Bearded Collie

A healthy Bearded Collie typically lives 12-14 years. The factor most likely to shorten that is undiagnosed Addison's disease, which is over-represented in the breed and easy to mistake for a sensitive stomach or 'getting older.' Beardies from lines with documented health screening and owners who investigate vague chronic illness early tend to reach the upper end of that range in good condition.

Yes — they are friendly, playful, sturdy, and tolerant, and generally do well in active families with children. The one caveat is herding instinct: a Beardie may nip or body-bump running, shrieking children the way it would move stock. This is manageable with early training and by teaching the dog an 'off' for the behavior, but families should expect to address it rather than be surprised by it. Supervise young children with any large, bouncy dog.

A lot, and it is the single biggest reason people regret the breed. The harsh double coat must be brushed and combed all the way to the skin 3-4 times a week; surface brushing leaves mats forming underneath that become painful and require shave-downs. The juvenile coat change around 9-18 months is especially demanding. Budget 30-45 minutes per thorough session plus a professional groom every 6-10 weeks if keeping the full coat. This is a years-long, non-negotiable commitment.

Plan on 60-90 minutes of active daily exercise plus mental work. This is a stamina-built herding dog; leashed neighborhood walks alone will not satisfy it, and an under-exercised Beardie redirects that energy into barking, digging, and nipping. The best owners add a job — agility, herding, rally, long hikes, or structured fetch — which tires the mind as well as the body. They thrive in cold and wet; in summer, shift hard exercise to cooler parts of the day.

Addison's disease (hypoadrenocorticism) is failure of the adrenal glands to produce enough cortisol and aldosterone, usually from autoimmune destruction. It matters because Bearded Collies have a notably elevated breed risk. The danger is the symptoms — intermittent vomiting, weakness, lethargy, poor appetite, collapse during stress — look like many minor problems, so it is often caught only in a life-threatening crisis. Diagnosed early via an ACTH-stimulation test, it is controlled for life with hormone replacement and a normal lifespan. Knowing the breed risk is what gets it tested for in time.

Expect roughly $1,500-$3,500 for a well-bred Bearded Collie puppy from a breeder doing CHIC health testing (hips, thyroid, eyes) and tracking autoimmune history in their lines. The hidden costs are two: lifelong professional grooming (often $80-$150 every 6-10 weeks if you keep the full coat) and, if Addison's develops, ongoing medication and monitoring that can run $700-$1,500+ per year. A health-screened lineage is the most cost-effective decision you can make in this breed.