Collie

Collie is a Scottish dog breed, bred primarily for herding. They are characterized by their distinctive long, flowing coat and their friendly, gentle and loyal temperament. In addition, they have been widely known and appreciated thanks to their participation in television and movies.

General details

The breed is of medium size and has a robust physical structure. Males can weigh between 27 and 34 kilograms, while females can weigh between 23 and 29.5 kilograms. The height of males ranges between 61 and 66 centimeters, while the height of females varies between 60 and 61 centimeters. These dogs usually have a life expectancy of 12 to 14 years and have not yet been recognized by the Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI).

Breed history in brief

The Collie is a breed of dog that originated in Scotland, which was used primarily as a sheepdog to guide and protect cattle and sheep. In the mid-19th century, Queen Victoria of England fell in love with the breed after seeing it at a dog show and began breeding them, which contributed to their popularity not only in England, but throughout the world. In the 20th century, the Collie became even more famous thanks to the novel "Lassie Come-Home" and its film and television adaptations, which made the breed recognized and loved by many people. Today, Collies remain popular and are appreciated for their intelligence, beauty and loyalty.

Breed characteristics

The Collie is a robust and elegant dog, with a deep chest. Its eyes are medium sized, almond-shaped and dark in color. Its ears are folded lengthwise, although they are raised in alertness, leaving a quarter of the ear tilted forward. Its long tail, at rest, is carried hanging with an upward curl at the end, while if the dog is excited, it is carried gaily. The coat is double, with a smooth, rough outer coat and a soft, dense, close-lying undercoat. The coat is abundant all over the body, except on the head and feet. The recognized colors are sable and white, tricolor, blue merle and white. All colors have white markings, but vary in shade and presence of tan shadings on the head and legs. The Collie's temperament is friendly and gentle, and they are also eager to please and especially loyal to their owners. They have a good relationship with children and other pets and can be excellent family dogs that are easily trained. Collies are also often used as therapy dogs due to their calm and sensitive nature.

Common health problems

The breed is characterized by good health. However, they are prone to develop certain disorders or pathologies such as bullous pemphigoid, canine cyclic hematopoiesis, cataract, cerebellar cortical abiotrophy, Collie eye anomaly, corneal dystrophy, deafness, demodicosis, dermatomyositis, idiopathic epilepsy, immune-mediated hemolytic anemia, lupus erythematosus, microphthalmia, patent ductus arteriosus, pemphigus foliaceus, persistent pupillary membrane, progressive retinal atrophy and retinal dysplasia. In addition to the above conditions, the OFA (Orthopedic Foundation for Animals) Canine Health Information Center (CHIC) recommends screening for multidrug sensitivity and dermatomyositis.