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Collie refers to various breeds of herding dog originating primarily in Scotland. The exact origin of the name is uncertain, although it probably originates in Early Scots col(l) (coal), meaning black. Another explanation sometimes put forward is that collie was a regional word for "something useful". The exact origin of the name is uncertain, although it may derive from Early Scots coll ("coal" or "black"). The collie name refers especially to dogs of Scottish origin, but the collie type is far more widespread in Britain and in many other parts of the world, often being called sheepdog or shepherd dog elsewhere. In the United States, "collie" is most often used to refer solely to Rough Collies rather than the collective grouping of all collie breeds.
The fictional Lassie, star of movies, books, and television
shows, was a Rough Collie, which helped to popularize Collies
in the United States and the United Kingdom, as well as in
many other countries. Lad of Sunnybank also deserves credit
for making the collie popular and was a real dog written about
by Albert Payson Terhune. The Collie Club of America is
one of the oldest breed-specific clubs in existence in the
United States (founded in 1886). However, there are three
different dog breeds with "Collie" in their name:
Collie (including both Rough Collie and Smooth Collie
varieties)
Border Collie
Bearded Collie
The farm collie was a generic term for a wide range of
herding dogs common in North America until the middle of the
20th century. Collies are generally large dogs weighing between 55-75lbs, fairly lightly built with a pointed snout and erect or partly erect ears, giving a foxy impression. Cattle-herding types tend to be rather more stocky. Collies are always alert and are active and agile. The fur may be short, flat, or long, and the tail may be smooth, feathered, or bushy. Some types were traditionally docked, and some types are naturally bobtailed or tail-less.
Types vary in colouration, with the usual base colours being black, black-and-tan, red, red-and-tan, or sable. Many types have white along with the main color, usually under the belly and chest, over the shoulders, and on parts of the face and legs, but sometimes leaving only the head coloured – or white may be absent or limited to the chest and toes (as in the Australian Kelpie). Merle colouration may also be present over any of the other colour combinations, even in landrace types. The most widespread patterns in many types are black and white or tricolour (black-and-tan and white).
Collie types and breeds: Herding dogs of collie type have long been widespread in Britain, and these can be regarded as a landrace from which a number of other landraces, types, and formal breeds have been derived, both in Britain and elsewhere. Many of these are working herding dogs, but some have been bred for conformation showing and as pets, sometimes losing their working instincts in the selection for appearance or for a more subdued temperament.
Herding types tend to be more variable in appearance than conformation and pet types, as they are bred primarily for their working ability, and appearance is thus of lower importance.
Dogs of collie type or ancestry include:
Australian Cattle Dog. Dog used in Australia for herding cattle. Dogs of this type are also known as Queensland Heeler, Blue Heeler and Red Heeler.
Australian Collie. Not actually a breed, but a popular cross between two other collie types, Australian Shepherd and Border Collie.
Australian Kelpie. Developed in Australia from collies originally brought from Scotland and northern England.
Australian Shepherd. Developed in the US, probably from dogs of British origin (of Farm Collie type), but now found in other parts of the world (including Australia).
Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog. Dog with stumpy tail used in Australia for herding cattle.
Bearded Collie. Now largely a pet and show breed, but still of collie type, and some are used as working dogs.
Border Collie. The most well-known breed for herding sheep throughout the world. Originally developed in Scotland and Northern England. Not always suitable for herding cattle.
English Shepherd. Developed in the US from stock of Farm Collie type originally from Britain. Not to be confused with the very different Old English Sheepdog.
Farm Collie. Landrace herding dog found on many livestock farms in Britain, in the US (derived from British dogs), and perhaps elsewhere. In Britain, often simply called "farm dog".
German Coolie, Koolie, or Collie. Developed in Australia, probably from British collies.
Huntaway. Developed in New Zealand from a mixture of breeds, probably including some collie – but it is not of collie type.
Lurcher. Not a breed, but a cross of collie (or other herding dog or terrier) with Greyhound or other sight hound. Traditionally bred for poaching, with the speed of a sight hound but more obedient and less conspicuous.
McNab (Shepherd). Developed in the US partly from dogs of collie type.
Old English Sheepdog. Derived from "Shags", hairy herding dogs. Not to be confused with the English Shepherd.
Rough Collie and Smooth Collie (sometimes considered varieties of one breed, originally called Scotch Collie). Now show and pet dogs, these were created by crossing working collies with other dogs (especially Borzois) and are of rather different type to other collies.
Shetland Sheepdog. A small show and pet breed developed in England partly from herding dogs originating in Shetland. The Shetland dogs were originally working herding dogs, not collies but of Spitz type (similar to the Icelandic Sheepdog). However in the development of the modern breed these Spitz-type dogs were heavily mixed with collies and toy breeds, and are now similar in appearance to a miniature Rough Collie.
Welsh Sheepdog. Landrace herding dog from Wales.
The heeler types of dog are probably related to collies, being usually shorter-legged dogs used primarily for herding cattle.
Shetland Sheepdogs (commonly known as "Shelties")
are sometimes mistakenly called Miniature Collies, but they
are a completely different breed of distinct origin.
The highlands of Scotland were the natural home of the
Collie, where the sheepdogs had been used for centuries by
shepherds, but the modern form of the breed was mostly
developed in England in the late 1800s. This early form of the
breed was usually referred to as the Scotch collie (or
Scottish collie) in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Scotch
collies were heavier and less fine-boned than today's Rough
and Smooth dogs. The ancestors of the modern Collie were first
exhibited as "Scotch Sheep-Dogs" in the 1860
Birmingham (England) dog show.
The modern Collie of both Rough and Smooth varieties are
available in four distinct colors. Sable and White dogs are
generally the most recognizable, the choice of the Lassie
television and movie producers. The sable color on these dogs
can range from a light blonde color to a deep reddish-brown,
with any hue in between possible. Tri-Color dogs are mostly
black and white with tan markings. Blue Merle collies are best
described as Tri-Color dogs whose black has been diluted to a
mottled gray-blue color.
White collies are usually mostly white on the body with a
head coloration of any of the three previous. A lesser-known
variant of collie coloring is that of the "phantom
merle" - a seemingly tricolor dog, with only perhaps a
slight merling of one or two areas of fur, who actually
carries the gene for merling. If bred to another dog with a
merle gene, the resulting pups may be
"double-dilute" - which can result in devastating
neurological conditions.
As modern-day "Lassies", both rough and smooth
collies have become successful assistance, and therapy dogs.
At least one guide dog school, Southeastern Guide Dogs in
Florida, currently trains smooth coated collies as guide dogs,
and a number of collies are currently partnered with disabled
individuals around the United States.
Some Collies suffer from a special gene defect due to a
mutation in the multidrug resistance gene, MDR1. This is also
known as "the Ivermectin-sensitive Collie". All dogs
with this mutation must be descandents of a dog who lived in
Great Britain in the midst of the 19th century. This mutation
is found worldwide and can even cause the death of a dog, if
he gets the wrong medicine (based on Ivermectin, Doramectin,
Loperamid and many more pharmaceuticals). Therefore all
Collies and breeds or dogs akin to them should be tested.
Temperament: Collies are known to be generally sweet
and protective. They tend to be easy to train due to a middle
level of intelligence and a willingness to please. They are
natural herding dogs and need the companionship of a family or
other dogs.
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