it is reasonable to ask about:

• Health testing of the parents. Ask which health tests the parents have had for conditions known in the breed, and to see the results.
• Veterinary and vaccination records. Puppies should have had a first vaccination and a vet check, with records you can take home.
• Microchip information. In England, Scotland and Wales puppies must be microchipped and registered by eight weeks old. Ask who the chip is registered to and how the transfer works.
• Registration paperwork. Registration papers, where they apply, record pedigree. They do not by themselves prove health or how a puppy was raised.

There are two costs: bringing a Bearded Collie home, and looking after one well. Puppy prices depend on the breeder, health testing and demand; the adverts below show what sellers are asking today.

Ongoing costs are the ones new owners most often underestimate: food, insurance (which usually rises with age), routine vet care, vaccinations and parasite treatment, dental care, grooming, training, bedding and equipment, and boarding or a sitter for holidays. Budget for the whole of the dog’s life, typically from 12 years, not just the first year.

If you have decided the Bearded Collie suits your life, take the same care choosing where your dog comes from. Meet the puppy in person, see it with its mother, and look at how the litter is raised.

• Check who you are dealing with: every Mypetzilla advert shows the seller type and what we have checked.
• Ask about health testing, vaccinations and the microchip before you commit.
• Take your time. Do not be rushed by deposits or "last one left" stories.
• Meet in person before paying anything, and keep conversations on Mypetzilla.

Bearded Collies do come up for adoption, through rescue organisations, breed rescues and private rehoming, often because an owner’s circumstances have changed rather than any fault of the dog. An adult dog arrives as a known quantity: its size, coat and character are already on show.

Rescues will usually talk you through the dog’s history, any medical care, and the home it needs, including children, other animals and time alone. Be honest about your circumstances: a good rescue would rather place a dog once, well.