Collie dogs

As with many breeds, the origins of the Collie are shrouded in mystery. It is known that ancestors of the current specimens came from Scotland and northern England. A book written before 1800 describes is the earliest written record of the breed. In it, Thomas Bewick describes the “Shepherd’s Dogs” and he seems to be writing about both the smooth (short haired) and rough (long haired) varieties of the Collie.

There are even many theories as to the origin of the name. Over the centuries the name Collie has been spelled in many different ways. A few of these are “Coll”, “Colley”, “Coally”, and “Coal”. The accepted Anglo-Saxon definition for “Col” is black. Some experts think this term was used because of the common color for collies until 1876 was black. Others believe it is because of the black-faced sheep that the Collies used to herd in Scotland. A third theory believes they were called Coally because at one time dogs were used to pull the carts of ore out of coalmines. Regardless of the origin of the breed and name, the collie as we know it today started showing up in photos and at dog shows back in the 1860s. Perhaps the most famous of all the first show collies was one named Old Cockie.

In 1871 Queen Victoria visited Balmoral Castle and saw a Collie for the first time. Impressed with the beauty, spirit and disposition of these dogs, she began having them in the Royal kennels. This was the boost the breed needed to insure its popularity.

The first collie to be registered in the American Kennel Club’s studbook was Black Shep in 1885. As the breed gained popularity in the United States, enormous amounts of money was paid to English breeders for quality stock.

There is a story of August Belmont Jr. who was one of the past presidents of the American Kennel Club. This story tells of how Mr. Belmont went on a dog-buying mission in England and paid $5,000 in 1887 for a singularly beautiful specimen. Returning to New York with the dog, he had it in his penthouse one day and happened to tie it to the radiator. After Mr. Belmont left the room, his trainer came in to find the $5,000 dog hanging by the collar around his neck several stories off the ground. Keeping a cool head, the trainer reeled the dog, which was still alive, back through the window that he promptly shut.

Today, there are two varieties of collies, rough and smooth. The acceptable colors are sable and white, tri-color, blue merle and White.

Sable and White – One of the most famous collies of all time was a movie and television heroine by the name of Lassie. Through all the reincarnations of the character, Lassie has always been a sable and white.

This color has a great deal of leeway to it. Sable can encompass any color from a light buff to a rich, dark mahogany. The sable is offset by white on the neck, chest, all four feet and tip of tail.

Tri-color – Is exactly what the name implies, three colored. The main part of the dog is black and he or she will have the white markings like the sable but also tan markings on the muzzle, over the eyes and along the legs.

Blue Merle – An interesting color unto itself. It is one of the oldest colors known to collies as well as the hardest to describe. Blue merles have the white and tan markings of a tri-color but the main body and head is a silvery blue-gray with black swirls throughout. These black swirls give the dog a “marbled” look that is amazingly pretty. With blue merles, it isn’t uncommon to have merled eyes as well. Some will have one or both eyes blue and others may have only a part of an eye blue.

**BREEDER WARNING**

There are also sable-merles that are the result of breeding a sable and white to a blue merle. Many times it is almost impossible to tell a dog is a sable merle instead of a sable and white. The merle gene is considered a dilution factor of the tri-color. By breeding two merles, be they sable merle or blue merle, you have the double dilute issue and can often end with pure white, blind and or deaf puppies.

White – The white color has gained a great deal of popularity over the past few years. There is a difference between a true white and a dog that is the result of a merle-to-merle breeding.

A true white will have most or all of its body white but have a colored head. The head can be that of a sable and white, a tri or a blue merle. Occasionally the main trunk of the body will be all white except for a spot of color on the hips or sides.

The collie is generally a deep chested dog with strong sloping shoulders, slightly long in proportion to the height with good, solid hips.

The neck is firm, cleanly muscled and heavily coated in the rough varieties.

A collie’s legs are straight and muscular with frills of hair hanging from the back like fringe. The feet are compact and “cat like” with toes arched and close together.

The gait is sound. When the dog is moved in a slow trot toward an observer, its feet land in so close they seam to be in almost a straight line. Side winding, elbows being out, choppy or rolling gaits are heavily penalized. The dog should give the appearance of being able to cover long distances over extended periods of time.

The head is often one of the heaviest of judging areas. A “sweet” look is a must so everything from the ears and eyes to the muzzle must be in balance. The eyes are small but not piggy looking and more of a triangular shape. Dogs with round eyes are counted against. The ears are alert, carried high on the head and tipped over on the ends. Muzzles must be clean and smooth and in the shape of a wedge. Penalties are also given for a snippy or shark- like muzzle. Jaws that are over or undershot will also be heavily counted against the overall dog.

The tail is moderately long with the last bone ending at or slightly below the hocks.

The coat of a collie is his crowing glory. It is abundant over the entire body except for the head and legs. A collie actually carries a double coat. The undercoat is a thick wooly type where as the outer coat is the long beautiful hair you see.

A male collie should be between twenty- four and twenty-six inches at the shoulder. A female should be twenty-two to twenty-four. Average males weigh in at 60-75 pounds and females at 50-65 pounds.

The smooth collie is judged by the same standards as the rough with exception to references in regards to coat. A smooth coat is short, hard, dense and flat. He or she will have a heavier abundance of hair around the neck but not the “ruff” that the rough variety of collie has.

The temperament of the collie is ideal for family life. They are protective of the people and livestock in their care. In fact the collie is one of the highest honored breeds in the annual Hero awards. More collies or collie mixes have won this title than any other breed.

Collies come by the length of their nose honestly. They are curious, fun loving dogs whose main desire is to spend time and please the family. Unlike many breeds, they usually intermingle with other pets. Dogs, cats, rabbits, horses, cattle and just about any other animal are tolerated.

They do need to be watched in areas with livestock. They are a herding dog with a strong instinct that could get an owner in trouble if the neighbor’s sheep, horses, or cattle were to be herded to the wrong home. That same herding instinct can cause trouble when a collie is allowed to roam loose. They often don’t understand why the car they are attempting to herd won’t go where they desire it to.

If you are interested in possibly purchasing or breeding collies, go to the local dog shows and see what good quality specimens look like. Find a reputable breeder by asking other breeders for referrals. The best time to do this is after an exhibitor is done for the day. Buy books and read up on the breed as well as ask your veterinarian about the genetic faults that are possible. Collie eye anomaly and hip dysplasia are two of the most common.

Selective breeding is the key to keeping the collie the beautiful, structurally sound dog with the sweet disposition that they are meant to be.