Bearded Collie: Breed Features, Feeding and Care

Pets are energy donors of people, feeding their owners with positive, energy and good mood, and sometimes eliminating dangerous diseases. The most popular dogs for many years. Loyal, honest and affectionate animals are always ready not only to cheer the owner, but also to protect. The International Cynological Association has a huge number of dogs that differ in size, color and conditions.

When choosing a pet, novice dog breeders give preference to known breeds, but cynologists recommend not to rush to the choice and carefully study as many varieties as possible. Often little-known species deserve more attention. One of these breeds is the bearded collie.

Bearded Collie - shepherd dogs that belong to the Scottish Shepherd. Smart, hardy, strong and hardworking animals are often called birdies or bearded beards. The roots of this breed go back centuries, and there is still no consensus on its origin.

Some sources lead us back to the sixteenth century, when an assimilation of a lowland shepherd occurred on the territory of Scotland, and already at the beginning of 1900, the breeders introduced a new breed - a bearded collie. Other historical data indicate the emergence of this species as a result of crossing a long-haired collie and a bobtail.

Outwardly, birdie is very similar to a huge lapdog. The standards of this breed primarily provide for a proportional ratio of all parts of the body, a change in these parameters negatively affects the recognition of individuals.

The maximum weight of an adult can reach up to 30 kg, and height exceeds 50 cm. The animal has no pronounced sexual differences. The hull of the dog has a standard rectangular shape with a wide and convex rib cage, but thanks to the long coat, the pet seems undersized and stocky.

The wide cranium has a flat forehead and a straight nasal plate. The entire surface of the muzzle is covered with a well-developed muscular system. Pigmented labial folds completely cover the strong jaw, which includes all dental elements.

On a square nose there are round and open nasal passages, painted in black. The norms of the standard allow the presence of light nostrils in individuals whose fur is painted in bright colors. Clever and attentive eyes have a wide landing, and the look is always directed forward. A distinctive feature of the breed is the presence of thick eyelashes and eyebrows. Auricles in a calm state are always directed downwards, but in case of danger the animal necessarily raises them.

Strong and straight limbs have a developed muscular system and pronounced articular zones. Fleshy pads with dense skin give the pet extra stability and power. The tail should be as proportionate as possible to the entire body and directed downward.

Particular attention should be paid to the description of long and thick hair, which forms a thick beard, mustache and eyebrows in the muzzle area. It is thanks to these elements that the pet got its unusual name. Breed standards include the presence of soft outer hair, as well as dense, voluminous and thick undercoat. Breeders discard individuals that have increased curliness and shaggy.

A distinctive feature of this breed is change in wool color in the first years of life. The dark coat of newborn babies gradually brightens over the course of several years and only by the age of five acquires the final shade.

The list of classic color shades:

• grey;
• the black;
• ginger;
• brown;
• brown-red;
• beige.

Like any other pet, bearded men have both positive and negative characteristics.

Advantages:

• energy;
• high esthetic indicators;
• cheerfulness;
• sociability;
• devotion;
• unpretentiousness;
• attentiveness;
• emotional stability.

Disadvantages:

• independence;
• independence;
• intolerance of loneliness;
• exactingness for hair care;
• excessive mobility.

A bearded collie is a friend dog. The pet has a kind, dedicated and patient disposition, and its high intellectual abilities allow him to accurately understand the owner and carry out his commands. The obedient animal responds positively to the requests of all family members. The sonorous barking of a good-natured pet is a sign of greeting and joy from meeting with the owner, but not a warning about danger.

A playful and lively pet is very fond of the company of children with whom he will be able to play enough and run over from the heart. However, playing with very young babies should take place under the strict supervision of their parents. A moving and large dog can accidentally harm the baby.

The sociable beast is very negative about loneliness and oblivion.Being alone for a long time, the dog begins to feel sad, bored and may become depressed. Suffering from boredom and loneliness, the pet can make a mess in the house and show excessive activity and adequacy at the sight of the owner. Given this feature of the animal, people with increased employment should refuse to buy this breed.

In communication with other inhabitants of the house, the bearded man chooses partnerships and comfortable conditions of coexistence. Even in the company of small animals, the dog does not show dominant superiority. Despite the instinct of a predator, the pet does not show aggression to cats and feathered inhabitants of the yard. All his attention lies only in the playful pursuit of them and in provoking them to the game.

In order to grow up a healthy and strong animal, it is necessary not only to properly equip the pet's life and balance its menu, but also to choose the right puppy. Due to the low popularity of this breed, it is far from possible to purchase a bearded man in all nurseries. Most of the breeders live in large cities and regional centers. The cost of purebred puppies with a passport and immunization card may surprise even professional dog breeders.

