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Bearded Collie Dogs for Adoption in Indianapolis, IN

Your guide to finding and caring for a Bearded Collie in Indy

Bearded Collies suit Indy best when their people like to be outside every day. A Beardie can wear out the Pleasant Run Greenway from Irvington's Ellenberger Park, or log miles on the Monon Trail through Meridian-Kessler, and still have energy left to bounce at the door. They're cheerful and sociable, so a street of porches and bungalows suits them fine. Their shaggy coats need a good brushing after wet spring walks, and they like company, so long empty workdays don't suit most.

25 Bearded Collies available in Indianapolis and nationwide

Open your home to a Bearded Collie

While we don't have enough dogs near Indianapolis, keep in mind that many rescues may offer transport.

Bearded Collies Available for Adoption Near Indianapolis

About the Bearded Collie breed

The Bearded Collie is a Scottish herding dog, bred to move sheep and cattle across rough hill country, often out of the shepherd's sight. That work built stamina, independent thinking and a weatherproof double coat. Puppies are born black, blue, brown or fawn, and the coat commonly lightens as they mature. At 40 to 60 pounds, a Beardie is medium-sized but looks bigger under all that hair.

Beardies are known for a clownish, exuberant streak and the famous bounce when they're excited. Many are affectionate with family and friendly with strangers, but they can be stubborn and often bark. In Indianapolis, that means budgeting time for daily greenway walks or bark park runs, patient reward-based training, and a weekly session with the brush to keep mats away. Dogs vary, so each Beardie's own personality matters most.

Weight
40–60 lbs
Height
20–22 in
Lifespan
12–15 yrs
Temperament
Cheerful, Energetic, Friendly
Group
Herding
Shedding
Moderate

Owning a Bearded Collie in Indianapolis

Having a Bearded Collie in Indy

A Beardie in Indy comes with a bright mood, a herding dog's appetite for activity and a coat that wants regular attention. Here's how those traits meet the city's greenways, four-season weather and mix of houses and apartments.

Temperament

Beardies tend to be cheerful, affectionate and outgoing, and many treat strangers as new friends, which suits busy Indy sidewalks and trail traffic. They were bred to think for themselves, so some test boundaries. Barking, bouncing and herding behavior are common. Upbeat, reward-based training works best, and each dog's personality varies.

Exercise Needs

Plan on vigorous daily exercise: long walks on the Monon Trail or Pleasant Run Greenway, plus training games or puzzle toys. Dogs must be leashed in Indy Parks outside the fenced bark parks, so a paid pass or $5 daily fee gives a Beardie a place to run off leash. Under-exercised Beardies often get noisy or destructive.

Health Considerations

Bearded Collies are generally long-lived, but the breed has documented risks of Addison's disease, hypothyroidism, autoimmune conditions, hip dysplasia and some inherited eye problems. Addison's can look like vague illness, so mention lethargy or vomiting to a veterinarian promptly. A vet can check hips and eyes, and the long coat needs tick checks after trail walks.

Living Space

A Beardie can do well in an Indy bungalow with a fenced yard or, with a committed owner, in an apartment, but it wants to live indoors with its people. Its coat tracks in mud and slush, and its bark carries through thin walls, which can lead to neighbor complaints in apartment buildings.

What it costs to own a Bearded Collie in Indianapolis

ExpenseTypical costPer year
Food$35 to $70 per month$420 to $840
Pet insurance$55 to $100 per month$660 to $1,200
Routine vet care$225 to $450 per year$225 to $450
Other*$525 to $2,250 per year$525 to $2,250
Estimated yearly total (after year one)$1,830 to $4,740

Other costs are estimates and vary with size, age and health.

* Flea, tick and heartworm prevention, a dental cleaning allowance, toys and bedding, and coat care ranging from home brushing to professional grooming every six to eight weeks.

Adopt a Bearded Collie in Indianapolis.

Now that you know more, let’s find you a new best friend. These rescues and shelters below have dogs available in and near Indianapolis.

Rescues and Shelters in or near Indianapolis

Indianapolis has a city shelter and nonprofit rescues that place dogs, and the groups below list their adoptable pets here. Here are the rescues & shelters in the Indy area with dogs available for adoption, worth asking whether a Bearded Collie is coming in.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, Bearded Collies handle Indy winters well, since their double coat was built for cold, wet Scottish hills. Expect about 105 freezing nights and roughly 25 inches of snow a year. Rinse salt from paws, brush out ice balls and dry the coat after walks. City rules also require dogs confined outside to come in at 20°F or below.

Yes, a Bearded Collie can live in an Indianapolis apartment if it gets long daily exercise and plenty of company. The bigger hurdles are barking through thin walls, a shaggy coat that tracks in mud and slush, and landlord pet policies. A dog left alone all day may bark more, so a steady routine matters.

Start with the Monon Trail and Cultural Trail for leashed walks, and Eagle Creek Park for about 30 miles of trails, leashed outside its bark park. Fort Harrison State Park, in nearby Lawrence, adds longer trails under a 6-foot leash rule. A Beardie that needs to run off leash can use a bark park with a paid pass.

Mostly no, unless the dog is a service animal. IndyGo, which runs buses plus the Red and Purple Line rapid-transit routes, allows service animals and other pets only in a carrying case. A Bearded Collie weighs 40 to 60 pounds, far too big for a carrier, so plan on driving or walking. Check IndyGo's current pet policy for changes.

Plan on a thorough brushing weekly, with quick daily passes when the coat is wet. In Indy, winter salt, ice balls and wet spring mud mean extra brushing and paw rinsing, and summer humidity tightens mats. Professional grooming every six to eight weeks is optional and fits within the $525 to $2,250 yearly Other range.

Don't count on it. State food-safety rules limit animals in restaurants, and whether a patio welcomes dogs depends on the restaurant, so look for a posted policy before sitting down. Service animals are the clear exception. A Beardie's bounce and barking also make a quiet patio harder, so outdoor trails are an easier outing.

Yes, for active households. Indy's greenways and bark parks match a Beardie's energy, and the coat handles cold winters. It's a weaker fit for people away all day, since Beardies bark and want company, or for anyone unwilling to brush weekly. Each dog differs, so its own behavior says more than breed traits.

Yes, Bearded Collies shed, usually a moderate amount through the year and more heavily during seasonal coat changes. Much of the loose undercoat gets caught in the long outer coat instead of falling on the floor, which is why regular brushing matters: trapped hair quickly forms mats. Thorough weekly brushing, plus extra sessions while shedding, keeps the coat healthy.

You groom a Bearded Collie by brushing the coat thoroughly, layer by layer down to the skin, at least once a week and more often during shedding. Lightly misting the coat with water first reduces breakage. Pay special attention to mats behind the ears, under the legs and on the belly. Trim nails, check ears and tidy the feet regularly.

Expect roughly $1,830 to $4,740 a year for a Beardie in Indy, based on the ranges below. Food runs $35 to $70 a month, insurance $55 to $100 and routine vet care $225 to $450 a year. Other costs of $525 to $2,250 swing mostly with grooming. Indianapolis has no city dog license fee.

Explore Other Breeds in Indianapolis

Looking for a different breed? Browse other dogs available for adoption in Indianapolis.