Bearded Collies are high maintenance in the grooming department all thanks to their long and flowing coats. If not frequently brushed, their coats quickly become tangled and matted which means daily brushing is essential to keep things tidy and knot-free. Daily brushing also keeps a dog's skin in good condition and it strengthens the bond formed between dog and owner.
Beardies are very messy eaters all thanks to the long hair around their faces so it's important to make sure the area around their mouths is kept clean paying particular attention to a dog's beard and chin.
Puppies need to be taught early that grooming is a nice experience and this includes having their paws and nails touched so they look forward to the one-to-one attention they are given when being brushed.
Beardies also benefit from being professionally groomed 2 to 3 times a year so their coats can be expertly hand stripped which makes it easier to keep them looking good in between. Like other breeds, the Beardie tends to shed the most hair during the Spring and then again in the Autumn when more frequent brushing is needed to keep on top of things.
Bearded Collies are high energy dogs and therefore they need to be given a lot of daily exercises. However, they are also extremely intelligent dogs and as such, they need to be given a tremendous amount of mental stimulation too or they quickly get bored and this could lead to them becoming unruly and difficult characters to handle.
As such two good walks a day are essential and as much outside time in a secure garden is ideal for these dogs. In short, they are not the best choice of pets for people who spend most of the day out of the house, but they are the ideal choice for people who work from home and who have a large secure garden for their dogs to play in.
Bearded Collies are not known to be fussy or finicky about their food, but this does not mean you can feed them a lower quality diet. If you get a Bearded Collie puppy from a breeder, they would give you a feeding schedule for your new pet and it's important to stick to the same routine, feeding the same type of food to a puppy to avoid any tummy or digestive upsets. You can change a puppy's diet, but this needs to be done very gradually always making sure they don't develop any digestive upset and if they do, it's best to put them back on their original diet and to discuss things with the vet before attempting to change their diet again.
Older dogs need to be fed a good quality, well-balanced diet to suit their ages and any health issues a dog may be suffering from. As previously mentioned, Beardies are messy eaters all thanks to the amount of hair they have around their muzzles. Food collects in the hair and if left it soon builds up, gets smelly and eventually if not cleaned, could lead to a nasty skin infection taking hold which can be very hard to clear up.
