While your bearded collie is still a puppy it's important for you to learn how to take care of him. One of the most important things to know is that the bearded collie has an abundance of energy. If you are going to use him as a working dog to herd sheep or cattle, he will get plenty of exercise in the performance of his duties. On the other hand, if you are planning to use him as a family pet, it's important to understand the amount of energy he possesses so that you can make certain you make accommodations for exercising him on a daily basis. One important thing for those with children is the bearded collie is very good with children.
The bearded collie, whether family pet or working dog, is not an outdoor dog and prefers to be inside with his human family. You do not want to put him in the backyard alone for his daily exercise because he will become bored. If he becomes bored, he will find a way to get out of the yard, and this dog breed excels in their ability to be escape artists. If you do not have a large open area where you can exercise your dog, stay with him in the backyard during his exercise time, and have some planned activities for him to do.
Bearded collies are quite proficient in agility trials, so if you don't have an area big enough to exercise your dog, you can enroll him very early in his life in agility training classes and allow him to compete in trials when he is ready. Even if you are using him as a working dog, you can also allow him to compete in agility trials. After all, a bearded collie needs plenty of exercise, and the more he has, the happier he is.
Bearded collies are also sometimes used as show dogs, so you have to keep that in mind when you purchase your dog. A bearded collie that is bred has a show dog tends to have an excessive coat. In recent years, breeder clubs have developed specifically geared toward breeding the working dog. The breeders in these clubs teach potential owners to concentrate less on the dog's exterior and more on how well he can perform his duties as a herder.
Whether your dog is a family pet or a working dog, he needs plenty of exercise. Depending on the amount of work you have for him, he may get enough exercise without you having to provide additional things for him to do to run off his energy. This is something that will be individual to each dog, so be cognizant of the needs of your own dog and don't try to compare him to others in his breed.
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