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About Collies
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Collies originated in Scotland as "herdsmen" and overseers of flocks. They have been bred to watch over and protect their charges, making them excellent family dogs and naturals with children.
As can be supposed, a dog that is entrusted with the care and safety of sheep and lambs, must be a gentle dog, an alert dog, and most of all, an intelligent dog that can think for himself. He makes a perfect child's pet, for he is not a Guard dog to such an extent that he will attack the child's friends in a frenzy of misguided protectiveness; but woe to the person that means harm to that child!
Collies take a great interest in children, and their herding instinct is often applied to small people, as well as animals. It is not unusual for a Collie to follow his young owner around all day, quietly interposing himself between the child and danger. Every year Collies receive heroism awards for rescuing children from onrushing cars, poisonous snakes, fire, and for bringing help to injured masters.
The Collie is a very easy dog to obedience train because he is anxious to please his master, works well with people or alone, and has a relatively quiet, easygoing nature. A heavy-handed trainer who slaps or otherwise treats the dog roughly will get nowhere with the Collie. The Collie may be led, not pushed. He will learn quickly if treated with kindness, and if training is enforced and rewarded with praise. But he will balk and sulk, and refuse to learn if handled roughly.
Being a herding dog, the Collie is naturally a chaser. It is therefore, in the best interest of you and your Collie, not to let him run loose without supervision. A Collie is only following his natural instincts when he chases cars, children on bikes, and cats, but it can end in disaster. It is therefore the responsibility of the owner to control those instincts and not allow him to get in trouble or become seriously hurt.
There are two varieties of Collies. The rough coat which is the typical long-haired dog with which we are familiar, and the smooth coat which is shorthaired, similar to that of the Labrador Retriever. both varieties are exactly the same in conformation, personality, and color, the only difference being the length of coat.
The four colors of rough & smooth Collies are:
- Sable: These dogs are the "Lassie" color, brown or tan, with white markings.
- Tri-Color: These dogs have three different colors. Their bodies are black, with sable on their faces and legs, and white markings.
- Blue Merle: These dogs are actually carrying four colors. Their bodies are a silver-blue, with black ticking or marbling throughout. They have the same sable on their faces and legs as the tri-color, and have white markings.
- White: These dogs are all, or mostly all, white. Their heads are either sable, tri, or blue.
Regardless of the basic color, the Collie must have white on the chest, white feet, and a white tip at the end of the tail. A full white collar around the neck is attractive, but not required by the Collie standard.
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Copyright © 1998 by The Collie Rescue League of New England, Inc. All rights reserved.
You may print or download this material for non-commercial personal or school educational use. All other rights reserved.
If you, your organization or business would like to reprint our articles in a newsletter or distribute them free of charge as an educational handout, please feel free to contact us.
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