In 1944 a shetland sheepdog breeder bought a puppy that, when it arrived, proved to be anything but a sheltie. It was chocolate in colour, with hanging ears and scruffy fur. The puppy was named Jeanie and grew up to become an excellent herding dog. A visitor to the farm asked to buy her, for he was on the lookout for purebread bearded collies, a breed that had went almost extinct after the world war. After four years of searching, a suitable mate for Jeanie was found, and in 1950 a litter of bearded collies were born under the prefix Bothkennar. All modern bearded collies originate from this single litter.
The bearded collie should be slightly rectangular, alert and lively. The head is broad with a square-shaped skull and powerful muzzle. The eyes should have a mild expression. The ears are of medium size, hanging and covered in long hair. The chest is long and deep, with a straight topline. The coat is long and somewhat hard to the touch, with a soft and woolly undercoat. Despite its long coat, the bearded collie must appear to have a lot of air under the body.