Collie

The exact origin of the name "collie" is unknown. It is claimed that the name of the breed comes from the Gallic word meaning "useful". There is also an opinion that it comes from the Scottish word for coal. According to another version, it comes from the local name of the Scottish black-headed sheep [en] (coolley). The word "collie" usually refers to breeds originating from Scotland. Dogs of this type, bred in other places, can be called sheepdogs or shepherd dogs.

Collie is a group of herding dog breeds originating from Scotland and Northern England. The group includes both breeds officially recognized by cynological organizations, as well as small local breeds and offspring.

The Collie is a proportional dog of medium height, rather light build, with a pointed muzzle. As a rule, it has a characteristic breed color. Collies are active, agile and in most cases have a pronounced herding instinct. Some collies continue to be used for grazing cattle and sheep. Others are kept as companions. Collies are often used in canine sports, where they exhibit outstanding agility, endurance and learning ability.

Collies are widely distributed all over the world, especially popular in Australia and North America, where they were used to breed other herding breeds, including by mestizating with local dog breeds. The name of the breed may include the word "collie", such as border Collie, but some breeds do not have this group designation in their name. The first mention of the breed dates back to 1790 (Thomas Verwick "The History of quadrupeds").

Title

The exact origin of the name "collie" is unknown. It is claimed that the name of the breed comes from the Gallic word meaning "useful". There is also an opinion that it comes from the Scottish word for coal. According to another version, it comes from the local name of the Scottish black-headed sheep [en] (coolley). The word "collie" usually refers to breeds originating from Scotland. Dogs of this type, bred in other places, can be called sheepdogs or shepherd dogs.

General description

Appearance

As a rule, collies are medium—sized dogs, weighing from 22 to 32 kg, with a light or medium backbone. Dogs designed to work with cattle are usually stockier. The coat can be smooth, long or stiff. The tail is lowered or raised, can be curved, but never twisted into a ring and does not touch the back. There is a congenital short-tailedness. Each breed has its own color variations, the main ones are red, black, black-tan, brown-tan, sable. The main color is often supplemented with white markings on the abdomen, chest, neck, and limbs. All color combinations can be supplemented with marble coloring (merle).

Temperament and intelligence

Collies are working dogs, very active, energetic, hardy. Experienced shepherds can run all day over rough terrain without knowing fatigue. Collies demonstrate an interest and craving for work at the level of instincts. According to Stanley Koren's book "The Intelligence of Dogs", dogs from the collie group belong to four places in the top twenty, and the border Collie is recognized as the smartest breed. Thanks to intelligence, loyalty to a person and working qualities, collies perform well in agility, flyball, freestyle, and grazing sports. Collies are excellent companions, can also be used as guard and guard dogs.

Health

Some breeds of the collie group, especially the long-haired and short-haired collie, are susceptible to genetic diseases, tolerate infectious diseases associated with the mutation of the MDR1 gene worse. Dogs with a mutant gene are sensitive to a number of medications, including some antibiotics, ivermectin, opioids and steroids, they have low cortisol levels. Genetic tests are used to exclude dogs with a defective gene from breeding.

Collie has a congenital stem cell disease "gray collie syndrome", or cyclic neutropenia. The mutant gene manifests itself in a homozygous state when both parents are carriers of it. Sick puppies have a special silver-gray color, but they are often mistaken for healthy blue Merle puppies. Sick dogs, as a rule, do not live longer than six months.