The Bearded Collie is a Scottish Highland sheep-driver descended from 1514 Polish Lowland Sheepdog imports. The Bearded Collie traces to the Polish Lowland Sheepdog stock brought to Scotland by Polish merchant Kazimierz Grabski in 1514.
Quick facts
- AKC group
- Herding
- Origin country
- Scotland
- Origin period
- 16th century (rebuilt 1944)
- Coat type
- Long
- Coat colors
- Black, Brown, Blue, Fawn — born dark and lightening with maturity, often with white markings
- Average lifespan
- 12-14 years
- Recognition
- AKC 1976 · FCI 1959 · UKC 1948 · Group 1 — Sheepdogs and Cattledogs (Section 1: Sheepdogs)
Origin
The Bearded Collie traces to the Polish Lowland Sheepdog (PON) stock brought to Scotland by Polish merchant Kazimierz Grabski in 1514, when six PONs were traded to Scottish shepherd Robert Morrison for a ram and two ewes. The imported PONs were crossed with local Scottish working sheepdogs to produce the modern Bearded Collie, used by Scottish shepherds across the Highlands and Lowlands as a sheep- and cattle-driving dog. The breed was nearly extinct by the Second World War; the modern population was rebuilt from 1944 by Mrs G. Olive Willison of Killybracken kennel from a foundation pair (Jeannie of Bothkennar — a Beardie acquired by accident when Willison ordered a Shetland Sheepdog — and Bailie of Bothkennar). The AKC admitted the Bearded Collie in 1976.
Recognition
The American Kennel Club admitted the breed in 1976, the United Kennel Club followed in 1948, and the Federation Cynologique Internationale published the international standard (FCI No. 271) in 1959. The FCI assigns the breed to Group 1 — Sheepdogs and Cattledogs (Section 1: Sheepdogs).
Standard
The AKC and FCI standards describe a medium-sized, lean, active herding dog of strong but lean build, slightly longer than tall, with an alert, lively expression. The defining feature is the long, harsh, shaggy double coat — never woolly — with the characteristic beard, moustache, and bushy eyebrows that completely cover the eyes and give the breed its name. Recognized colours are black, brown, blue, and fawn (all four shades are born dark and lighten with maturity), often with white markings on the head, chest, neck, legs, and tail tip. Males stand 53-56 cm at the withers, females 51-53 cm.
Sources & further reading (3)
- kennel-club-registry — accessed 2026-04-30
- encyclopedia — accessed 2026-04-30
- fci-standard — accessed 2026-04-30
Frequently asked questions
What is the Bearded Collie's AKC group?
The American Kennel Club places the Bearded Collie in the Herding Group. The Herding Group, carved out of the older Working Group in 1983, gathers breeds developed to control the movement of livestock — Border Collies, Australian Shepherds, Welsh Corgis, and the German Shepherd among them. The breed's foundation working role was as a Scottish Highland sheep-driver descended from 1514 Polish Lowland Sheepdog imports.
When was the Bearded Collie officially recognized?
The American Kennel Club admitted the breed in 1976; the United Kennel Club followed in 1948; the Federation Cynologique Internationale published the international standard (FCI No. 271) in 1959.
What is the average lifespan of a Bearded Collie?
Kennel-club longevity surveys place the Bearded Collie's average lifespan in the 12-14 years range. The figure here represents the spread reported by the major parent-club studies and the Kennel Club (UK) purebred-dog health surveys.
