Description

Standing about 26 inches from the ground, Collies are a gentle and agile breed of dogs with a body that is nicely proportioned. A full grown male Collie can weigh between 10 to 25 kg. Appearance wise, they look quite similar to a fox. They have a slim head with a pointed snout and arched eyebrows. They are very strong and generally were used for herding. They have small ears with folded tips. Collies also have a long tail. Generally, a Collie can live till the age of 16. These dogs have a long body that is supported by four strong legs. Collies have long double coat that is quite rough in the outer part and softer in the under coat. These dogs are available in various color combinations including sable and white and in tri-color combination that includes a mix of black, white, and tan.

Collies also have a very powerful back and come with small paws. Their physically strong look is more emphasized by the strong neck muscles. Their nose is black in color.

Coat

Collies have double coats. It has two parts - the outer coat and the under coat. The hair on the outer coat is harsher and rougher than the one covering the undercoat. The coat of a Rough Collie has a rougher texture than the one seen on a Smooth Collie. Though both these kinds have double coats, the difference lies in the fact that the upper coat of a Rough Collie lacks the smoothness present in that of a Smooth Collie.

A Smooth Collie’s undercoat has longer hair while a Rough Collie has smoother facial hair. Rough Collies also have well defined mane covering the neck and the chest region. Collies have coats in sable color too, which is a mixture of colors like reddish brown to light blonde.

History

As far as the date of origin of Collies is concerned, it is not firmly known where the breed was found for the first time. However, it is believed that the ancestors of the Collies were used as sheep dogs and were pretty hard working. That is why it is seen that agility and ability to work hard is ingrained in Collies. Their stout body is a proof of the strength of their ancestors. Rough Collies were more common in Scotland for a long period. The name “Collie” refers to a kind of sheep with black face that’s generally found in Scotland. It is during the reign of Queen Victoria that this breed became much popular.

During the end of the 18th century, Collies were bred with Borzoi dogs to give them better chance in winning shows. This paved the path for the Smooth Collies. However, in the US, it is the Rough Collies that are more popular. But in Britain, one will find that people are also going for the Smooth ones.

There is another opinion according to which the Collies were introduced in England by the Romans during their occupation of the English Isles. If this view is correct, then the origin of Collies can date back to the First Century AD.

It was in the year 1885 that the American Kennel Club gave recognition to the Collies. This was just after 25 years of its first public show. This breed also became famous due to its appearance in the English film “Lassie”. The dog belonging to this breed played the central character in that film.

Apart from herding, Collie is also used for hunting. It is one of the most active dog breeds in the world.

Temperament

Collies have a knack for learning and are pretty intelligent. They also have an in-born protective instinct. They are quite smart and respond to training quickly. It is a pleasure to train these dogs. They love activities and games. Collies are made for hunting and that is why they are quite eager to run and walk.
A Collie, when socialized well, can be a great companion for a child as well as to the whole family. They are quite gentle with other dogs or other pets. They have a proud nature that may sometimes give rise to stubbornness, but this can be overcome by regular and proper training.

The owner needs to love them and train them with a gentle yet confident attitude. They can recognize their trainer’s voice quite easily. They are cautious and can be a natural guard dog. It is an inborn instinct that runs in the blood of Collies.

Collies are also used in various shows. They are obedient and do not take easily to strangers. This is another aspect that makes them good as guards. They are alert to the surroundings, and can adapt to various situations. If uncomfortable, they may bark for a long time.

Collies are okay with both urban and rural lifestyles. As an owner, you should make sure that they get enough exercise.

Health

Collies can suffer from some illnesses. These illnesses may range from serious to mild ones. Though they possess a strong physic, there are a few diseases that you should be aware of if you are to adopt a Collie. Some Collies are prone to Progressive Retinal Atrophy that affects their vision. In this disease, the retinal cells decay and die fast. This is a genetic problem and you should be completely sure whether it has any genetic disorder or not before buying a Collie.

Hip dysplasia is another illness that can bother your Collie. If left untreated, this may lead to arthritis at a later stage.

A Collie may also suffer from Collie Nose. This makes its nose more sensitive to sunlight. Use a sun-block on the nose. Collie Eye Anomaly, Dermatomyositis, and Gastric torsion are few other ailments that can be seen in Collies. Due to Gastric torsion, a Collie may experience a bloated stomach. Be careful about what you feed it. You should maintain a regular exercise regimen to help it digest the food.
Apart from the above, there would not be any other diseases that would bother your favorite Collie.

Grooming

You will need to take out a good amount of time to groom a Collie. Rough Collies usually need more time because it is a bit more difficult to maintain their rough coat. You will have to brush the upper coat properly in order to clean all the dirt. It is okay to brush it on a weekly basis. But you will need to spend more time in order to look after the under coat. This part of the coat is softer, and you need to be gentle with it. It is enough to brush it either weekly or on alternate weeks. This dog sheds quite a lot. You can bathe it whenever necessary. Shampooing it is okay too. However, the extent of care of the coat will also depend on whether the dog is going to appear for a show or not.

In case you are not that comfortable with grooming the dog yourself, you can hire a professional. Alternatively, it is also a good idea to have a Smooth Collie rather than a Rough one as the latter is easier to groom.

Exercise

Exercise is a must for a Collie. It is an active dog and instinctively loves games and various outdoor activities. It is not important whether you bring it up in a rural or an urban area. What is more important is whether the dog is getting enough amount of exercise or not. Long walk is a good option. Lack of exercises can give rise to laziness in a Collie. You can play fetch and other outdoor games with it if you like to. Be sure that the exercise sessions are regular. Once the same is started, make sure that you do not break the pattern. Ideally, the length of the physical workout should be around 60 to 80 minutes per day.

Training

A well trained Collie is a great guard for your property as well as a good friend for your children. Start training the dog as soon as possible. Help it socialize and teach it the basic house rules. The lesson in house breaking should also feature among the basics. Collies are quite suspicious about strangers. So, lack of proper training may make them too aggressive towards any strangers that come knocking to your house.

Collies are known for their agility and intelligence. They are also obedient, which will make the training sessions a lot easier for you. However, while training these dogs, you will have to find out new tricks for the dog. Otherwise, it will soon get bored by the repetitive training pattern. As a result, you may find your dog becoming lethargic. So, avoid this by becoming more innovative with your dog’s training schedule.

Love your dog and be patient with it. A dog, no matter how smart or alert it is, is still a dog. It will take some time to pick up a particular instruction. Do not lose your cool. Anger and punishment will not yield any positive result.

Collies will love to be around children. Just train your pet well and you will soon have a family friend whom you can trust always.