History of the Bearded Collie

A Brief History of the Bearded Collie

The exact origins of the Bearded Collie are unknown, though the shaggy sheepdog type existed across Europe as long ago as 4000BC. Naturally at this stage there would have been interest only in the working ability of these dogs and no interest in selecting for any particular appearance. Nor would any formal records of breeding or pedigrees have been kept, as these were not the dogs of the aristocracy as the spaniels and hounds were, but true working dogs owned by the herdsmen and shepherds. They were known by various names such as the "Highland Sheepdog", "Mountain Collie", "Hairy Mou’ed Collie" and "Smithfield Drover". This last was a reference to their work of driving sheep and cattle along the long roads from their northern homelands to the Smithfield Market in London.

Various types developed according to their region of origin and by 1800 there were at least two distinct varieties. The Border or Lowland type was large (24"/25"), slate grey in colour with a long straight harsh coat, where the Highland variety tended to be reddish-brown, smaller and more agile with a shorter curlier coat. Whichever, the Bearded Collie was prized as a worker, being sure-footed, hardy and remarkably intelligent, with a weatherproof coat which served him well in the harsh Scottish winters. Yet it is as a show dog and companion that we have come to know the breed and here we have a few people to thank.

In 1912 a breed club was formed for fanciers in Edinburgh. Unfortunately the club folded before long but left us a legacy in the form of the first written breed standard, published in "Our Dogs" in an article on the breed appearing on 17th December 1898 and submitted by Mrs Hall Walker. This with few alterations remained the breed standard for nearly sixty years.

The outbreak of war brought the breed’s revival to a standstill again and in the meantime changes were taking place in the farming world which were beginning to make the working Beardie redundant.

In the 1920’s and 30’s Mrs Cameron Millar made an effort to revive interest in the breed, and her well-known show dog Balmacneil Scott appears in several publications including "Hutchinson’s Dog Encyclopaedia". After her death the breed came close to extinction.

The current revival owes its beginnings to chance. In 1944 the late Mrs G.O. Willison, having ordered a working Sheltie from a farmers’ agent, was sent a brown Bearded Collie bitch puppy in its place. This puppy, registered was Jeannie of Bothkennar. Mrs Willison worked tirelessly to secure the breed’s future, scouring the country for suitable dogs, until her decline into ill-health meant the kennel was disbanded in the winter of 1963-64. Her Bothkennar dogs are behind all modern day Beardies. However by the time this happened some notable milestones had been achieved. At the meeting of the Kennel Club on 5th April 1955 the application to register the title of The Bearded Collie Club was approved, and in 1959 the breed gained championship status, with the first Champion being Beauty Queen of Bothkennar.

In 1964 the breed standard was revised, mainly to bring the height range down from 20"-24" to the range now accepted. Most recently the breed made its mark in dog showing history when "Cassie" (Ch. Potterdale Classic of Moonhill) gained the prestigious Best in Show award at Crufts 1989. Truly a long way from the Beardie’s days as a "humble worker"!