ORIGIN AND HISTORY The Bearded Collie originated in Scotland and Northern England, where it has been found in recognizable form since the early 1900s. It is believed to be descended from three Lowland Polish Sheepdogs traded to Scottish shepherds and has been traced to the Komondor of the Magyars. The breed has been called the Highland Sheepdog, Highland Collie and Hairy Moued Collie. There were originally two varieties: the Lowland type, which was slate-colored with a harsh straight, long coat and measured around 25 inches in height; and the Highland type, a brown dog of much smaller stature with a shorter, softer, curlier coat. These have been interbred to form the present breed. All colors are now similar in characteristics, with size…show more content… It is highly intelligent, adaptable, responsive and trainable, yet it can be independent in nature. It makes a good family dog and is friendly. It needs an owner who exerts enough dominance to control its exuberance. With proper upbringing, the Bearded Collie is a gentleman and delightful companion; without it, the dog can become strong-willed. The eyes are large and will tone with coat color. The coat is black, blue, brown or fawn at birth, but grays anywhere from silver to black or from sandy fawn to chocolate with maturity. The coat often lightens to pale silver or cream color at a year of age before darkening to its adult shade. It will continue to change color slightly with each new coat. Pigmentation of the nose, eye rims, lips, etc. follows the birth color of the coat. Pigmentation may be lacking at birth, but should fill in within a few weeks. The puppy coat is either wooly and made up of undercoat or sparse and wiry. This coat sheds at 1 year and the intermediate coat is much shorter on the forequarters than on the hindquarters. The adult coat is moderately long, harsh and straight (a slight wave is permissible) and is predominantly outer coat, with the soft, insulating undercoat evident near the skin. The adult coat is achieved by the third
