Collies are medium-sized dogs that originated in Scotland where they were bred to herd sheep and goats. These dogs come in two varieties: rough-coated and smooth-coated. As such, there are several different names for these dogs including Collies, Scottish Collies, English Collies, Lassie Dogs, Long-Haired Collies, Rough Collies, Smooth Collies and Short-Haired Collies. Collies have been in Scotland for centuries and were mainly used to herd and protect sheep, goats and cows. It is thought that they were named after the Scottish breed of sheep known as the Colley. During the 1860s, Queen Victoria brought some Collies to her castle, which significantly boosted the breed’s popularity. During the late 1800s, Rough Collies were often crossed with Borzois producing dogs with longer, flatter faces. These particular Collies were quite popular in the show ring. While the Rough Collie is more popular in the U.S. than the smooth variety, the Smooth Collie is more popular in Great Britain.
The Collie is an athletic, strong dog that is lights on its feet. As most herding breeds, this dog is able to change directions quickly and make sharp turns. The Rough Collie has a soft, warm undercoat and a coarse, long outer coat. It also has a lion-like mane. Its grooming needs are high; the coat needs regular maintenance and checking. Adult Collies can weigh between 45 and 75 pounds. As stated above, there are both short and long-haired varieties of Collies. Both varieties come in three colors: sable and white, tri-color (black, tan and white) and blue merle. Rough-Coated Collies have a long outer coat and a shorter, thick undercoat. The ears of the Collie are semi-prick. The Collie has a graceful body with long, slender legs and small paws. Its tail is long and carried low. It has small, almond-shaped eyes that are dark brown, with the exception of blue merle dogs. These dogs can have blue eyes or one blue eye and one that is brown. The muzzle of the Collie should be long, and the nose should be black.
Personality
Collies are generally friendly and sweet-natured. This dog needs mental and physical exercise on a daily basis and loves to have a task. It loves to run and/or herd. It’s a smart dog breed that is devoted to its family and makes a great playmate for children. They are protective of their homes and are reserved towards strangers. They are friendly with other dogs. Collies are mild-mannered, loyal dogs that get along extremely well with other pets including cats, rabbits and rodents. They are also very gentle and patient making them perfect pets for families with children. They are considered one of the smartest dogs in the canine world, and they are amazingly easy to train. While Collies tend to be distrusting of strangers, they are by no means aggressive. They are not overly active, but they do love daily play and exercise. These dogs do best when they are given some sort of “job” such as obedience work, agility trials, herding trials, therapy work or flyball.
Breed Characteristics
| Type: | Pure |
| Family: | Herders |
| Function: | Working |
| Origin: | Europe |
| Preferred Climate: | Cold |
| Group: | Herding |
| Life Span: | 14-15 Years |
| Nicknames: | Collies, Scottish Collies, English Collies, Lassie Dogs, Long-Haired Collies, Rough Collies, Smooth Collies, Short-Haired Collies, sheepdog, shepherd dog |
| Hypoallergenic: | No |
Collie Build Information
The Collie is an athletic, strong dog that is lights on its feet. As most herding breeds, this dog is able to change directions quickly and make sharp turns. The Rough Collie has a soft, warm undercoat and a coarse, long outer coat. It also has a lion-like mane. Its grooming needs are high; the coat needs regular maintenance and checking. Adult Collies can weigh between 45 and 75 pounds. As stated above, there are both short and long-haired varieties of Collies. Both varieties come in three colors: sable and white, tri-color (black, tan and white) and blue merle. Rough-Coated Collies have a long outer coat and a shorter, thick undercoat. The ears of the Collie are semi-prick. The Collie has a graceful body with long, slender legs and small paws. Its tail is long and carried low. It has small, almond-shaped eyes that are dark brown, with the exception of blue merle dogs. These dogs can have blue eyes or one blue eye and one that is brown. The muzzle of the Collie should be long, and the nose should be black.
