Last Updated: Nov 22, 2022
Quick Links: Table of Contents
- Are Bearded Collies Aggressive Towards Strangers?
- Are Bearded Collies Aggressive Towards their Owners?
- Are Bearded Collies Aggressive Towards other Dogs?
- Are Bearded Collies Afraid of Strangers?
- Are Bearded Collies Afraid of Other Dogs?
- Do Bearded Collies Have Non-Social Fears?
- Do Bearded Collies Get Along Well With Other Dogs?
- Are Bearded Collies Easy to Train?
- Do Bearded Collies Get Along Well with Cats? Do They Get Along Well with Other Pets?
- Do Bearded Collies Like Attention? Are they Clingy or Aloof?
- Do Bearded Collies have Separation Anxiety? Do They Like to be Left Alone?
- Are Bearded Collies Touch Sensitive? Do They Like to be Groomed?
- Are Bearded Collies Hyper? Are they Highly Excitable?
- Are Bearded Collies Playful? What is the Energy Level of Bearded Collies
- Conclusion on Bearded Collie Temperament
Introduction to the Temperament of the Bearded Collie
The are many descriptions of the temperament of the Bearded Collie out there. However, most of these descriptions are difficult to verify or prove. They are based on mere speculations.
In this article, we will provide a factual description of the temperament of the Bearded Collie based on solid scientific research. This will give you a better understanding of what you can expect from the Bearded Collie breed.
We obtained our description of the temperament of Bearded Collie by analyzing raw scientific data from The Canine Behavioral Assessment & Research Questionnaire (C-BARQ) database.
The C-BARQ dog temperament standard was developed by researchers from the University of Pennsylvania. It is considered the gold standard for measuring the behavior of dogs.
Over the years, the C-BARQ study has collected data on the temperament of thousands of dogs of different breeds including the Bearded Collie.
The C-BARQ study obtains its data by asking dog owners to score the behavior of their dogs on different behavior patterns.
The idea behind the C-BARQ study is that if it collects thousands of scores from thousands of dog owners on different aspects of dog behavior, a clear pattern will emerge on the temperament of different dog breeds.
The C-BARQ questionnaire measures 14 behavior aspects of dogs:
- Aggression towards stranger
- Aggression towards its owner
- Aggression towards other dogs
- How well they get along with other dogs
- Fear of strangers
- Fear of new things (new objects, unfamiliar loud sounds, etc)
- Fear of other dogs
- Separation anxiety
- Clinginess
- Trainability/ Stubbornness
- Prey drive
- Excitability
- Touch sensitivity
- Energy level
In this article, we will discuss the score of the Bearded Collie for each of these 14 characteristics. This will let you know the real temperament of the Bearded Collie.
The summary table below shows the score of the Bearded Collie for the different behavioral characteristics.
High percentage scores close to 100 are bad. Low percentage scores close to 0 are good.
Behavior | Score |
---|---|
Excitability | 51.6 percent |
Attachment Attention Seeking | 51.5 percent |
Nonsocial Fear | 50.0 percent |
Dog Directed Fear | 48.7 percent |
Dog Rivalry | 45.0 percent |
Separation Related Behavior | 43.4 percent |
Energy Level | 42.6 percent |
Prey Drive | 41.0 percent |
Owner Directed Aggression | 34.5 percent |
Stranger Directed Fear | 34.4 percent |
Touch Sensitivity | 27.0 percent |
Stubbornness | 19.6 percent |
Dog Directed Aggression | 15.2 percent |
Stranger Directed Aggression | 14.2 percent |
Note that with proper training, you can better your Bearded Collie`s temperament. To learn how to properly train your Bearded Collie, I highly recommend that you go through Dr. Ian Dunbar`s online dog training classes, which you can find here.
I learned most of the things that I know about training dogs by reading Dr. Dunbar`s books and watching his training videos. Dr. Dunbar`s dog training methods are for people expecting to own a puppy soon, new dog owners, and experienced dog owners.
Another helpful online dog training class that I recommend is this one. The class will teach you how to properly train your Bearded Collie.
See also our complete ranking of dog breeds from the `best` to the `worst` based on temperament.
Are Bearded Collies Aggressive Towards Strangers?
