| The Bearded Collie is believed to be one of the
oldest herding dogs in Scotland. It may descend
from the Komondor of central Europe. Alternately,
it may come from three purebred Polish Lowland
Sheepdogs-a dog and two bitches-that were
exchanged for a ram and a ewe brought by merchants
on a trading voyage to Scotland in 1514. Originally,
there were two strains of Bearded Collie-the Border
dogs, which were gray and white; and the Highland
dogs, which were brown and white, and whose coat
tended to curl. Interbreeding over hundreds of years
has mixed the strains and eliminated the curl.
The Beardie is an alert, self-confident, and active
dog, and is good natured and reliable with children. It
makes a good pet and a first-class obedience and show
dog. It enjoys plenty of exercise, and requires daily
brushing, very little combing, and the occasional bath.
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