The Bearded Collie, or Beardie, is a herding breed of
dog once used primarily by Scottish shepherds, but now mostly a popular family
companion.
Bearded
Collies have an average weight of 18–27 kilograms (40–60 lb). Males are around
53–56 centimetres (21–22 in) tall at the withers while females are around 51–53
centimetres (20–21 in) tall.
As pets
The
Bearded Collie ranks 117 out of 175 breeds in popularity in the United States,
according to the American Kennel Club's yearly breed ranking. A Bearded Collie
is best obtained from a reputable breeder or a dog rescue. There are Beardie
rescue associations, such as Beardie Collie Rescue and "Rescue Me".
These organisations attempt to place unwanted puppies and dogs into
appropriate, loving homes. Most Bearded Collie breeders take great care in
breeding, raising and placing their puppies. Due to this, Bearded Collies are
considered an "unspoiled" breed.
Bearded
Collies make excellent pets for those willing to accommodate their high energy
level - they are very enthusiastic and have a bouncy nature. They also require
regular grooming; 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 reduces (but does not eliminate) the need for
brushing. Bearded Collies are an energetic breed, originally intended to work
in the Scottish Highlands herding sheep; they also excel at treibball, dog
agility and Obedience trials. A loyal and family-friendly dog, the Beardie can
add years of pet-ownership enjoyment to the home. They have keen
problem-solving abilities, and are entertaining to watch.
In
training, beardies can be independent, they will go from A to B but maybe not
via the expected route. One of the most common problems for new Beardie owners
is the breed's intelligence makes them prone to get quickly fed up if training
gets too repetitive.
Health
Mortality
The
median longevity (the age at which half of the population has died and half is
still alive) of Bearded Collies from recent UK and USA/Canada surveys (the
weighted average of all surveys) is 12.8 years; Beardies in the UK surveys
lived longer (median ~13.4 years) than their USA/Canada counterparts (median
12.0 years). Most purebred 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, so the lifespan of Bearded Collies appears to be on
the high end compared with other breeds (at least in the UK). Individual dogs
may die much earlier or later than the median. In a 1996 USA/Canada survey, 32%
of Beardies died (including accidental deaths) before the age of nine; however,
12% lived longer than 14 years. The eldest of the 278 deceased dogs in the 2004
UK Kennel Club survey died at 19.5 years; the age at death of the oldest dog in
the USA/Canada survey was not reported.
Leading
causes of death among Beardies in the UK are old age (26%), cancer (19%),
cerebrovascular disease (9%), and chronic kidney failure (8%). Leading causes
of death among Beardies in the US and Canada are old age (18%), cancer (17%),
kidney failure (8%), cerebrovascular disease(4%) and hypoadrenocorticism (4%).
Morbidity
Bearded
Collie owners in the UK reported that the most common health issues among
living dogs were musculoskeletal—mostly arthritis and cruciate ligament rupture
(CLR)—gastrointestinal (primarily colitis and diarrhea) and urologic
diseases. Beardie owners in the US and Canada reported that the most common
health problems were hypothyroidism, cancer, hypoadrenocorticism (also known as
Addison's disease), arthritis and skin problems. Morbidity in the two studies
is not easily compared, however; the UK report grouped diseases, while the USA/Canada
report ranked more specific conditions.
Further
existing breed dispositions of the Bearded Collie include: Dermatological
conditions, such as pemphigus foliaceous and black skin disease, follicular
dysplasia, musculoskeletal conditions such as congenital elbow luxation, ocular
conditions, such as corneal dystrophy, cataract and generalized progressive
retinal atrophy.
Hypoadrenocorticism
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