An average Bearded Collie weighs 40-60lbs and is 20-22 inches tall. Average litter size: 7
Temperament:
The Bearded Collie ranks 104 out of 155 breeds in popularity in the United States, according to the American Kennel Club's yearly publishing of breed rankings. A Bearded Collie is best obtained from a reputable dog breeder or a dog rescue. Bearded Collies make excellent pets for those who are willing to accommodate their high energy level and grooming requirements.
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 does reduce the need for brushing, but does not eliminate it. Bearded Collies are a very high energy breed, originally bred to work in the Scottish Highlands herding sheep.
Beardies also excel at dog agility trials. A loyal and family friendly canine, the beardie can add years of pet ownership enjoyment to the home. They have keen problem solving abilities, and are a source of amusement to watch.Their hair is also very difficult to wash because it is very long. Because of its length the hair can also become matted, to prevent this regular brushing is needed.
Females are often more outgoing and headstrong then male beardies. When being trained males are more likely to follow your instructions, whereas females don't like to be told what to do as much. Females often become the dominant dog if there is a boy and a girl beardie in the household. Regardless of the dog's sex, beardies are high energy.
Median longevity of Bearded Collies from recent UK and USA/Canada surveys (weighted average of all surveys) was 12.8 years, but Bearded Collies in the UK surveys lived longer (median ~13.4 years) than their USA/Canada counterparts (median 12.0 years).
Most purebred dog 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 to other breeds, at least in the UK.
The median lifespan is the age at which half of the population has died and half is still alive. Individual dogs may die much sooner or much later than the median. In the 1996 USA/Canada survey, 32% of dogs (including accidental deaths) died before 9 years, but 12% lived longer than 14 years. The oldest of the 278 deceased dogs in the 2004 UK Kennel Club survey died at 19.5 years. The age of the oldest dog in the USA/Canada survey was not reported.
Leading causes of death among Beardies in the UK were old age (26%), cancer (19%), cerebral vascular (9%), and chronic kidney failure (8%). Leading causes of death among Beardies in the USA/Canada were old age (18%), cancer (17%), kidney disease (8%), cerebral vascular (4%) and Addison's disease (4%).
Bearded Collie owners in the UK reported that the most common health issues among living dogs were musculoskeletal (mostly arthritis and CLR), gastrointestinal (mostly colitis and diarrhea) and urologic. Beardie owners in the USA/Canada reported that the most common health problems were hypothyroidism, cancer, Addison's disease, arthritis and skin problems. Morbidity in the two studies is not easily compared, however, because the UK report grouped conditions while the USA/Canada report ranked more specific conditions.
Beardie owners should take special note of the frequency of Addison's disease in this breed. Addison's disease is characterized by insufficient production of gluticocorticoid and/or mineralocortoid in the adrenal cortex. It occurs in at least 2%-3.4% of Beardies in the USA/Canada survey and is the cause of death in at least 1% of Beardies in the UK survey. Although these numbers seem low compared to other health conditions, the percentages are much higher than for the general dog population (0.1%), and Addison's is responsible for a disproportionate number of deaths among young dogs. Addison's is often undiagnosed because early symptoms are vague and easily mistaken for other conditions. Bearded Collies with unexplained lethargy, frequent gastric disturbances, or an inability to tolerate stress should be tested for Addison's. Addison's can cause fatal sodium/potassium imbalances, but, if caught early and treated with lifelong medication, most dogs can live a relatively normal life.
