Collie – Is This the Perfect Dog for You?

Posted by Jeanne on October 6, 2009

Do you know how the Collie got its name? The word has its beginning way back in the early days of the English language. lt comes from the Anglo-Saxon word col meaning black. Col or colley was a name that was also used for the sheep of Scotland many hundreds of years ago. These sheep were coal black. The dogs that watched over them were called colley dogs. Later these sheep dogs were simply called Collies, and the name has remained in the language.

Queen Victoria had much to do with making the Collie popular in her native England. During one of her visits to Balmoral Castle in Scotland in the 1860’s, she saw some Collies working with sheep. She was so impressed with their intelligence that she decided to take a pair back to Windsor with her. The Queen was so attached to her Collies that they went with her wherever she went. But one time, on a royal visit to France, she didn’t take one of her dogs. She missed her pet so much that a member of her court had to go back to England to bring the collie to France to be with her mistress.

In England, the royal family sets the style. If a queen wears a certain kind of hat, her subjects notice the style and try to get the same kind. If a duke knots his tie a certain way, before long most of the men are copying him. The same is true with dogs. When Queen Victoria favored the Collie, she unwittingly made the breed one of the most popular in England in a very short time.

In America, the movies and TV set the styles. Back in the 1920s, a German Shepherd named Rin-Tin-Tin was the hero of thousands of children – and grownups too. All through the 1920s, the German Shepherd was the most popular dog in the country. In the 1950s, a Collie named Lassie did for her breed what Rin-Tin-Tin did for his. When we saw Lassie on the screen, we realized that Collies were not only good sheep dogs, but they were good companions for youngsters. Their intelligence and love for children make them excellent pets.

Related posts

• Rough Collie Dog Breed (0)
• Smooth Collie Dog Breed (0)

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Do you know how the Collie got its name? The word has its beginning way back in the early days of the English language. lt comes from the Anglo-Saxon word col meaning black. Col or colley was a name that was also used for the sheep of Scotland many hundreds of years ago. These sheep were coal black. The dogs that watched over them were called colley dogs. Later these sheep dogs were simply called Collies, and the name has remained in the language.

Queen Victoria had much to do with making the Collie popular in her native England. During one of her visits to Balmoral Castle in Scotland in the 1860’s, she saw some Collies working with sheep. She was so impressed with their intelligence that she decided to take a pair back to Windsor with her. The Queen was so attached to her Collies that they went with her wherever she went. But one time, on a royal visit to France, she didn’t take one of her dogs. She missed her pet so much that a member of her court had to go back to England to bring the collie to France to be with her mistress.

In England, the royal family sets the style. If a queen wears a certain kind of hat, her subjects notice the style and try to get the same kind. If a duke knots his tie a certain way, before long most of the men are copying him. The same is true with dogs. When Queen Victoria favored the Collie, she unwittingly made the breed one of the most popular in England in a very short time.

In America, the movies and TV set the styles. Back in the 1920s, a German Shepherd named Rin-Tin-Tin was the hero of thousands of children – and grownups too. All through the 1920s, the German Shepherd was the most popular dog in the country. In the 1950s, a Collie named Lassie did for her breed what Rin-Tin-Tin did for his. When we saw Lassie on the screen, we realized that Collies were not only good sheep dogs, but they were good companions for youngsters. Their intelligence and love for children make them excellent pets.

Related posts

• Rough Collie Dog Breed (0)
• Smooth Collie Dog Breed (0)

Smooth Collie Dog Breed

Posted by Jeanne on December 16, 2008

The Smooth Collie is very similar to his rough-coated brother. The main difference is in the coat which should be short, dense, and flat and with a thick undercoat. He is hardy and easy to rear, cleanly in his habits, and a great pal. He is easily trained for any sort of work and takes naturally to the herding of sheep and cattle.

• Head – Should be in proportion to dog’s size; skull moderately wide between the ears, and flat, tapering to the end of the muzzle, which ought to be of a fair length but not too snipey, with only a slight stop.
• Teeth – Strong and white. The top jaw fitting nicely over the lower, and where much over or at all undershot, it should count against the dog.
• Eyes – Of almond shape, set obliquely in the head, and the shade consistent with the color of the dog. A full or staring eye is very objectionable.
• Ears – Small, and when the dog’s attention is attracted, carried semi-erect; but when in repose it is natural for them to be laid back.
• Neck – Long and well arched, and shoulders muscular and sloping.
• Back – Rather long, strong, and straight, the loin slightly arched, and the chest fairly deep, but not too wide.
• Forelegs – Straight and muscular, with a fair amount of bone. The hindlegs should be rather wide apart, with stifle well bent, forming sicklehocks.
• Feet – Compact, knuckles well sprung, claws strong and close together, pads cannot be too hard.
• Coat – Short, dense flat coat, with good texture, with an abundance of undercoat.
• Symmetry – The dog should be of fair length on the leg, and his movements active and graceful.
• Height – Dogs, twenty-two to twenty-four inches; bitches, twenty to twenty-two inches.
• Tail – Of medium length, and when the dog is standing quietly, should be slightly raised, but more so when excited.

Related posts

• Rough Collie Dog Breed (0)
• Wire-Haired Pointing Griffon Dog Breed (0)
• Welsh Springer Spaniel Dog Breed (0)
• Sizes (0)
• Pointer Dog Breed (0)

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The Smooth Collie is very similar to his rough-coated brother. The main difference is in the coat which should be short, dense, and flat and with a thick undercoat. He is hardy and easy to rear, cleanly in his habits, and a great pal. He is easily trained for any sort of work and takes naturally to the herding of sheep and cattle.

• Head – Should be in proportion to dog’s size; skull moderately wide between the ears, and flat, tapering to the end of the muzzle, which ought to be of a fair length but not too snipey, with only a slight stop.
• Teeth – Strong and white. The top jaw fitting nicely over the lower, and where much over or at all undershot, it should count against the dog.
• Eyes – Of almond shape, set obliquely in the head, and the shade consistent with the color of the dog. A full or staring eye is very objectionable.
• Ears – Small, and when the dog’s attention is attracted, carried semi-erect; but when in repose it is natural for them to be laid back.
• Neck – Long and well arched, and shoulders muscular and sloping.
• Back – Rather long, strong, and straight, the loin slightly arched, and the chest fairly deep, but not too wide.
• Forelegs – Straight and muscular, with a fair amount of bone. The hindlegs should be rather wide apart, with stifle well bent, forming sicklehocks.
• Feet – Compact, knuckles well sprung, claws strong and close together, pads cannot be too hard.
• Coat – Short, dense flat coat, with good texture, with an abundance of undercoat.
• Symmetry – The dog should be of fair length on the leg, and his movements active and graceful.
• Height – Dogs, twenty-two to twenty-four inches; bitches, twenty to twenty-two inches.
• Tail – Of medium length, and when the dog is standing quietly, should be slightly raised, but more so when excited.

Related posts

• Rough Collie Dog Breed (0)
• Wire-Haired Pointing Griffon Dog Breed (0)
• Welsh Springer Spaniel Dog Breed (0)
• Sizes (0)
• Pointer Dog Breed (0)