Collie – Rough and Smooth

  The Collies of both coats are well-known as sheep-herding dogs of the Scottish lowlands, but the Rough Coat came to fame through Hollywood via "Lassie." 

History:

The Collie was probably a combination of an ancient breed of dog indigenous to the northern British Isles and a breed of sheep dog which arrived with the Romans in about 500 BC. It was probably cross-bred with the Newfoundland and Deerhound until the early 1800s, and underwent selective breeding and further cross-breeding with the Borzoi by 1830. By then, the Collie had a streamlined shape, elongated head, and the beautiful coat we see today.

 The Highland of Scot's "Colley Dog" can be traced back to the late eighteenth century in Scotland, where he guarded the blacklegged Colley sheep. In 1860, Queen Victoria fell in love with the Rough Coated Collie on a holiday at Balmoral Castle and, on her return to London, several of the breed accompanied her. With this boost, the Rough Coat became popular both in Britain and in America. The Smooth Coat variety has not had the popularity of the Rough Coat, although it is identical in all ways except for its coat, and is every bit as good a working dog.

 Physical characteristics:

The Rough and Smooth Coat Collies are gentle, graceful and dignified. They are intelligent and affectionate. Height: Canadian standards: 24 - 26 in (61 - 66 cm) for the dog and 22 - 24 in (5.9 - 61 cm) for the bitch. Weight: 40 - 63 lb (18 - 28.6 kg) under Canadian standards: 50 - 65 lb (22.7 - 29.5 kg). The body of the Collie is long, as is the head, with a flat skull, broad between the ears and tapering towards the eyes. The muzzle flows in a straight line to the nose, which is black. The eyes are almond-shaped, dark brown and sweet in appearance. The ears are fairly broad at the base, tapering to a semi-erect point, and folded over at the tip.

 The coat of the Rough Collie is very dense, long, and stiff on the outer coat, while the undercoat is soft, dense and thick. The mane and collar are abundant, and the tail is long to the hock, carried low. The Smooth Coated variety has short, dense, flat hair, with an abundant undercoat. 

There are three common colors for the Collie: sable white, tricolor and Merle blue. These colors may carry the typical Collie markings in white, with the white collar being the most popular, with the white shirt front, legs, and tail tip.

 Behavior:

The Collie is a relatively tall dog, and it gains plenty of confidence from its height. At first, Collies appear somewhat aloof. When a Collie looks at you, it seems to be thoroughly appraising you. Perhaps it is just their height, their measured graceful walk, or just their long noses, but the Collie is truly a noble and intelligent animal. 

Collies make excellent watch-dogs, and are large enough to serve as guard dogs in some circumstances. This is a sociable breed of dog, and in most situations the Collie gets along very well with members of its own kind. The legend of Lassie is based upon the fact that Collies are very attached to people and become loyal and trustworthy companions. They make excellent family dogs, but naturally they should not be left alone with small children. As former working dogs, Collies do need lots of exercise. If kept in close confinement, they can become despondent and even snappy. Collies have few weaknesses, and as long as they are kept well-groomed and their feet are cared for after strenuous exercise, they should live a long and happy life. A truly magnificent dog.

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