The most suitable age for buying puppies and relocating them to another house is 7 weeks. It was at this time that the animal began to acquire independence and was able to respond to commands from the owner. Another factor that plays an important role when buying at the age of 2 months is this is color stabilization. The coat of newborn babies changes color during the growth process, and the final color may disappoint the owner.

Characteristics of a healthy puppy:

• flat and wide muzzle;
• widely spaced limbs;
• activity;
• good appetite;
• lack of obvious signs of disease;
• smooth and shiny coat;
• playfulness;
• curiosity.

Signs of a sick puppy:

• swollen belly;
• unpleasant odor;
• deformed limbs;
• lameness;
• the presence of skin pests;
• dirt in the anus.

An unpretentious animal does not require special attention and special care, but nevertheless the owners must understand that a long and thick coat needs timely hygiene.

• In order to avoid tangling hair and the formation of tangles, experienced dog breeders recommend daily full hair combing, without missing a single patch. Long hair is very quickly knocked down, which leads to the instant formation of dense woolen lumps, which subsequently must be carefully disassembled by hands or cut, however, the trimmed areas of the hair will significantly worsen the external aesthetic characteristics of the animal. For high-quality combing, you need to purchase special brushes and combs.
• To prevent an unpleasant odor, the animal should be bathed monthly using special hygiene products. Many housewives collect combed wool after bathing and make warm winter clothes out of it, which can not only warm, but also cure various diseases. After each feeding, the pet should wipe the beard, on which remains of the food.
• To prevent the development of inflammatory processes, once every seven days it is advisable to examine the ears, eyes and nose, and if necessary, clean them with special cotton buds or discs.
• In order to prevent hair from getting into the eyes, many owners collect curls on their heads in a small bundle or tail, which makes the animal even more attractive.
• To prevent the development of plaque, the pet's teeth should be brushed daily with special pastes, and artificial bones will help to form the correct bite.
• Each month, you should inspect the pet's paws and adjust the length of the nail plates with special nippers.
• By purchasing this breed, each owner must take into account its initial purpose, and taking into account this information organize a bearded living space. The genes of a shepherd dog are predisposed to the protection of large areas, so it is inappropriate to settle a large animal in small rooms. More comfortable conditions for the dog is a large aviary in the courtyard of a private house with a cozy and warm booth. Despite the stamina of the pet and its resistance to low temperatures, during severe frosts, experts recommend relocating it to a warm house.
• In order to maintain good physical shape, in addition to daily walks, a bearded man needs regular trips to nature, where in open spaces he will be able to run over from the heart and spend all the accumulated energy reserve.

If the content standards and hygiene rules are not observed, the following pathologies may develop in the animal:

• diseases of the musculoskeletal system;
• violation of the thyroid gland;
• allergic skin redness, rash, and itching;
• violation of the organs of vision.

An unpretentious animal does not need a special diet. For an animal, the main thing is to consume the maximum amount of protein, fat and carbohydrates. The dog can receive these components both from industrial feeds and from natural products.

With the independent selection of natural ingredients of the menu, emphasis should be placed on the following products:

• beef;
• veal;
• chicken;
• turkey poultry;
• rabbit meat;
• cereals;
• vegetables;
• greens;
• vegetable oil.

Once a week, a bearded man should be pampered with fish, eggs and cottage cheese. To maintain vitamin and mineral balance, the pet needs regularly give special vitamin complexes.

If the owner does not have the opportunity to cook a full meal daily, experts advise using high-quality prepared feed mixtures, which should not contain dyes, preservatives, flavor enhancers and stabilizers.

To prevent diarrhea and eating disorders the dog must be fed at the same time throughout life. The dog should have constant access to clean and fresh water, and in no case should the old and "missing" products be in the bowls.

In order for the acquired puppy to please its owners not only with a chic appearance, but also with its behavior, experienced dog breeders recommend starting the training and training process from the first days of the dog's stay in the house. The main difficulty of this procedure is the presence of pronounced independence and independence. An animal for many situations and things has its own opinion, which can go against the requirements of the owner, and only the authority of a person can lead to a clear execution of commands.

A delay in the execution of the command does not mean that the animal did not understand it - just the pet analyzes the situation and compares its desires and the requirements of the owner. Timely and regular encouragement with kind words and delicious goodies can accelerate this process.

If the owner does not have professional trainer skills and sufficient time, experts recommend contacting professional trainers who will not only adjust the pet’s behavior, but will also be able to inculcate and develop guide or companion skills for the athlete.

A pet is not only a source of joy and positive, but also an object of constant attention and care. A new family member acquires the status of a full-fledged tenant of the apartment, which has its own needs and desires. Before buying a baby, you need to carefully study the conditions of its maintenance, diet and character traits. Novice dog breeders should understand that a dog is not a toy that can be abandoned at any time. The life and health of a furry lump is completely dependent on the actions of the owner, whose main task is not to deceive the hopes of a devoted friend.

For more information on breed features, see the next video.