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Bearded Collie

There is mention of a breed resembling the Bearded Collie in Scottish records dating back to around the sixteenh century. He has long been known in scotland and Northern England where he was bredfor herding sheep. The Beardie as he is affectionately known,is a hardy dog with a lovable temperament. His hardy size and adaptability, combined with workmanlike qualities, havegiven him a following far outside the farming community. Ideally suited to live in the country, with a double weather resistant coat and active nature, he is a happy dog, neither timid nor aggressive. Ready to join in any activity, his enquiring expression seems to ask Well, what shall we do now? Gentle, good with the children and adults, he makes an ideal member of a fun loving, growing family.\

General Appearance ** Lean, acitive dog, longer than it is high in an approximate proportion of 5 to 4 , measured from point of chest to point of buttock. Bitches may be slightly longer. Though strongly made, should show plenty of daylight under body and should not look too heavy. Bright, enquiring expression is a distinctive feature.

Characteristics ** Alert, lively, self confident and active.

Temperament ** Steady, intelligent working dog, with no signs of nervousness or agression.

Head and Skull ** Head in proportion to size. Skull broad flat and square, distance between stop and occiput being equal to width between orifices of ears. Muzzle strong and equal in length to distance between stop and occiput. Whole effect being that of a dog with strength of muzzle and plenty of brain room. Moderate stop. Nose large and square, generally black put normally following coat colour in blues and browns. Nose and lips of solid colour without spots or patches. Pigmentation of lips and eye rims follows nose colour.

Eyes ** Toning with coat colour, set widely apart and large, soft and affectionate, not prodruding. Eyebrows arched up and forward but not so long as to obscure eyes.

Ears ** Of Medium size and drooping. When enough for end of bone to reach at least point of hock. Carried low with an upward swirl at tip whils standing or walking, may be extended at speed. Never carried over back. Covered with abundant hair.

Gait / Movement ** Supple, smooth and longreaching, covering ground with minimum of effort.

Coat ** Double with soft, furry and close undercoat. Outer coat flat, harsh, strong and shaggt, free from woolliness and curl, though slight wave permissible. Length and density of hair sufficient to provide a protective coat and to enhane shape of dog, but not enough to obscure natural lines of body. Coat must not be trimmed in any way. Bridge of nose sparsely covered with hair slightly longer on side just to cover lips. From cheeks, lower lips and under chin, coat increases in length towards chest, forming typical beard.

Colour ** Slate grey, reddish fawn, black, blue, all shades of grey, brown and sandy with or without white markings. When white occurs it appears on foreface, as a blazeon skull, on tip of tail, on chest, legs and the feetand, if round the collar, roots of white hair should not extend behind shoulder.White should not appear above hocks on outside of hindlegs. slight tan markings are acceptable on eyebrows, inside ears, on cheeks, under root of tail and on legs where white joins main colour.

Size ** Ideal height: dogs: 53 - 56 cms 9 21 - 22 ins ); bitches: 51 - 53 cms ( 20 - 21 ins ). Overall quality and proportions should be considered before size but excessive variations from tyhe ideal height should be discouraged.

Faults ** Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree.

Note ** Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully decended into the scrotum.