Dog breeds that are aggressive to strangers show hostile responses to strangers approaching or invading the dog`s or the dog owner`s personal space, territory, or home range.
Stranger-aggressive dog breeds are quick to show aggression to unfamiliar people.
Typical signs of moderate aggression in dogs include barking, growling, and baring of teeth. More serious display of aggression generally includes snapping, lunging, biting, or attempting to bite.
Bearded Collies are not aggressive towards strangers.
This is because the Bearded Collie ranks very low for aggression towards strangers.
The Bearded Collie ranks number 112 out of 124 dog breeds for aggression towards strangers.
This information is based on what 22 Bearded Collie owners reported on the temperament of their Bearded Collie in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Bearded Collie has a stranger-directed-aggression score of 14.2 %.
Other dog breeds that are not aggressive towards strangers just like the Bearded Collie are listed in the table below
Stranger-Directed-Aggression Rank | Breed | Stranger-Directed-Aggression Score |
---|---|---|
109 | Bulldog | 15.6 % |
110 | English Setter | 15.1 % |
111 | French Bulldog | 14.4 % |
112 | Bearded Collie | 14.2 % |
113 | Golden Retriever | 13.1 % |
114 | Cavalier King Charles Spaniel | 12.5 % |
115 | Flat-Coated Retriever | 11.1 % |
The dog breeds that are most aggressive towards strangers are the:
The dog breeds that are least aggressive towards strangers are the:
Usually, small dog breeds display aggression not because they are mean but because they are afraid and feel insecure due to their small size.
Are Bearded Collies Aggressive Towards their Owners?
Due to human effort over the course of many centuries, the dog has become a very domestic animal. Dogs have learned to live well with humans. As a result, dogs respect and love their owners. Nevertheless, some dog breeds are less respectful to their owners than some other dog breeds.
Owner-aggressive dog breeds show threatening or hostile responses to their owner or other members of the household when challenged, manhandled, stared at, stepped over, or when approached while in possession of food, objects, or toys.
A dog that is owner-aggressive shows its aggression by barking, growling, and baring of teeth. In extreme cases, these dogs can snap, lunge, bite, or attempt to bite their owners.
Bearded Collies are very much aggressive towards their owners.
This is because the Bearded Collie ranks very high for aggression towards its owner.
The Bearded Collie ranks number 21 out of 124 dog breeds for aggression towards their owners.
This information is based on what 22 Bearded Collie owners reported on the temperament of their Bearded Collie in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Bearded Collie has an owner-directed-aggression score of 34.5 %.
Other dog breeds that are very much owner-aggressive just like the Bearded Collie are listed in the table below
Owner-Directed-Aggression Rank | Breed | Owner-Directed-Aggression Score |
---|---|---|
18 | Chihuahua | 36.7 % |
19 | Tibetan Terrier | 36.5 % |
20 | Dalmatian | 36.1 % |
21 | Bearded Collie | 34.5 % |
22 | Pomeranian | 33.6 % |
23 | Jack Russell Terrier | 32.5 % |
24 | Shih Tzu | 32.4 % |
The dog breeds that show the most aggression towards their owners are the:
The dog breeds that are least aggressive towards their owners are the:
Usually, small dog breeds display aggression not because they are mean but because they are afraid and feel insecure due to their small size.
Are Bearded Collies Aggressive Towards other Dogs?
Dogs that are aggressive towards other dogs will direct aggressive threats or actions toward unknown or unfamiliar dogs.
A dog-aggressive dog will threaten or show hostile responses when approached by unfamiliar dogs
A dog that is dog-aggressive shows its aggression by barking, growling, and baring of teeth. In extreme cases, these dogs can snap, lunge, bite, or attempt to bite other dogs.
Bearded Collies are not aggressive towards other dogs.
This is because the Bearded Collie ranks very low for aggression towards other dogs.
The Bearded Collie ranks number 118 out of 124 dog breeds for aggression towards other dogs.
This information is based on what 22 Bearded Collie owners reported on the temperament of their Bearded Collie in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Bearded Collie has a dog-directed aggression score of 15.2 %.
