The Intelligent and Gentle Collie

Dating back into the 1920s and 1930s, the intelligent and gentle Collie has been a well-known dog in the US for a long time.

And this elegant breed has been cherished in many popular media such as books, TV, magazines and movies.

History

Collies are said to have accompanied the Romans to Britain around 500 BC. During this time, they were not recognized as any distinct breed.

However, this all changed in the 18th century when they were bred to be herding and guarding dogs in Scotland and northern England.

They used to work out in the fields of Scotland during cold winters, and were very quick to command response, since they were very intelligent and were capable of solving problems on their own.

These dogs were originally bred for herding and not for beauty contests. However, this all changed when Queen Victoria, during a visit to Scotland in the 1860s, first took these dogs from simply working on farms, and allowed them to step into the limelight of beauty and grace.

She fell in love with the dog’s natural charm, and after a few decades, these dogs started to become more of a good-looking domestic breed rather than a working breed.

It is believed that the name “Collie” came from the Scottish black-faced sheep, Coleys, that the breed was assigned to herd and watch. Or it may have derived from the Scots word for “Coal”.

Today, with such strong herding instincts and intelligence, they are still being used as herding dogs. But they have also become popular family companions.

Furthermore, they are also loved for their many appearances in different forms of media such as movies, television shows, and literature.

Physical Characteristics

Collies are medium to large-sized dogs that typically stand about 22 to 26 inches tall, weighing 45 to 75 pounds.

Their are four known color combinations of the Collie. And they are:

• Tri-color: black, white markings, tan shades
• Sable and White: Pale gold, deep mahogany
• Blue Merle: shades of black and blue, gray with tan shades
• White: with a bit of color markings

There are also two varieties of the breed, according to coat:

• Rough-coated (long-haired)
• Smooth coated (short-haired)

Don’t let looks fool you – every part of a Collie is actually significant when it comes to his herding skills. Because he is a large dog, he can lead an entire herd of animals with authority.

The ruffed hair is actually useful for dogs that mess with them – the result is the other dog gets lots of hair in his mouth. Heavy and rough coats of a Collie are also essential for the weather conditions in the British Isles and Europe.

However, the smooth-coated Collie is actually much more preferred in herding due to freer movement, without much bulky rough coat and potential overheating, because herding can sometimes require steady and constant movements.

And due to this fact, rough-coated Collies are no longer needed on farms; hence they have become more of a pampered household pet.

Despite the long, thick coat, the rough-coated Collies can actually adjust to any kind of weather, be it sunny and hot, or damp and chilly. Furthermore, cutting its hair is not really necessary, and may even make them feel uncomfortable.

Temperament

Collies are known for their intelligence and hardworking temperament. As herding dogs, they also have a strong urge to herd.

But that’s not all to it! These dogs are more than just their herding abilities and amazing work ethic.

Collies are also sweet, friendly, and gentle. That’s why many families love having them as companions!

They enjoy being part of a family and are especially fond of kids and youngsters, because they can be playful themselves. They enjoy playing with children but will also protect them when need be.

Furthermore, they are very loyal and devoted to their owners. They are also fairly athletic and most of them tend to be a little vocal.

Training And Exercise

Collies are intelligent and eager to please. So, one can enjoy training a Collie. However, the dog may be sensitive in nature, thus needing more gentle persuasion and reasons for him to be motivated.

Collies need to be positively rewarded for their intelligence and hard work.

Harsh training methods don’t work well with them and they will eventually shut you down if you use methods like these.

Furthermore, as a herding dog, it’s expected that Collies require more exercise than other dog breeds. They should get at least one to two hours of exercise per day. And this can be in the form of walking, jogging, or playing.

They are an active dog breed. So, having a backyard where they can roam around can also help with their physical and mental exercise.

Additionally, they should also be given the chance to put their herding skills to use! So mental simulation is as important as physical exercise.

Without proper exercise, Collies can develop bad behaviors such as excessive barking.

Health Issues

Collies are generally healthy dogs. But they can be predisposed to some health issues, such as:

• Collie Eye Anomaly: This is an inherited eye disease that some Collies are born with. And it affects the deep structure of the eye that may ultimately lead to blindness, even before the dog reaches the age of two.
• Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA): This is a group of diseases that affect the eyes. In PRA, the retina gets damaged that may lead to blindness.
• MDR1 (Multi-Drug Resistance) gene mutation: Any dog can be prone to this issue, but it occurs more frequently in Collie breeds. This health issue causes sensitivity to certain drugs. And when this happens, veterinarians usually adjust the doses or avoid certain medications.