AKA: Highland Collie, Mountain Collie, Hairy Mou ed Collie, Beardie

Description: The Bearded Collie, or the Beardie, is an ancestor of the Old English Sheepdog. It is an agile herding dog with a shaggy coat all over its body. The head of the Beardie is broad, and the muzzle short. Its eyes are wide and harmonious with the color of its coat. The ears lie close to head. Its tail is long and is carried low or wagging (if the dog is excited).

Dynamics: The Beardie is an exuberant and playful dog. It can be seen as an affectionate and happy-go-lucky one. It is a great companion to children. Male Beardies tend to more bold and outgoing, while the females are calmer and more submissive. The Beardie has to be with people and shouldn’t be left with nothing to do. The Beardie has a lot of energy and is very lively.

Beardies also tend to think a lot and can be headstrong, so obedience training is a must. The Beardie is a natural herder, but it is not made to be a watch dog.

Breed Group: Herding

Weight: 40-60 lbs (18-27 kg)

Height: 20-22 inches (51-56 cm)

Color: The color of the Beardie’s coat changes several times. As a puppy, the Beardie is generally black, brown, fawn or blue. It then fades to light gray or cream as it grows. When it reaches maturity, the coat darkens to their adult coat in any of the four colors black, brown, blue, or fawn.

Country of Origin: The Bearded Collie originated from the Kingdom of Scotland, when the Polish Sheepdog (an ancestor of the Beardie) was introduced in 1514. The Beardie was used for herding sheep and cattle for centuries. It almost disappeared in the early 20th century but was rescued by mating a pair in 1944.

Activities: The Beardie needs a lot of exercise. It enjoys running and playing.

Other Info: The Beardie’s life expectancy is about 14-15 years. It is generally healthy but hip dysplasia is possible and the dense coat may hide external parasite infestation. The Bearded Collie is not suitable for apartment life. It is a very active dog and will grow up best in homes with a yard or big space. The Beardie prefer to be outdoors and should not be confined.

Grooming: Daily grooming is important. Mist the coat lightly before brushing it. Take special care when the Beardie is shedding and tease out the mats before they get bad. Check regularly for ticks, and bathe when necessary. The eyes, ears, and paws should also be checked regularly.

AKA: Westie, Poltalloch Terrier, Roseneath Terrier

Description: The West Highland White Terrier known as “Westie” is a small, in good balanced, hard looking terrier, showing good impressions. They are attractive looking with a beautiful, shiny white colored coat and bright, round eyes, hairy eyebrows with black nose. Their fur around the face is covered with bristles, which gives the dog a rounded face. Their skin is either black or pink, but their fur is commonly white.  They have double coat that is harsh and straight and about 2 inches long, with a soft outer coat close, fuzzy undercoat. naturally, their ears are prick ears,  and some carry their ears down. Their size makes them great for an apartment but they are just as at home in the country. They are a hardy breed, capable of playing with children and other dogs. West Highland White Terriers make great companions for children of all ages. Easygoing, active, responsive and friendly are all the ingredients for making a Westie. They are one of the most popular breed of dogs today.

Temperament: An intelligent dog who learns quickly, the West Highland White Terriers love human companionship and will play with their family indoors or out. West Highland White Terriers are active, aggressive, fun, obedient and light-hearted. They are alert and friendly. They always love to play and have fun. They are courageous, self-confident and have good self-esteem. They can be independent but mostly long the love and affection on their families. They like to dig in the yard and should be trained to avoid this, as they also will kill any vermin they find around the house. Some Westies may not be good with children, as some are more picky than others for a companion. They generally get along well with other dogs and if trained, with other pets such as cats. West Highland White Terriers need consistent attention, exercise and mental stimulation or else they will become lazy and out of shape. If given the opportunity, the Westie will sit on your lap or next to you and enjoy your petting for hours.

Activity: West Highland White Terrier requires a daily walk, and enjoys to be free playing in yard.

Grooming: They need regular brushing two to three times a week to help keep their white coat clean. Monthly bathing is necessary for their coat to cleaned.