Other dog breeds that are not dog-aggressive just like the Bearded Collie are listed in the table below
Dog-Directed-Aggression Rank | Breed | Dog-Directed-Aggression Score |
---|---|---|
115 | Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever | 19.3 % |
116 | Greyhound | 18.0 % |
117 | Collie | 16.1 % |
118 | Bearded Collie | 15.2 % |
119 | Eurasier | 13.2 % |
120 | Keeshond | 13.2 % |
121 | Irish Wolfhound | 10.3 % |
The dog breeds that show the most aggression towards other dogs are the:
The dog breeds that are least aggressive towards other dogs are the:
Usually, small dog breeds display aggression not because they are mean but because they are afraid and feel insecure due to their small size.
Are Bearded Collies Afraid of Strangers?
Some dogs breeds tend to be fearful of strangers.
Dogs that are fearful of strangers will avoid strangers. These dogs will crouch, cringe, or tremble when approached by strangers.
Extreme fear in dogs is characterized by serious attempts to escape or hide from the feared stranger.
Bearded Collies are quite a bit fearful of strangers.
This is because the Bearded Collie ranks high for fear of strangers.
The Bearded Collie ranks number 46 out of 124 dog breeds for fear of strangers.
This information is based on what 22 Bearded Collie owners reported on the temperament of their Bearded Collie in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Bearded Collie has a stranger-directed-fear score of 34.4 %.
Other dog breeds that are quite a bit stranger-fearful just like the Bearded Collie are listed in the table below
Stranger-Directed-Fear Rank | Breed | Stranger-Directed-Fear Score |
---|---|---|
43 | English Springer Spaniel | 34.6 % |
44 | Australian Shepherd | 34.6 % |
45 | Great Dane | 34.4 % |
46 | Bearded Collie | 34.4 % |
47 | Border Terrier | 34.2 % |
48 | Greyhound | 33.7 % |
49 | Havanese | 33.7 % |
The dog breeds that show the most fear of strangers are the:
The dog breeds that are least fearful of strangers are the:
Are Bearded Collies Afraid of Other Dogs?
Some dogs breeds tend to show fear when an unfamiliar dog approaches them.
A dog that is fearful of other dogs will try to avoid meeting other dogs.
Bearded Collies are quite a bit fearful of other dogs.
This is because the Bearded Collie ranks high for fear of other dogs.
The Bearded Collie ranks number 37 out of 124 dog breeds for fear of other dogs.
This information is based on what 22 Bearded Collie owners reported on the temperament of their Bearded Collie in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Bearded Collie has a dog-directed-fear score of 48.7 %.
Other dog breeds that are quite a bit other-dog-fearful just like the Bearded Collie are listed in the table below
Dog-Directed-Fear Rank | Breed | Dog-Directed-Fear Score |
---|---|---|
34 | Cocker Spaniel (English) | 49.2 % |
35 | Dalmatian | 48.8 % |
36 | Pomeranian | 48.8 % |
37 | Bearded Collie | 48.7 % |
38 | Cocker Spaniel (American) | 48.7 % |
39 | Australian Cattle Dog | 48.3 % |
40 | Border Collie | 46.8 % |
The dog breeds that are most fearful of other dogs are the:
The dog breeds that are least fearful of other dogs are the:
Do Bearded Collies Have Non-Social Fears?
Dogs that are fearful of sudden or loud noises, traffic, and unfamiliar objects and situations are said to exhibit nonsocial fear.
Bearded Collies are very much fearful of unfamiliar sounds, situations, and objects.
This is because the Bearded Collie ranks very high for non-social fear.
The Bearded Collie ranks number 23 out of 124 dog breeds for being fearful of unfamiliar things and situations.
This information is based on what 22 Bearded Collie owners reported on the temperament of their Bearded Collie in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Bearded Collie has a nonsocial-fear score of 50.0 %.
Other dog breeds that are very much nonsocial-fearful just like the Bearded Collie are listed in the table below
Nonsocial-Fear Rank | Breed | Nonsocial-Fear Score |
---|---|---|
20 | Pit Bull mix | 50.7 % |
21 | Miniature Pinscher | 50.5 % |
22 | Alaskan Husky | 50.3 % |
23 | Bearded Collie | 50.0 % |
24 | Shiba Inu | 49.6 % |
25 | Dachshund (Miniature) | 49.0 % |
26 | Beagle | 48.8 % |
The dog breeds that are most fearful of unfamiliar situations and objects are the:
The dog breeds that are least fearful of unfamiliar situations and objects are the:
Do Bearded Collies Get Along Well With Other Dogs?
