Bearded Collie
古代長鬚牧羊犬
Updated 2026-09-09
At a glance
The Bearded Collie is a Scottish herding breed long used on sheep and cattle in the Borders and northern England, and rebuilt in the 1940s from G. Olive Willison's Bothkennar kennel. Lean and active, showing plenty of daylight under the body, it wears a double coat with a soft, furry undercoat and a flat, harsh, shaggy outer coat, and stands ideally 53–56 cm (males) or 51–53 cm (females). The FCI standard describes an alert, lively, self-confident and active dog — a steady, intelligent working dog with no signs of nervousness or aggression.
Facts
| Size | Medium |
|---|---|
| Height | 51–56cm |
| Weight | 20–25kg |
| Life expectancy | 12–14years |
| Breed group | AKC: herding FCI: 1 |
| Role | Herding |
| Coat | Long coat |
| Shedding | 3/ 5 |
| Exercise | 30–120min/day |
| Can be left alone | up to 4 hours |
| Companionship need | 4/ 5 |
| Trainability | 3/ 5 |
| Barking | 5/ 5 |
| Good with children | 5/ 5 |
| Good with other dogs | 5/ 5 |
| Heat tolerance | 2/ 5 |
| Cold tolerance | 5/ 5 |
Health
This page is general information compiled from published sources. It is not veterinary, legal or purchase advice. Dogs vary within a breed — talk to a vet or a reputable breeder about the dog in front of you.
Health notes are not veterinary advice. Conditions listed are those reported for the breed, not a diagnosis of any dog. Always consult a veterinarian.
Collie eye anomaly (CEA/CH), hip and elbow dysplasia
The Royal Kennel Club lists a DNA test for collie eye anomaly / choroidal hypoplasia (CEA/CH), hip testing under the BVA/KC Hip Dysplasia Scheme and elbow testing under the BVA/KC Elbow Dysplasia Scheme among the pre-breeding screening it recommends for the breed. Ask your breeder for the parents' CEA/CH DNA results and hip and elbow scores, and ask your vet about eye screening.
Hypothyroidism, autoimmune disease and allergies
The AKC says the Beardie is a sturdy breed and that responsible breeders screen their breeding stock for hip dysplasia, hypothyroidism, autoimmune diseases, allergies and eye problems. Ask your breeder what the parents were screened for, and ask your vet about thyroid testing if you notice weight gain, lethargy or coat changes.
Ear and coat care
The AKC notes that, as with all breeds, a Beardie's ears should be checked regularly to remove foreign matter and avoid a build-up of wax, and the teeth brushed daily; the long double coat needs a daily brush-through of five to ten minutes to keep tangles and foreign matter out. Ask your vet if you see head-shaking, ear odour or discharge.
Behaviour
Alert, lively and self-confident; no nervousness or aggression
The FCI standard's Behaviour / Temperament section reads: "Alert, lively, self-confident and active. Steady, intelligent working dog, with no signs of nervousness or aggression." Its stated utilization is sheepdog and companion, and the general appearance section singles out a bright, enquiring expression as a distinctive feature of the breed.
AKC breed-trait chart
AKC trait scores: energy level 4/5, trainability 3/5, barking level 5/5, good with young children 5/5, good with other dogs 5/5, openness to strangers 4/5, playfulness 4/5, shedding 3/5, grooming frequency 4/5. A barking level of 5/5 is worth thinking about in a Hong Kong flat. Individual dogs vary; early socialisation and reward-based training are recommended for every breed.
Exercise and time alone
The Royal Kennel Club puts the Bearded Collie in its "up to one hour per day" exercise band while the AKC rates its energy level 4/5, so PocketPaw stores 30–120 minutes of purposeful exercise a day. The Royal Kennel Club also advises that an adult dog should not be expected to be left alone for more than about four hours at a time.
Official guidance
Summaries of official documents are ours; the source is linked. Breed standards, laws and licensing rules change — check the issuing body for the current version.
FCI nomenclature — Bearded Collie (standard no. 271, group 1)
FCI breed nomenclature entry with the official breed standard PDF in English, French, German and Spanish.
Read the sourceAccessed 2026-09-09
The Royal Kennel Club — Bearded Collie
Breed A–Z entry with breed characteristics and the pre-breeding health screening schemes the Royal Kennel Club recommends for the breed.
Read the sourceAccessed 2026-09-09
American Kennel Club — Bearded Collie
Breed overview with the AKC breed-trait chart, height, weight and life-expectancy figures, and health, nutrition and grooming notes compiled with the national parent club.
Read the sourceAccessed 2026-09-09
Sources
- [1]Bearded Collie — FCI standard no. 271 — Fédération Cynologique Internationale (Accessed 2026-09-09)
- [2]FCI-Standard No. 271 — Bearded Collie, 03.11.2014 — Fédération Cynologique Internationale (Accessed 2026-09-09)
- [3]Bearded Collie — Breed Information (health and breed characteristics) — The Royal Kennel Club (Accessed 2026-09-09)
- [4]Bearded Collie — Dog Breed Information — American Kennel Club (Accessed 2026-09-09)
- [5]How do I help my dog adjust to spending time alone? — The Royal Kennel Club (Accessed 2026-09-09)
- [6]Incidence and risk factors for heat-related illness (heatstroke) in UK dogs under primary veterinary care in 2016 (Hall, Carter & O'Neill, Scientific Reports 10:9128) — Nature / Scientific Reports (Accessed 2026-09-09)
Still have questions?
Ask owners on the PawMunity forum — every breed has its own board.
Breed data compiled by PocketPaw from the sources credited on each entry. Text and layout © 2026 NextPath Solutions Limited. Please link to a page rather than copying it.