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| Description |
Description
The Collie is a large, lean, strong dog. The top of the skull is flat and the eyebrows are arched. The head is wedge-shaped and the muzzle is rounded tapering to the black nose, with a slight stop. The face is chiseled. The teeth should meet in a scissors bite. The medium sized eyes are almond shaped. Eye color is dark brown accept for blue merles, where the eyes may be blue or have one of each color. The small ears are 3/4 erect with the tips folding forward. The neck is fairly long. The body is slightly longer than it is tall. The legs are straight. The tail is moderately long with an upward twist or swirl at the end and is carried low. There are two coat varieties, the rough and smooth. The rough coat is long and abundant all over the body but is shorter on the head and legs an the coat forms a mane around the neck and chest. The outer coat is straight and harsh to the touch, and the undercoat is soft and tight. The smooth coat variety has a short one inch coat all over the body. Coat colors on both the rough and smooth variety include sable and white, tri color of black, white and tan, blue merle or predominantly white with sable, tri-color or blue merle markings.
Temperament
The Collie is a highly intelligent dog. Sensitive, mild-mannered, sweet, easy to train and loyal. Usually good with other pets and friendly with other dogs. They are natural herders and puppies may try and herd humans, and need to be taught not to do this. Faithful, playful, docile and protective of their family members and good with children. Collies have an uncanny sense of direction. They are good-natured, friendly dogs. They are energetic outdoors. Socialize them well to prevent them from becoming wary of strangers. They are not aggressive, but they do tend to be suspicious of people they sense unstable vibes from. Daily pack walks are important. Without a firm, but calm, confident and consistent owner who sets the rules and sticks to them, they can become willful, stubborn and indolent. This breed should be trained gently, but with an air of authority or he will refuse to cooperate. A clean breed, the Collie is relatively easy to housebreak. Some owners report that Rough Collies do not like the water due to how heavy their coat gets when wet. We have seen clips on the internet of Rough Collies swimming however so while a lot may not, it's never an absolute. Some Smooth Collies have become successful at water rescue.
Height, Weight
Height: Dogs 24-26 inches (61-66cm.) Bitches 22-24 inches (56-61cm.)
Weight: Dogs 60-75 pounds (27-34kg.) Bitches 50-65 pounds (23-29kg.)
Health Problems
Generally healthy dogs. Some lines are prone to PRA, eye defects (Collie eye syndrome) and hip problems leading to acute lameness and arthritis. Collies may need sunblock on their nose as they are often sensitive to the sun. Some herding dogs carry a MDR1 gene which makes them sensitive to certain drugs, that are otherwise okay to give another dog, but if tested positive for this gene can kill them.
Conditions
The Collie will dog okay in an apartment as long as they are sufficiently exercised. They are relatively inactive indoors and do best with at least an average-sized yard. Sensitive to the heat. Provide plenty of shade and fresh water in warm weather.
Exercise
The Collie needs plenty of exercise, which includes a daily, long walk. In addition, they would enjoy some romps off the leash in a safe area.
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