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COLLIE

Also Known as:
Rough Collie, Scottish Collie, Long-haired Collie, English Collie, Lassie Dog
 
Origin: United Kingdom

Type: Pure Breed

Height: 22 to 26 inches

Weight: 50 to 75 pounds

Life Expectancy: 14 to 16 years
 

COLLIE TEMPERAMENT

A naturally intelligent dog, the Collie is a friendly dog and beautiful to look at but is also known to be a proud dog. They are also known to easily read the human mood and physical expression and easily relate with children making them a top choice when looking for a family dog.

They are dogs that like mental engagement and keeping busy, which also makes them a good choice for working dogs.

COLLIE PHYSICAL APPEARANCE

With eyes naturally looking bright and alert, the Collie is strong, active, and lithe moving around with strength, speed, and grace. A naturally agile dog, you find them moving in one direction at top speed and switching to another direction in an instance.

The Collie comes in two coat types, smooth and rough. The smooth coat type is short hard and flat while the rough coat type looks abundant long and rugged. Both have a soft and abundant undercoat.

Their general appearance is that of a proportional look all around, a well-balanced look from their head to tail, giving the Collie a very beautiful look.

COLLIE CHARACTERISTICS

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COLLIE-characteristics2-2

COLLIE CARE

The way Collies operate makes it a bit difficult to appoint a measured portion to them. A smaller portion size of a meat-based diet with less grain is an accepted feeding mix for most Collies. As much as possible, avoid corn and soy ingredients in their meals. Be observant of how they feed. Do they eat up what you give or are they always remaining some on their dog bowl? This would give you a little insight into their feeding portions. Remember that your Collie is prone to GDV, a stomach condition from fast eating or drinking which can be fatal. To be on the safe side, just consult your vet doctor at the very beginning of your foray with your Collie, various meal plans would be developed by him or her for your dog but your observation of how your dog eats would help you to better manage conditions which crop up from overfeeding like Obesity, Diabetes, GDV, etc.
Collie dogs are known to be heavy shedders with the rough-coated ones shedding more than the smooth-coated ones. Getting their hair brushed weekly is recommended. A good thing about the Collie is that they are naturally clean dogs so they may not require regular bathing. Bathing them every two or three months is ok as far as they don't get into messy situations within that period. Routine grooming activities are advised e.g dental routines, ear cleaning, nail trimming, etc.
The Collie get five stars for their ability to be trained easily. They are always eager to learn and obey. The caution here is not to be too strict or harsh while training them. They are sensitive dogs and hence any harsh treatment would be perceived in a negative light leading to bad results while training them.
A naturally active breed, the Collie does well with daily exercise, especially when it comes with some mental stimulation. Daily walks, games like fetch, aerobic exercises, anything that can give them a chance to run around and play is welcome. Living in a fenced compound would do them good here, else exercising in the public park (with a leash) would be the next option. Just keep in mind, a neglected Collie would get mischievous and destructive in time. It is simply better to give them some company and find ways of engaging them mentally. They learn and become useful members of the family and everyone is happier for it.
Although the collie is a generally healthy dog. They are still prone to some health conditions as follows Gastric dilatation-volvulus (GDV) - This usually occurs due to the twisting or bloating of the stomach from fast consumption of food and water. A general precaution is not to overfeed them and to contact a professional anytime you observe any stomach problem. Progressive retinal atrophy - An eye problem that can lead to loss of sight if not properly handled Collie eye anomaly - usually a birth defect which can be easily managed by following a vet doctor's recommendation. MDR1 gene mutation - This health problem is a reaction to various drugs which they have been given for example some collies don't do well when placed on ivermectin( a well-known heartworm medication)
Collie-black-and-white

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COLLIE-VINTAGE

COLLIE HISTORY

The origin of the present-day Collie remains a mystery. There are insinuations on the origin of the word Collie being from the Gaelic word “useful”.

However, the first recorded history of the Collie was in the highlands of Scotland in the 1800s. During this period, they were used in Scotland as farm dogs. Their popularity then was a result of how hardworking and useful they were to the farmers then.

Some folklores traced their ancestors as far back as the first century but the lack of proof and documentation here left many wanting as to the validity of this claim.

In 1860, Queen Victoria was on a visit to the Scottish Highlands. She came across the Collie dog and instantly fell in love with them. Their intelligence and their carriage were an instant hit with her. Needless to say, there was this attachment between the British people and their Queen then. Whatever the Queen approved of the people had the tendency to follow through. Call love or loyalty, the British took to favoring the Collie as an exotic pet dog.

As the 1800s was coming to an end, the breed started being imported into America. The mid 19th century saw a soar in popularity of the Collie in America. The book Lassie Come-Home written in 1940 by the English author Eric Knight was an instant hit in both Britain and America with it being turned into a movie in 1943 and cumulating into its own TV Series from 1954 to 1973.

The popularity did not stop there, the Collie fictional story was turned into animated movies, comic books and even had its own toy franchise.

All the features depicted in the fictional character are actually the true character of the Collie in real life, a fast learner, intelligent dog, ability to keep composure even when under pressure, and the most liked characteristic, the ability to be the best companion any child could wish for.

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