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Dogs 101 — COLLIE
Top Dog Facts About the COLLIE
The Collie, made famous by the Lassie films, is a descendant of herding dogs from Scotland and Wales. It is believed that these dogs were brought to the British Isles by the Celts. The larger Scottish varieties, the smaller Welsh ones and their own local sheepdogs were interbred by the English to obtain a close ancestor of the modern Collie by the 1800s. These dogs were developed for their working ability, with little care given to establishing a pedigree. But, gradually, as dog breeding became fashionable, taller and more refined strains of the long and short-haired Collies was developed. A cross with the Borzoi provided the clean wedge-like noble appearance to the head. The Collie had already become very popular among farm-owners, but patronage from Queen Victoria in the late 1800s also made it popular among the nobility. The dog was brought to the US around the same time, and it caught the fancy of the social elite for its elegance. The Rough and the Smooth Collie, which developed through separate crossbreeding lines, are considered the same breed in the US, but treated as separate breeds in some countries.
Time for some Ruff Trivia:
— What was the original name for the Collie registered by the American Kennel Club?
o A: Scotch Collie
o B: Welsh Collie
o C: English Collie
What do you think, give it your best guess in the comments below before we get to the answer! Hang on tight and we’ll get back to this Ruff Trivia Question toward the end of the video.
The male adult Collie has a height of 22 to 26 inches, with a weight between 50 to 75 pounds. The female has a height of 20 to 24 inches, with weight between 60 and 65 pounds. The Rough Collie, which is more popular in the US, has a harsh outer coat and a soft under coat. Its coat is thick around the neck, and spare on the head and legs. Three color combinations are generally seen – sable and white; black, white and tan; and blue merle. The muzzle is tapering. The upper-third of the ear is folded over. The Smooth Collie does not have a furry appearance, even though it also has two layers of coats. The colors seen are sable; black, white and tan; blue merle; or sable merle.
Grooming: The thick coat requires brushing at least twice a week using a pin brush to keep it clean, to remove matting and to control shedding. The coat needs more care in the Rough Collie, and during shedding season. An occasional bath is good, but the dog needs thorough drying once done. Other grooming activities include nail trimming, ear cleaning and teeth brushing.
Environment: The Collie is famous in popular culture as a friendly, sensitive and loyal dog. It is very protective of children, and enjoys being a part of the family. Herding and droving instincts can make some dogs very vocal, which can be trained away. It has a calm nature, which also makes it suited for a small house, despite its large size.
Training: Like most farm dogs, the Collie is easy to train. Its sensitive nature requires patience, as it can get depressed with any harshness. Being a sociable animal, a good deal of its daily exercise can be taken care through playing with children. Otherwise, a walk on leash or a game in the lawn is needed.
Health: The life expectancy of a Collie is from 8 to 12 years. A major ailment in the breed is Collie Eye Anomaly, which can cause blindness. Other problems seen are hip dysplasia, retinal atrophy, dermatitis and deafness.
A devoted family dog, the Collie has been consistently popular among dog owners because of its affability and intelligence. It is also a rare large dog that is as great in an apartment as on a farm.
Music by Kevin McLeod — Royalty Free
