Quezi

Find the collie pup (photo by tsuacctnt - CC-BY)

Collies come in two types – rough coated and smooth coated.  In the United States they are considered to be the same breed of dog. However, in Great Britain the two coats are considered to be two separate breeds. Collies are also known as the Scottish Collie.

The Collie is very intelligent and beautiful, often described as an elegant dog breed. They can be trained as a guide dog for the blind, rescue dog, guard dog, movie and TV star – Lassie being the most famous. Collie dogs have a very obedient nature; are gentle, kind, passive and sweet; trustworthy, loyal, and devoted to it’s family; temperament is even and well mannered. Collie dogs are an excellent pet for the whole family. The Collie is very playful and patient with children, and loves both the indoors and outdoors. When outside, the Collie can be very energetic.

As with most dog breeds the exact origin and history of the Collie is a mystery. Collies originated in Scotland and were popular in England since the 1800’s.

Here you can find a chart on The Ancestral Relationships of British Herding Dogs.

The Collie was recognized by the AKC in 1885, and is in the Herding Group.

Collie Dogs (males) weigh between 60 – 75 pounds, and Bitches (females) between 50 – 65 pounds. Collies size ranges from 22 – 26 inches tall at the shoulder.

The Collie dog comes in 4 colors:

1. Tricolor – predominately black with white and tan markings
2. Sable White – Lassie’s color, mostly Sable (a fawn color with shades from light gold to dark mahogany). The Sable White has white markings usually on the chest, neck, legs, feet and the tip of the tail.
3. Blue Merle – a mottled or marbled color that is blue-grey and black with white markings as in the Sable White. This color has tan shadings as the Tricolor.
4. White – predominantly white, with Sable, Tricolor or Blue Merle markings

A Collie has an average lifespan of 12 – 15 years.

In general, Collies are healthy dogs. Some of the most common health issues include: Eye problems such as Collie Eye Anomaly (CEA) a recessive defective gene which can cause blindness) and Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA). Also hip dysplasia which can lead to acute lameness and arthritis, skin infections, dermatomyositis, ivermectin sensitivity, and gastric torsion or bloat are known problems that can affect the Collie dog breed.

Internationally the breed is recognized by the following clubs:

Kennel Club of Great Britain (KCGB)
Canadian Kennel Club (CKC)
The Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI)
United Kennel Club (UKC)
ANKC
NKC
NZKC
APRI
ACR