Health Problems: This breed is healthy and a very athletic dog. Some health problems they may encounter are with skin allergies, patellar luxation, hernias, cranio mandibular osteopathy (lion jaw), deafness and congenital heart disease. They can also be prone to atopy, cataracts, copper toxicosis, enzyme deficiency, inguinal hernia, and Legg-Perthes disease. Their life span is around 15 + years

Breed Group: Terrier, AKC Terrier

Color: All white, no other colors, or else they’d be called Cairn Terrier.

Height: 10 – 11 inches.

Weight: 15 – 22 lbs.

Country Of Origin: Scotland

Dynamics: Alert, courageous, self-confident, high-energy, playful and friendly. Good watchdog.

AKA: Sheltie

Description: The Shetland Sheepdog is an attractive breed with a similarity of a Rough Collie, but is much smaller in size. They have a long wedge-shaped head and they are very hairy. The coat is long and soft, fluffy undercoat to protect them. Their color can be dark, blue merle, black and white or black and tan. The top part of the muzzle should be alike to that of the skull. Their eyes are dark, almond-shaped except in blue merle dogs that they may be blue or merle color and teeth should met in scissors bite. Its hair is very thick around the neck, it’s like they are wearing a ruffle. The Shetland Sheepdog has an elegant long, hairy tail and pliable, soft ears. This breed has a very intelligent and smart expression. they are very strong, rapid and agile.

Temperament: This breed is very energetic and have variety of characters. An excellent companion dog, because they are gentle,sensitive and loyal. Moreover, they a very lively, easy to train dog. Very willing to please and obedient. They always long for love and companionship. Thus, owners should spare time for them because they could be destructive if left alone. The Sheltie is a family dog and enjoys plenty of attention and embrace from their owner. And for a balanced temperament, they should be trained for early socialization since some of them can be shy and aloof. Some strangers could not touch them. When there are some suspicious strangers, they could raise an alarm by barking. This breed is a good guard and watchdog. These dogs are best for older children, and will usually get along well with other animals. It needs a stable environment to live in, and does not like loud noises or tense atmospheres. Sheltie has a very strong herding instinct and they love to chase things.

Activity: They are active indoors and will be okey for them even without a yard. They also require a good amount of exercise and a daily walk or jog would be best for them as well. And they love to run freely but they should be in a safe area.

Grooming: Their coat is easy to care. They can be brushed regularly to to get mats before it gets bad. They shed heavily on seasonal basis only in spring and fall. Bathe and dry shampoo them only when necessary.

Health Problems: Their life span is around 12-14 years, and health problems includes: epilepsy, vWD, thyroid problems, luxating patella, PRA, HD, eye problems, seizures, and heart problems.

Breed Group: Herding, AKC Herding

Color: Black, blue merle, and sable, marked with varying amounts of white and/or tan

Height: 13-16 inches

Weight: 20 lbs

Country Of Origin: Shetland Islands

Dynamics: Affectionate, intelligent, quick learner, loyal, active, reserved with strangers but never aggressive.

AKA: Aberdeen Terrier, Scotty dog

Description: The Scottish Terrier is a small also short legged breed. Its head are long but also matched to their size. They have a hard and weather-resistant coat that could protect them in any weather condition. Their body is a thick set and a heavy built body with a short, heavy legs. Their eyes are almond-shaped and slightly short, muscular neck with a well laid back shoulders. Its body has short ribs, strong loin and very muscular hindquarters also same their thighs very strong for its size with straight legs.

Temperament: The Scottish dog is alert and spirited but also a calm dog. Always heads and tails up to to show how confident and determined they are. In nature, Scottish Terrier, is very loving and gentle with people around but they have the tendency to be aggressive with other dogs. Also, charming and full of character. They too like humans posses some mood swings and uncommon manner. Moreover,They could sometimes be rigid so they require a gentle care and firm on their early age, to prevent them from being dominant over their owner. And never play some aggressive games with them.They love to play ball games. They are also lively and intelligent easy to train. They will only be attached to one or two people and can only recognize his own human family. Like other breeds, they can also be a good watchdog that could bark to strangers. He is not a sociable breed that add to its ability of being a good watchdog.

