Your guide to finding and caring for a Bearded Collie in Sioux Falls
A Bearded Collie suits Sioux Falls if you like being outside in every season. The Big Sioux River trail gives a Beardie miles to cover, and a Whittier duplex or an East Side house with a yard works fine as long as the dog gets out daily. Beardies bounce, bark and want company, so they do best with someone home a fair amount. Come January, that long coat collects snow and ice balls, so keep a towel by the door.
Open your home to a Bearded Collie
While we don't have enough dogs near Sioux Falls, keep in mind that many rescues may offer transport.
Bearded Collies began as Scottish herding dogs, moving sheep and cattle across rough hill country, often out of the shepherd's sight. That work left them with stamina, an independent streak and a weatherproof double coat: a harsh, shaggy outer layer over a soft undercoat. Puppies are born black, blue, brown or fawn, and the coat usually lightens as they mature.
Beardies are cheerful, bouncy and friendly, but they're also energetic, can be stubborn, and many are vocal. The coat needs thorough brushing every week to stay free of mats, and daily exercise and patient, reward-based training are part of the deal. Dogs vary, and a rescue Beardie's own personality counts for more than the breed's reputation.
Having a Bearded Collie in Sioux Falls
A Beardie in Sioux Falls comes down to energy, coat and company. The breed's herding drive needs daily outlets, the double coat handles cold well but needs steady care, and most Beardies want to stay close to their people.
Bearded Collies are usually cheerful, affectionate and outgoing, and many treat strangers as friends. They were bred to think independently, so some test boundaries, and barking and bouncing are common. In a city of duplexes and apartments, early manners training and plenty of company help. Each Beardie's personality differs from the breed average.
Plan on vigorous daily exercise: long walks, jogs, hikes or games in a secure space, plus training and puzzle toys for the mind. Sioux Falls has city dog parks and a long river trail system for this. Leashes are required on trails. Many Beardies enjoy snowy walks, but the coat needs drying and brushing afterward.
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. A veterinarian can check hips and eyes and run baseline tests. Mention vague signs such as lethargy or vomiting early, and keep up regular checkups.
Beardies can manage an apartment with a committed owner, but they do best with a securely fenced yard and daily outings. Houses and duplexes with a yard suit them well. Their bark carries through thin walls, and a long coat tracks in mud and melting snow. They want to live indoors with their people.
| Expense | Typical cost | Per 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* | $530 to $2,275 per year | $530 to $2,275 |
| Estimated yearly total (after year one) | $1,835 to $4,765 | |
Other costs are estimates and vary with size, age and health.
* Flea, tick and heartworm prevention, a dental cleaning allowance, the Sioux Falls dog license ($5 a year if spayed or neutered), toys and bedding, and coat care from home brushing to professional grooming.
Now that you know more, let’s find you a new best friend. These rescues and shelters below have dogs available in and near Sioux Falls.
Sioux Falls is served by a long-established humane society and foster-based rescues, whose adoptable dogs are listed below. Here are the rescues & shelters in the Sioux Falls area with dogs available for adoption, worth asking whether a Bearded Collie is coming in.
Yes, most Bearded Collies handle Sioux Falls winters well thanks to their weatherproof double coat, even through weeks below freezing. The main chores are brushing out snow and ice balls, wiping salt off paws and shortening walks on extreme wind-chill days. Dogs vary, so watch for shivering or lifted paws and head indoors.
Yes. Sioux Falls has no breed bans, and South Dakota law bars local breed-specific rules. What applies is the same for every dog: a city license and rabies vaccination, a leash of 6 feet or less in public, picking up waste, and a four-pet household limit. License a newly adopted Beardie soon after bringing it home.
Spencer Park suits an energetic Beardie: its dog park sits beside Big Sioux River trail access. Downtown, Pawsible has fully fenced turf with a separate large-dog area, and Lien Park offers a dog park plus a new riverside boardwalk extension. Keep the leash on outside fenced areas, and expect riverside spots to close after heavy rain.
It can, if the owner commits to daily exercise. Sioux Falls has apartments, duplexes and houses, and a Beardie's 40-to-60-pound size may run into a building's weight limit, so read the lease closely. Their barking carries through thin walls, so teach quiet manners early and choose a spot with easy access to a dog park or the river trail.
Often, for active people who are home a fair amount. The double coat copes with long winters, summers are mild, and trails and dog parks give a herding dog room to burn energy. It's a weaker fit for anyone away long days or wanting a low-maintenance coat, and noise-shy dogs may need help during July fireworks.
Plan on a thorough brushing at least weekly, and every few days while the coat is blowing in spring. In winter, towel-dry and comb out snow and ice from legs and belly after walks. Professional grooming every six to eight weeks is optional and falls under the Other line in the cost table.
Sometimes. City environmental health has said dogs may be allowed on patios and even indoors unless the city, county or the business bans it, provided they stay out of food-preparation areas. Whether a Beardie is welcome is each restaurant's call, so look for patios that clearly welcome dogs, and bring water and a mat so your dog settles.
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 $1,835 to $4,765 a year, covering food ($35–$70 a month), insurance ($55–$100 a month), routine vet care ($225–$450) and other costs ($530–$2,275). The wide spread comes mostly from coat care, from home brushing to professional grooming every six to eight weeks. Adoption fees are shown on each listing.
Looking for a different breed? Browse other dogs available for adoption in Sioux Falls.
