Collie Dog Breed
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Collies of today contribute their sweet and gentle disposition to therapy work, assisting those who are ill, depressed or disabled. Their presence in the classroom has also been of encouragement to children in reading programs.
Appearance:
Height: 22-26inches. Ideal standard weight: 50-75 poundsCoat colors: Sable and White, Tri-color, Blue Merle and White
Coat and Care:
The rough coated Collie has a very abundant double coat except on the legs and head. The outer coat is straight and harsh, while the under coat is soft and very dense. Both coat varieties equipped this breed very well for the harsh climate of the Scottish highlands, but in warmer climates, care should be taken to provide adequate shade and plenty of water when the dog is outside.
The smooth variety is also double-coated. The outer coat is short, flat, dense and hard with good texture, and the undercoat is abundant.
One really nice feature of Collies is that they are naturally clean and fastidious dogs. They also have no doggie odor. This glorious coat is not as arduous to maintain as it appears, but it should be brushed sufficiently enough to keep mats and tangles from forming. This in less of a concern with the smooth coat, but both varieties do shed at different times of the year, according to their cycle and gender. Occasional hair trimming of the rough coat is needed on the feet and around the ears and face. Teeth and nails need the same routine attention as is normal for all breeds.
Personality and Traits:
Collies have so many attributes, it is hard to name them all. First and foremost they are noted as great family companions. They are renowned for being people-oriented and that definitely includes little people! The Collie has a friendly demeanor and is a gentle loving dog with a sensitive nature.
In addition to this, they are intelligent and easy to train if done with a gentle approach. A real plus is the ease with which they can be housebroken - some owners report, remarkably, accomplishing this training within a week.
This dog is playful and likes to have strong family relations which means he does not like being relegated to the back yard for excessive periods of time. He will definitely feel lonely and bored without significant contact with his master. Dog boredom is to be doggedly avoided as it will ultimately lead to undesirable behavior and a sad dog.
Exercise is a great pleasure to many breeds and the Collie is no exception. He is very athletic, loves to please and can be trained to excel in agility and herding.
Collies are not aggressive, though they are suspicious of strangers and make good watchdogs.
Activity Level:
It should come as no surprise that a dog with herding in his genes, needs regular exercise. He will be a happy dog if you take him out for long walks and play games with in the back yard. They also do well in, and will enjoy, agility training if you have the interest.
Space Needs:
The ideal accommodations would include a moderate sized yard in which to run freely and enjoy games. Apartment living can be sufficient if regular outings and walks are provided.
Children :
The gentle Collie has a very good reputation as a playful, protective and loving companion to well-behaved children that are taught to be respectful of pets.
The caveat remains that unexpected situations can occur and for this reason, it is still always the best policy to have an adult supervise activities between pets and children.
Elderly:
Loyal, loving and a bit of a couch potato, this breed makes an excellent companion and watchdog for the elderly or more sedentary, providing the basic exercise requirements for good health can be arranged. He has been used quite extensively in therapy situations.
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