Collie: Characteristics, Exercise, Health

Group: AKC Herding, KCGB Pastoral

AKC Ranking: 37

Also Known As: Scottish Collie, Scotch Collie, Rough Collie, Smooth Collie, Lassie Dog

About Collie

History of the Breed The Rough Coated Collie hails from Scotland where it was known as the Colley Dog. Queen Victoria kept Collies at Balmoral Castle and made them a popular breed. The Scotch Collie is a hard-working herder and guardian of sheep. The show Collie has some Borzoi in his background and shows those characteristics in his face and nose. Because of the Collie’s intelligence, common sense, and loyalty he has been used as a rescue dog, guard dog, guide dog, and movie star.

The Smooth Collie is more popular in England than in the United States. He is from the same original stock as the Rough Collie. A litter can contain both Rough and Smooth Collie pups.

A General Appearance of the Dog

The Collie is one of the most beautiful of the herding dogs. It is slender of leg, has a trim and muscular body, a long nose and long, feathered tail that curves slightly. The Collie’s ears are supposed to be erect with tips that fold forward, but for a family pet it is okay if the ears have no fold. The Rough-coated Collie has a full, double coat that is medium long and very dense with a mane around his neck and chest. The Smooth-coated Collie has a one-inch long coat all over that is fairly dense.

Coat Color

Both Smooth and Rough Collies come in the same colorations with the same general markings. Basic colors are sable and white, tri-color (black, sable, and white), and blue merle (marbled). White is normally on the nose (and can go up the forehead) as a blaze, on the feet and/or legs, on the mane, and on the tail.

Coat Type

The Rough-coated Collie has a full, double coat that is medium long and very dense with a mane around his neck and chest. The Rough Collie needs weekly brushing and sheds heavily in the spring and fall.

The Smooth-coated Collie has a one-inch long coat all over that is fairly dense. The Smooth Collie is a fairly light shedder year-round and needs only occasional brushing.

Height

Males 24-26"
Females 22-25".

Weight

Males 60-75 lbs.
Females 50-65 lbs.

Personality

Temperament of the Dog

The Collie is a good-natured, highly intelligent and sensitive breed of dog that makes an excellent companion. He is easy to train and very loyal, devoted to his family, and protective. Collies were made famous by the television show and movies about Lassie (who were a series of male Collies).

Collies need a lot of social interaction and can become noisy or destructive if left without human companionship for long periods of time. Once a Collie has bonded with a family, he will refuse to be separated from that family and will go long distances to be reunited.

Collies are wary of strangers and make good watchdogs. If a stranger comes to the door, he may form a barrier between his master and the door or the stranger.

This breed was overbred for many years leading to problems, which will be eliminated by purchasing from a reputable breeder. They need a fenced yard and are somewhat heat sensitive.

Better suited to an indoor or outdoor lifestyle?

They need a fenced yard and are somewhat heat sensitive so need plenty of fresh water and shade if out in warm or hot weather. The Collie’s nose sunburns easily. They need some place they can get in out of the weather as needed. They are social and enjoy being with the family and other pets. Be sure to use monthly tick and flea preventative.

Apartments are okay for an adult Collie as long as he gets a couple of nice, long walks each day and a play time at a park or dog park a couple of times a week. He will be happier if he can sit outdoors on a deck or balcony some part of each day.

Collies prefer to live in a suburban or rural setting so that they have plenty to keep them busy and some area to run and “guard.”

Are they suited to homes with kids?

Most collies are good with children and other pets if thoroughly socialized when they are puppies. They are gentle and tolerant and will stay with children at play for hours on end. If raised with children, they will have a high desire to be with children and “care for” them because of their herding background.

Training

Collies can be trained to a fairly high level through the use of praise and food rewards. Training of Collies must be done with gentleness rather than harshness or they will refuse to cooperate and appear very willful. Housetraining is very easy with Collies as they do not like to soil any area where they live and play and have a strong sense of right and wrong.

Activity Level

How Active is the Breed?

Collies need a lot of social interaction and can become noisy or destructive (including boisterous barking and digging) if left without human companionship for long periods of time.

They love to run and play throughout their lives. As herders, Collies are able to run 40 miles a day. A Collie is happy with a territory to “guard” and run. A medium to large fenced yard and plenty of outdoor time suits him well.

How Much Exercise Does the Dog Need at every stage of its Life?

A puppy or young dog needs several play times a day and loves for some of those to be outdoors. An adult Collie needs at least two fairly long walks a day with some active play times at a park or dog park at least a couple of times a week. They like to play games and solve problems. They enjoy obedience training and showing and some love agility.

Grooming

The Rough variety needs frequent brushing – once a week most of the year. In the spring and fall, he is a heavy shedder and will need daily brushing until his undercoat is out. Check the coat for burs and mats.

The Smooth-coated Collie needs only moderate grooming and is a much lighter shedder.

Monthly nail cutting (may need it more often) and biweekly check of ears and eyes are needed as well.

Health and Care

Genetic Problems

Hip problems including arthritis, cancer, and dysplasia leading to lameness are prevalent. Eye defects occasionally. This breed was over bred for many years leading to problems, which will be eliminated by purchasing from a reputable breeder. The legs of Collies are prone to various problems including broken bones when they are young and arthritis and cancer as they age. Many Collies do not like to jump, so will hesitate to do so for advanced obedience trials or agility.

Beware of Collie Eye Anomaly which causes blindness. Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) can also cause blindness. Nodular Granulomatous Episclerokeratitis (NGE) is an autoimmune disorder that affects the cornea of the eye.

Try to use a heartworm preventive that does not contain ivermectin (such as Heartguard®) as Collies are very sensitive to it.

Breeding the Dog and any Caution

Collie puppies need to be thoroughly socialized in order to build confidence.

Litter Size

4-8 puppies are normal for Collies. A litter can have both Rough and Smooth collies and a wide variety of colorations including merle, tri, and sable.

Life Span

Life span is generally 12-16 years.

National Breed Clubs

British – British Collie Club – www.britishcollie.co.uk/index.html
US – Collie Club of America - www.collieclubofamerica.org

Other Recognition: CKC, FCI, AKC, UKC, CKGB, ANKC, NKC, NAKC, APRI, ACR, JKC

Rescue Link: http://www.collieclubofamerica.org/rescue.php