The Collie dog makes an excellent sporting dog and can be trained to do the work of the Pointer and the Setter, as well as that of the Water Spaniel and the Retriever. He can be trained to carry out the work of other breeds as well. It is smart at hunting, having an excellent nose, is a first-rate vermin-killer, and a most faithful guard dog and buddy.
Not much is known with confidence of the source of the Collie, but his craftiness and his external looks would seem to indicate a relationship with the wild dog. Buffon was of opinion that he was the true dog of nature, the standard and model for the whole canine species.
He thought the Sheepdog superior in instinct and intellect to all other breeds, and that, with a character which other breeds do not share. It is the only creature that is born completely trained for the assistance of man.
At the shows this kind of dog is almost always at the top of the class. He is thought to be the most tractable, and is certainly one of the most agile. The second most popular breed of this type is the smooth-coated variety, which is a hard-working, useful dog, well adapted for hill work and usually really fleet of foot.
He is not so sweet in temper as the black and white, and is slower to make friends. There is not a more elegant and physically good-looking dog to be seen than the show Collie of the present period. Bred from the old working animal, he is now practically a distinct breed.
The skull should be flat, fairly wide between the ears, and gradually tapering towards the eyes. There should only be a small depression at the bottom. The width of skull inevitably depends upon the combined length of skull and muzzle; and the whole must be considered in connection with the size of the animal. The cheeks should not be full or outstanding.
The muzzle ought to be of a decent length, tapering to the nose, and must not show weakness. Whatever the colour of the dog, the nose must be black. The teeth should be of a decent size, sound and level; very slight unevenness is allowed.
The mouth should be clean-cut and powerful. The eyes are a very important feature, giving expression to the dog; they should be of medium size, set a little at an angle, of almond shape and brown colour apart from in the case of merles, when the eyes are often (one or both) blue and white or china; expressing high intelligence, with a quick, alert expression when they are listening.
The ears should be small and moderately wide at the base, located not too close together but on the top of the skull and not on the elevation of the head. When in repose they should be carried thrown back, but when on the alert brought forward and carried semi-erect, with tips slightly sagging in the posture of listening.
The neck should be muscular, powerful, of reasonable length, and a little arched. The body should be burly, with well sprung ribs, deep chest, fairly broad behind the shoulders, which should be sloping, loins very powerful..
The fore legs must be straight and strong, leaning neither in nor out at the elbows, with a fair amount of bone; the forearm rather fleshy, the pasterns showing suppleness without weakness. The hind-legs should be muscular at the thighs, clean and sinewy below the hocks, with well-bent stifles. The feet should be oval in shape, soles well padded, and the toes arched and close together.
Its general character is to be a lissom, lively dog, his deep chest showing lung power, his neck strength, his sloping shoulders and well bent hocks representing speed, and his expression of high intelligence. It should be a fair length in the leg, giving him more of a racy than a plodding appearance.
In short, a Collie should demonstrate endurance, activity, and intelligence, with free and true actions. In height dogs should be 22 ins. to 24 ins. at the shoulders, bitches 20 ins. to 22 ins. The weight for dogs is 45 to 65 lbs., bitches 40 to 55 lbs. The smooth collie only differs from the rough in its coat, which ought to be hard, dense and quite smooth.
Owen Jones, the writer of this article, writes on a variety of subjects, but is currently concerned with the canine distemper vaccination. If you want to kcurrently more, please go to our website at Distemper Vaccines