| Size: | Medium |
| Length (Male): | 22-27 in. |
| Length (Female): | 22-24 in. |
| Weight: | > 65 lbs |
| Litter Size: | 5 – 10 Puppies |
| Tail Dock or Crop: | No |
Behaviour and Personality
Collies are generally friendly and sweet-natured. This dog needs mental and physical exercise on a daily basis and loves to have a task. It loves to run and/or herd. It’s a smart dog breed that is devoted to its family and makes a great playmate for children. They are protective of their homes and are reserved towards strangers. They are friendly with other dogs. Collies are mild-mannered, loyal dogs that get along extremely well with other pets including cats, rabbits and rodents. They are also very gentle and patient making them perfect pets for families with children. They are considered one of the smartest dogs in the canine world, and they are amazingly easy to train. While Collies tend to be distrusting of strangers, they are by no means aggressive. They are not overly active, but they do love daily play and exercise. These dogs do best when they are given some sort of “job” such as obedience work, agility trials, herding trials, therapy work or flyball.
| Activity Level: | Very Active |
| Affection Level: | Very Affectionate |
| Aggressiveness Level: | Easy |
| Barking: | Noisy |
| Dominating or Submissive?: | Submissive |
| Energy Level: | Very Active |
| Good to Other Pets: | Friendly |
| Guardian Skills: | Yes |
| Independant: | No |
| Kid Friendliness: | Very Friendly |
Appearance
Although the Smooth Collie only needs to be brushed a couple of times a week, the Rough Collie needs to be brushed at least once every day. During shedding season, you may want to brush your long-haired Collie two or three times a day. Unless your pet becomes overly filthy, you will only need to bathe it once or twice a month. Be sure to check your Collie’s ears a few times per month for excessive wax buildup or signs of infection. If necessary, wipe any debris out of the ears using a damp cotton ball. When the nails become too long, you can clip the tips of them off using a pliers-type nail clipper. However, be sure to avoid the veins that grow inside the nails.
| Colors: | Black, Blue, Blue Merle, Sable, Tan, Tri-Color, White |
| Shedding: | Seasonal |
| Grooming: | High Maintenance |
| Coat Type: | Rough |
Collie Common Health Conditions
For the most part, Collies are healthy dogs that can live anywhere from 14 to 16 years. However, just as with many other dog breeds, both varieties of Collies may be subject to developing various health issues. The most common of these problems can be found listed below: Collie Eye Anomaly (Also Known as Collie Eye Syndrome), Progressive Retinal Atrophy, Canine Cyclic Neutropenia (Gray Collie Syndrome), Hip Dysplasia, Drug Sensitivities, Epilepsy, Bloat, and Hypothyroidism. If you are looking for a dog that will make a great companion and/or family pet, you should consider getting a Rough or Smooth-Coated Collie. Not only are these dogs extremely intelligent and easy to train, but they are also very gentle and loyal to their human family members.
Collie Pet Insurance
When adding a dog or cat to your family you want to make sure your pet is happy, healthy and protected. During its lifetime your pet is exposed to many illnesses and diseases and some breeds are affected by a congenital disease which is a condition existing at birth. At these moments when your pet is ill or maybe needs surgery, you want to be protected for the unexpected and high veterinarian costs.
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Breed Talents and Facts
The most famous Collie of all time was the Rough Collie known as Lassie. Collies starred in several movies including “Lassie”, “All Dogs Go to Heaven” and “Marmaduke”. President Calvin Coolidge owned two pure-white Rough Collies.
| Training: | Easy |
| Hunting Companion: | No |
| Jolly for Jogging: | Yes |
| Sighting Capabilities: | No |
| Ideal for Tracking: | Yes |
| Retrieving Skills: | Yes |
| Pointing Breed: | No |
| Herding Skills: | Yes |
| Dutiful Watchdog: | Yes |
| Security Guard Capable: | Yes |
| Police Performer: | No |
| Wet Water rescues: | No |
| Assist Disable Owners: | Yes |
| Dog Sledding: | No |
| Able to Perform Dog Carting: | Yes |
| Agile/Zippy: | Yes |
| Fun with Lure Coursing: | No |
| Obedient: | Yes |
| Possible Schutzhund Work: | No |
| Trainable for Tricks: | Yes |
