Bearded Collie

For the last 500 years there have been dogs resembling the Bearded Collie as we know it today, a shaggy coated dog used for herding cattle and sheep in the Borders and Highlands of Scotland.

The first breed standard was drawn up in 1912 but the Beardie population was dwindling fast and by 1940s was very scarce. The revival of the breed came from a lucky accident. Mrs G Olive Willison asked a Scottish farmer for a working Shetland Sheepdog. The puppy she received turned out to be a Bearded Collie, which she names Jeannie. Mrs Willison, so taken with her bitch, searched for a mate for her, located a dog named Bailey in the South of England and thus were established the Bothkennar Bearded Collies, providing the foundation for the modern breed. In 1955 a new Bearded Collie Club was formed and The Kennel Club recognised the breed in 1959.

Read the breed standard

Images for this breed

The Pastoral breed group

The Pastoral Group consists of herding dogs that are associated with working cattle, sheep, reindeer and other cloven footed animals.

Usually this type of dog has a weatherproof double coat to protect it from the elements when working in severe conditions. Breeds such as the Collie family, Old English Sheepdogs and Samoyeds who have been herding reindeer for centuries are but a few included in this group.

Colour Watch

Category 0: Breeds with no NBS colour registration options.

Read more about Colour Watch.

Breed Standard colours

Breed standard colour means that the colour is accepted within the breed standard and is a traditional and well-known colour in this breed.

Breed standard colours in this breed include:

Black
Brown Tricolour
Black & White
Black Tricolour
Blue
Blue & White
Blue Tricolour
Brown
Brown & White
Fawn
Fawn & White
Fawn Tricolour
Grey & White
Grey Tricolour
Slate
Slate & White
Slate Tricolour

Other colour/s

'Other' means you consider your puppy to be a colour not currently known within the breed and one that does not appear on either the breed standard or non-breed standard list. In this instance you would be directed through our registrations process to contact a breed club and/or council to support you on identifying and correctly listing the new colour.

Non-breed-standard colours

Non-breed-standard colour means that the colour is not accepted within the breed standard and whilst some dogs within the breed may be this colour it is advised to only select a dog that fits within the breed standards for all points.

Colour is only one consideration when picking a breed or individual dog, health and temperament should always be a priority over colour.

Whether you’re thinking of buying a puppy, or breeding from your dog, it’s essential that you know what health issues may be found in your breed. To tackle these issues we advise that breeders use DNA tests, screening schemes and inbreeding coefficient calculators to help breed the healthiest dogs possible.

More about health

Priority health schemes and tests

The Kennel Club's Assured Breeders must use the following (or equivalent) schemes, tests and advice. All other breeders are strongly advised to also use these.

Hip dysplasia screening scheme (BVA/KC)

Important health schemes and tests

We strongly recommend that all breeders, both assured breeders (ABs) and non ABs, use the following (or equivalent) schemes, tests and advice.

DNA test - CEA/CH - part of The Kennel Club’s DNA Testing Services* (see below). Find lists of tested dogs or find a list of dogs tested with the CEA/CH linkage test that is no longer available
Eye screening scheme (BVA/KC/ISDS)
Check inbreeding calculators

*The Kennel Club’s DNA Testing Services - simple to use and easy to organise all-in-one DNA tests

The DNA tests listed above marked with an asterisk (*) are included in our DNA Testing Services. This includes:

CEA/ CH (Collie eye anomaly/Choroidal hypoplasia) partner lab

Kennel Club Assured breeders and Kennel Club Accredited Instructors receive a 10% discount.

Find out more about our DNA Testing Services.

Find out about a particular dog's results

Please visit our Health Test Results Finder to discover the DNA or screening scheme test results for any dog on The Kennel Club's Breed Register.

You can also view the inbreeding coefficient calculation for a puppy's parents, or for a dog you're thinking of breeding from.

Have any questions about health in your breed?

If you have any concerns about a particular health condition in your breed then you may wish to speak to your vet or you could contact your breed health co-ordinator.

Breed health co-ordinators are individuals working on behalf of breed clubs and councils who are advocates for the health and welfare of their chosen breed. They acts as a spokesperson on matters of health and will collaborate with The Kennel Club on any health concerns the breed may have.

To contact your breed health co-ordinator please email

Health (The Kennel Club)

Breed watch

Category 1

Currently no points of concern specific to this breed have been identified for special attention by judges, other than those covered routinely by The Kennel Club's breed standard.