The Bearded Collie, affectionately called the Beardie, was developed in Scotland as a herding dog. Its ancestors likely included herding dogs from the European continent, such as the Poland Lowland Sheepdog (Polski Owzcarek Nizinny) and the Komondor, blended with the sheep herding dogs of the British Isles. It was developed as an independent worker, able to make decisions concerning the welfare and safety of its charges without depending on the shepherd, who might be miles away. The Beardie is still used as a shepherd’s helpmate — not only in its native Scotland, but all over the world.
The mission of the Bearded Collie Club of America is to protect the long-term welfare and integrity of the breed by providing a variety of opportunities for Beardie owners, breeders and the public to learn, connect, and compete, while supporting research into breed-specific health issues and rescue of Beardies in need.