Collie Information, A Guide to a Multi-faceted Dog Why This Breed May Be Handy to Have Around

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Large Breed Hip Dysplasia Collie Eye Anomaly (CEA) Deafness Collie

Is the Collie Right for You?

  • 1 Collie dogs are great fun and make some of the best family dogs.
  • 2 They love to run, often appearing as if they are floating over the ground.
  • 3 Collies can shed heavily in warm weather but are notable for having very little dog odor.

HISTORY

Although it is commonly believed that England is the place where the Collie originated, the breed was mostly found in the highlands of Scotland. A remarkably accomplished herding dog, the Collie was quickly regarded as one of the most intelligent and hardest working dogs around. Popular among certain aristocratic circles because of their heightened intelligence, it did not take long before this breed was showing up in service areas (assisting the blind, etc.), as a guard and watchdog, and even acting in movies. The Collie was registered by the AKC in 1885.

Quick Facts

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    Size

    Large

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    Lifespan

    14-16 years

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    Hair Length

    Long

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    Male Height

    24-26 inches

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    Male Weight

    60-75 pounds

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    Female Height

    22-24 inches

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    Female Weight

    50-65 pounds

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    Litter Size

    6

Personality

A breed known for their nearly unparalleled intelligence, the gentle and lovable Collie is known for their loyalty and ability to be trained to execute complex tasks. They are great with children, but should be watched to make sure they donโ€™t take to herding them or nipping, seeing as they are bred to be herders. Socialize them well, and make sure they get enough exercise. Should all that be met, then you are looking at having one of the brightest, most loyal companions around. .

Color

Both Rough and Smooth Collies are available in four standard colors, which are sable and white, tricolor (which is a mix of white, black, and tan), blue merle, and white.

Health Concerns

The breed is susceptible to some inherited diseases such as:

More on Collies

Collie Health
How Can I Get my Collie to Fatten Up?
How to Improve a Collie's Coat
Collie Training Tips
Facts on Collie Dogs

Appearance

The Collie is an elegant breed with an inherently symmetrical body, making them one of the best looking breeds, objectively speaking. They are athletically built and large, making them ideal working dogs, They have a lean, wedge shaped head, with two semi-upright ears on top. Their body is lean and covered in either smooth or rough fur, yielding the two subcategories of Collie: Smooth Coated and Rough Coated Collies.

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