7. Bearded Collie

Number 7… 

Bearded Collie- $700 – $800

                The Bearded Collie a herding dog that used to be used by Scottish shepherds, but now is primarily a family dog. It is sometimes referred to as a “Beardie”.  This breed originates from Great Britain and is one of their earliest breeds. The Beardie was first brought to Britain in 1514 when a Polish sea captain traded a ram and an ewe with a Scottish Shepard for 3 of his Polish sheep dogs. The shepherd bred the Polish Sheepdogs with other herding dogs, such as the Old English Sheepdogs and the Komondor. The first Bearded Collies were bred in the United States in 1967 and is to this day considered a rare breed in America.

 They have shaggy fur and waterproof double coat that covers their entire body, including their  chin which provides for the “beard”. As the dog ages, the color of its coat changes multiple times. When Beardie pups are born their coats are either black, brown, blue, or fawn.  Some have white markings which fade, as they grow, into a light gray or cream color. Beardies are cheerful, happy, tail- wagging dogs. They are playful dogs, but are also good around children. They are unhappy when left and alone and prone to creating mischief. When leaving a Beardie alone they should be taken on a walk or played with beforehand.  They are perfectly fine with sleeping outdoors and make great farm dogs. Bearded Collies are prone to hip dysplascia, which is common in most large dog breeds. Their thick coats can also conceal an external parasite infestation so it is important to look out for parasites. It is important to groom their coats daily due to their thick, long hair. Grooming their coat consists on first lightly misting their fur before beginning, and picking out hair that mats together.