Some dog breeds display high dog rivalry. These dog breeds will threaten or act hostile to other familiar dogs in the same household.
These dog breeds will compete with other dogs. Also, these dog breeds do not get along well with other dogs.
Bearded Collies are somewhat competitive when dealing with other dogs.
This is because the Bearded Collie ranks average on dog rivalry.
The Bearded Collie ranks number 49 out of 124 dog breeds for displaying dog rivalry when dealing with familiar dogs.
This information is based on what 22 Bearded Collie owners reported on the temperament of their Bearded Collie in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Bearded Collie has a dog-rivalry score of 45.0 %.
Other dog breeds that are somewhat competition-driven just like the Bearded Collie are listed in the table below
Dog-Rivalry Rank | Breed | Dog-Rivalry Score |
---|---|---|
46 | Boston Terrier | 46.6 % |
47 | Afghan Hound | 45.4 % |
48 | Rat Terrier | 45.0 % |
49 | Bearded Collie | 45.0 % |
50 | Border Collie | 44.9 % |
51 | Anatolian Shepherd | 44.4 % |
52 | Poodle (Toy) | 44.1 % |
The dog breeds that do not get along well with other dogs are the:
The dog breeds that get along well with other dogs are the:
See our complete ranking of dog breeds based on how well they get along with other dog breeds.
Are Bearded Collies Easy to Train?
Dogs have high trainability have the willingness to listen to their owner. These dogs are not stubborn. These dogs obey simple commands, and they learn very quickly.
Highly trainable dogs excel at fetching objects. They also respond positively to correction and ignore distraction.
Bearded Collies are quite a bit easy to train.
This is because the Bearded Collie ranks high for trainability.
The Bearded Collie ranks number 26 out of 124 dog breeds for easiness to train.
This information is based on what 22 Bearded Collie owners reported on the trainability of their Bearded Collie in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Bearded Collie has a trainability score of 80.4 %.
Other dog breeds that are quite a bit easy to train just like the Bearded Collie are listed in the table below
Trainability Rank | Breed | Trainability Score |
---|---|---|
23 | Doberman Pinscher | 82.9 % |
24 | Border Terrier | 82.0 % |
25 | Parson Russell Terrier | 81.5 % |
26 | Bearded Collie | 80.4 % |
27 | Pointer | 80.4 % |
28 | Giant Schnauzer | 80.1 % |
29 | Standard Schnauzer | 79.9 % |
The dog breeds that are most easy to train are the:
The dog breeds that are difficult to train are the:
Learn more about how intelligent the Bearded Collie is and how the intelligence of the Bearded Collie affects its trainability in this article on how smart the Bearded Collie is.
Do Bearded Collies Get Along Well with Cats? Do They Get Along Well with Other Pets?
Dog breeds that have high chase-drive will run after (chase) cats, birds, and/or other small animals, given the opportunity.
Bearded Collies are a little bit into chasing after other smaller pets like cats, squirrels, chickens, and birds.
This is because the Bearded Collie ranks low for small-pet-chasing.
The Bearded Collie ranks number 82 out of 124 dog breeds for chasing after smaller pets.
This information is based on what 22 Bearded Collie owners reported on the temperament of their Bearded Collie in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Bearded Collie has a chasing score of 41.0 %.
Other dog breeds that are a little bit into chasing after smaller pets just like the Bearded Collie are listed in the table below
Chasing Rank | Breed | Chasing Score |
---|---|---|
79 | Norwegian Elkhound | 42.8 % |
80 | Chinook | 42.1 % |
81 | Kuvasz | 41.6 % |
82 | Bearded Collie | 41.0 % |
83 | Pomeranian | 40.8 % |
84 | Poodle (Miniature) | 40.7 % |
85 | Scottish Terrier | 40.0 % |
The dog breeds that like chasing after cats and other smaller pets are the:
The dog breeds that will not chase after cats and other smaller pets are the:
See our complete ranking of dog breeds based on their prey drive.
