Bearded Collie

Before you give any Bearded Collie a home, it’s important to know about possible health issues. Not every dog suffers from them but it’s good to be prepared.

To find out more about potential health issues for Bearded Collies, speak to your local vet. Some vet practices offer ‘pre-purchase consultations’ where you can get advice on potential health conditions, management options and a rough idea of associated costs.

If you’re thinking of buying a puppy, they’ll also be able to give you advice on finding a responsible breeder, as well as testing for inheritable diseases.

Whatever the breed, all dogs need basic preventative health care like vaccinations and flea and worming treatments. You’ll also need insurance to help cover the cost of vet bills. 

Different Bearded Collies need different amounts of food depending on their: 

• age 
• size 
• activity levels 
• fitness 
• weight. 

Dog food packets can serve as a useful guide, but you need to take your dog’s individual needs into account. 

Knowing your dog’s body condition also helps you decide on how much food to give them. The World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WVASA) can provide more information on body condition scoring.  

Speak to your vet if there’s anything you’re unsure of, or for more expert advice. 

Bearded Collies are usually moderately active dogs who need regular exercise and stimulation to keep them physically and mentally healthy.

They need daily walks, plus plenty of time and opportunity to explore, burn energy, and play. Like all dogs, they need training and benefit from daily enrichment.

If you enjoy regular time outdoors, this breed could be a great match for you.

Bearded Collies need training like any other dog, as well as daily enrichment. When exercising your Bearded Collie, think about their:

• age
• health
• personality.  

Young, growing dogs may need a few shorter walks. Whereas older, ill or injured pooches may need an exercise plan tailored by your vet. Some may need quiet, calm walks while others benefit from more sociable strolls.

Check with your vet for advice on exercising your dog.  

Bearded Collies shed moderately. To ease your dog into handling and grooming, introduce it step by step and in a positive way. Your dog feeling relaxed and confident will make grooming more enjoyable for everyone involved. 

When inside their crate, your dog should have plenty of space to:

• sit and stand up at their full height
• turn around without touching the sides
• lie down fully stretched out
• comfortably wag their tail.

It's important to build up the time dogs spend in their crate gradually and to help them associate it with good things happening.

Like us, every furball has their own unique personality shaped by their experiences. This means that different Bearded Collies have varying temperaments.

As dogs grow, they learn all about the world. They figure out their likes and dislikes and learn to respond to situations in different ways.

Some doggos, for example, might like meeting new dogs and new experiences. Others might not, or might prefer human company.

Any breed of dog can be taught new tricks. The important thing is that the learning is positive. Find out your doggo’s favourite snacks, toys or treats. These work well as rewards for training and they find it much more enjoyable.

Your dog also needs to learn useful life skills like recall, loose lead walking and settling. This will help you spend quality time together without worry, both at home and outside.