Activity: Walking and playing around is the best form of exercise for them.They needed a daily walk and play around that would be a best form of exercise,for them to avoid behavior problems

Grooming: Brushing regularly of their harsh wiry coat would be best for them. They shed little. But should be taken an extra care when they shed. Bathe or dry shampoo when necessary. The hair on its face should be lightly trimmed twice per year and hair on their body be left long like a skirt.

Health Problems: Their life span is around 12-14 years. They are a healthy breed . They only have some health problems to worry about : thyroid problems, cancer, allergies, luxating patella, and seizures.

Breed Group: Terrier, AKC Terrier

Color: sand, black, wheaten, brindle, grizzle, or gray.

Height: 10-11 inches (25-28 kg.)

Weight: 19-23 pounds (8½-10½kg.)

Country Of Origin: Scotland

Dynamics: Very Independent, calm,cheerful, devoted to its family, courageous and highly intelligent also moderately energetic.

AKA: Scottish Collie

Description: The Collie is an active and agile long-coated sheepdog that comes as a rough variety or a smooth one. The rough variety has an abundant double coat that forms a mane around its neck and chest. The smooth variety has a one-inch coat that doesn’t need that much grooming. The hair on the head and legs of both varieties, however, are similarly short and smooth.

Its head is lean, blunted, and wedge-shaped, with the top of it flat. The muzzle is long, smooth, well-rounded, and blunt. The ears are slightly erect, the tips folding forward. It has a black nose and the eyes are almond-shaped and dark. In the case of blue merle collies, however, the eyes are blue or merle.

The body of the Collie is trim and muscular. It is slightly longer than it is tall. It has a strong and fairly wide chest, and its tail hangs down to the hocks.

Dynamics: The Collie is a nobly intelligent dog. It is easy to train and can be house-trained in about a week (when it is about 10-12 weeks old). The Collie is sensitive, kind, and loyal. It is known to be a breed that is very devoted and protective of its loved ones. It is excellent with children and are good-natured and friendly dogs.

The Collie is an energetic dog outdoors. A puppy may exhibit herding behavior (nipping at people’s heels and running around) but this is outgrown when it turns into an adult. The Collie tend to be suspicious of strangers and the people it does not like. It has a great sense of protectiveness, especially for its family’s children.

Breed Group: Herding

Weight: males 60-75 lbs (27-34 kg), females 50-65 lbs (23-29 kg)

Height: males 24-26 inches (61-66 cm), females 22-24 inches (56-61 cm)

Color: Both the rough and smooth variety can come in sable and white, tricolor black-white-and-tan, blue merle or predominantly white with sable, tricolor or blue merle markings.

Country of Origin: The Collie originated in Britain. The Rough Coated Collie actually originated in Scotland. But it was Queen Victoria’s interest in the breed that sparked its popularity. The Collie was then mixed with the Borzoi, and the result was a Collie used as a show dog. The working Collie was branched out from the show type and is more popular as a Scottish Collie. The show type Collie has to have the Borzoi influence, and the flatter faces, in order to be accepted in the show rings. The Collie was first presented at a dog show in 1860.

Activities: The Collie needs a lot of exercise and their time outdoors. It enjoys some runs and romps off the leash. The breed has been used as sheepdogs for centuries, and are used as a rescue dog, guide for the blind, a movie star (Lassie), and a guard dog.

Grooming: Thoroughly brushing the coat of a Collie will keep it in good condition. Extra care should be given when it sheds its soft dense undercoat. Bathe or dry shampoo when necessary. The long-coated variety may have a big matt that needs to be cut out and not combed to avoid hurting the Collie. For the smooth variety, brushing should be done every one to two weeks.

Other Info: The Collie’s life expectancy is about 14-16 years. It is prone to PRA, eye defects, and hip problems that could lead to acute lameness and arthritis. But this breed is generally healthy. The Collie will be fine in an apartment, but it has to be taken out from time to time and exercised. It is relatively inactive outdoors. It is sensitive to the heat, especially its nose. It has to be provided with plenty of shade and fresh water in warm weather.