Do Bearded Collies Like Attention? Are they Clingy or Aloof?
Some dog breeds like to stay close to their owners all the time. These dogs like attention, and they like to receive the affection of their owners.
These dogs get jealous when their owners give attention to other dogs or other people instead of them.
Dogs with these traits are described as attachment/attention-seeking.
Bearded Collies are somewhat attachment/attention-seeking.
This is because the Bearded Collie ranks average for attachment/attention-seeking behavior.
The Bearded Collie ranks number 66 out of 124 dog breeds for attachment/attention-seeking behavior.
This information is based on what 22 Bearded Collie owners reported on the temperament of their Bearded Collie in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Bearded Collie has an attachment/attention-seeking score of 51.5 %.
Other dog breeds that are somewhat attachment/attention-seeking just like the Bearded Collie are listed in the table below
Attachment-Attention-Seeking Rank | Breed | Attachment-Attention-Seeking Score |
---|---|---|
63 | Poodle (Standard) | 52.2 % |
64 | Golden Retriever | 51.7 % |
65 | American Pit Bull Terrier | 51.6 % |
66 | Bearded Collie | 51.5 % |
67 | Border Terrier | 50.7 % |
68 | American Bulldog | 50.4 % |
69 | Saint Bernard | 49.6 % |
The dog breeds that are always seeking the attention of their owners are the:
The dog breeds that are aloof are the:
See our complete ranking of dog breeds based on their clinginess.
Do Bearded Collies have Separation Anxiety? Do They Like to be Left Alone?
Dog breeds that have separation anxiety do not like to be left alone.
These dog breeds tend to bark and destroy things when separated from their owners.
They become restless or lose their appetite when left alone.
Bearded Collies are somewhat prone to developing separation anxiety.
This is because the Bearded Collie ranks average for separation anxiety relative to other dog breeds.
The Bearded Collie ranks number 49 out of 124 dog breeds for separation anxiety.
This information is based on what 22 Bearded Collie owners reported on the temperament of their Bearded Collie in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Bearded Collie has a separation anxiety score of 43.4 %.
Other dog breeds that are somewhat prone to develop separation anxiety just like the Bearded Collie are listed in the table below
Separation-Related-Behavior Rank | Breed | Separation-Related-Behavior Score |
---|---|---|
46 | Italian Greyhound | 45.9 % |
47 | Standard Schnauzer | 43.7 % |
48 | Poodle (Miniature) | 43.5 % |
49 | Bearded Collie | 43.4 % |
50 | American Staffordshire Terrier | 43.3 % |
51 | Ibizan Hound | 43.2 % |
52 | Australian Kelpie | 43.2 % |
The dog breeds that are most prone to develop separation anxiety are listed below. These dog breeds do not like to be left alone. These dog breeds are the:
- Treeing Walker Coonhound
- Fox Terrier (Smooth)
- Chinese Crested
- Miniature Pinscher
- Australian Silky Terrier
The dog breeds that are least prone to develop separation anxiety are the:
See our complete ranking of dog breeds based on their tendency to develop separation anxiety.
Are Bearded Collies Touch Sensitive? Do They Like to be Groomed?
Dogs that are touch-sensitive are fearful of `painful` procedures such as bathing, grooming, nail clipping, and veterinary examinations.
These dogs do not like going through these `painful` procedures, and they will react to show they do not like the procedure.
Bearded Collies are somewhat touch-sensitive.
This is because the Bearded Collie ranks average for touch sensitivity.
The Bearded Collie ranks number 65 out of 124 dog breeds for touch sensitivity.
This information is based on what 22 Bearded Collie owners reported on the temperament of their Bearded Collie in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Bearded Collie has a touch-sensitivity score of 27.0 %.
