Mary Allen
The collie is a very old breed, this shepherd dog has been known in Scotland since the 13th century. Find out everything about the behavior, character, activity, and exercise needs, training, and care of the Collie dog breed in the profile.
It is believed to be descended from livestock guardian dogs of the Angles and Saxons. He owes his name to the sheep he guarded on the high moors: the two-colored animals were called Colleys. Queen Victoria discovered her fondness for this breed and encouraged breeding, her descendants continued the tradition and thus ensured the survival of the old breed. The first Collie Club was founded in England in 1840, and the breed standard was first established in 1881.
General Appearance
There are different variants of the Collie: The Rough Collie or Rough Collie is extremely elegant in appearance and has a thick coat with a silky soft undercoat. He rarely weighs more than 25 kg. The American Collie is about 5 kg heavier and has a longer nose, the head appears narrower overall than in the other lines. It is bred in a total of eight color variants. The Smooth Collie has harsh and short hair and is significantly heavier than the long-haired lines.
Behavior and temperament
The collie is not only one of the most beautiful, intelligent, and loyal dogs but also one of the most easy-going. He feels just as comfortable in a single household as in a large family, learns quickly, and is adaptable. Anyone who lives in their pack is immediately accepted, even if the new family member is a cat, bird, or duck. The collie is a great friend for children who will love them and really mother them. Nevertheless, you should always keep an eye on him in order to be able to intervene in time if necessary: His love for children, for example, goes so far that he simply puts up with everything.
Need for employment and physical activity
He loves long walks in the woods and fields, it should be two hours a day. You can also allow him a lot of freedom of movement: Collies have no significant hunting instinct and no tendency to stray far from their owner. The eagerness to work is particularly pronounced in the Smooth Collie, you should train with him regularly or do dog sports with him.
Upbringing
Training the collie is child’s play: it is extremely intelligent and at the same time obedient. He likes to leave the leadership of the pack to humans and instead loves to inspire his family with obedience and tricks. If he doesn’t want to: A treat can work wonders.
Maintenance
He may seem like it, but he’s not a high-maintenance dog. Although the coat has to be combed regularly, it is significantly more durable and less sensitive than that of other long-haired breeds.
Disease Susceptibility / Common Diseases
Collies are extremely sensitive to certain medications (MDR1 defect), are prone to HD and eye diseases (CEA, PRA), occasionally epilepsy, a sensitive gastrointestinal tract, and sensitivity to noise also occur.
Did you know?
The Collie was one of the first breeds to be used in military and medical service. The British, in particular, worked with collies in global theaters of war. However, these dogs were not suitable for fighting but performed reporting and medical services very successfully. It is said that collies have saved the lives of thousands of soldiers by delivering important messages, medicines or alerting paramedics to injured people despite the fact that their lives were in danger.