Other dog breeds that are somewhat touch-sensitive just like the Bearded Collie are listed in the table below
Touch-Sensitivity Rank | Breed | Touch-Sensitivity Score |
---|---|---|
62 | Samoyed | 27.4 % |
63 | Fox Terrier (Wire/Wire-haired) | 27.3 % |
64 | Black and Tan Coonhound | 27.2 % |
65 | Bearded Collie | 27.0 % |
66 | American Pit Bull Terrier | 26.6 % |
67 | Great Dane | 26.5 % |
68 | Weimaraner | 26.3 % |
The dog breeds that are most touch-sensitive are the:
The dog breeds that are least touch-sensitive are the:
See our complete ranking of dog breeds based on their sensitivity to touch.
Are Bearded Collies Hyper? Are they Highly Excitable?
Excitable dog or hyper dog breeds display strong reactions to potentially exciting or arousing events, such as:
- going for walks
- car trips
- sound of the doorbell
- arrival of visitors, and
- the owner arriving home
Highly excitable dog breeds have difficulty settling down after arousal.
Bearded Collies are quite a bit hyper (excitable).
This is because the Bearded Collie ranks high for excitability.
The Bearded Collie ranks number 41 out of 124 dog breeds for excitability.
This information is based on what 22 Bearded Collie owners reported on the temperament of their Bearded Collie in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Bearded Collie has an excitability score of 51.6 %.
Other dog breeds that are quite a bit excitable just like the Bearded Collie are listed in the table below
Excitability Rank | Breed | Excitability Score |
---|---|---|
38 | Yorkshire Terrier | 52.7 % |
39 | Keeshond | 52.4 % |
40 | Brittany | 52.3 % |
41 | Bearded Collie | 51.6 % |
42 | Rat Terrier | 51.1 % |
43 | Pit Bull | 51.0 % |
44 | American Pit Bull Terrier | 51.0 % |
The dog breeds that are most hyper (excitable) are the:
- Australian Silky Terrier
- Fox Terrier (Smooth)
- American Eskimo Dog
- Parson Russell Terrier
- Miniature Schnauzer
The dog breeds that are least hyper (excitable) are the:
See our complete ranking of dog breeds based on how hyper they are.
Are Bearded Collies Playful? What is the Energy Level of Bearded Collies
Energetic dog breeds are very playful dog breeds. These are the dog breeds that do not get tired easily.
Bearded Collies are a little bit energetic.
This is because the Bearded Collie ranks low for energy level.
The Bearded Collie ranks number 92 out of 124 dog breeds for energy level.
This information is based on what 22 Bearded Collie owners reported on the temperament of their Bearded Collie in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Bearded Collie has an energy-level score of 42.6 %.
Other dog breeds that are a little bit energetic just like the Bearded Collie are listed in the table below
Energy-Level Rank | Breed | Energy-Level Score |
---|---|---|
89 | Beagle | 45.5 % |
90 | Norwegian Elkhound | 44.6 % |
91 | Shiba Inu | 44.4 % |
92 | Bearded Collie | 42.6 % |
93 | Treeing Walker Coonhound | 42.4 % |
94 | Bernese Mountain Dog | 42.1 % |
95 | Borzoi | 42.0 % |
The dog breeds that are most playful and most energetic are the:
The dog breeds that are laziest are the:
See our complete ranking of dog breeds from the most energetic to the least energetic.
Conclusion on Bearded Collie Temperament
The temperament of your Bearded Collie comes from a combination of its genetics and what environment your Bearded Collie is exposed to.
You cannot change your Bearded Collie`s gene but you can change the things you expose your Bearded Collie to.
Exposing your Bearded Collie to dog training sessions early in its life can help you mold the temperament of your Bearded Collie to what you desire.
Again, with proper training, you can better your Bearded Collie`s temperament. To learn how to properly train a dog, I highly recommend Dr. Ian Dunbar`s online dog training classes, which you can find here.
I learned most of the things I know about training dogs by reading Dr. Dunbar`s books and watching his training videos. Dr. Dunbar`s dog training methods are for people expecting to own a puppy soon, new dog owners, and experienced dog owners.
Another helpful online dog training class that I recommend is this one. The class will teach you how to properly train your Bearded Collie.
If you think the Bearded Collie is the right dog breed for you, see our article on how much Bearded Collies cost and Bearded Collie puppy buying guide.
Also, see our list of reputable Bearded Collie breeders in the United States and the prices of their Bearded Collie puppies.