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 dog 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.
Little is known with confidence of the source of the Collie, but his cunning and his outward looks would appear to indicate a relationship with the wild dog. Buffon was of point of view 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 invariably at the top of the group. It 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 very hard-working, useful dog, well adapted for hill work and normally very fleet of foot.
He is not so amiable in temper as the black and white, and is slow to make friends. There is not a more graceful and physically good-looking dog to be seen than the show Collie of the present period. Produced from the old working animal, he is now almost a distinct breed.
The skull should be flat, fairly wide between the ears, and steadily tapering towards the eyes. There should only be a small depression at the bottom. The width of skull necessarily depends upon the combined length of skull and muzzle; and the whole must be measured in connection with the size of the animal. The cheeks should not be full or prominent.
The muzzle should be of a decent length, tapering to the nose, and must not show feebleness. Whatever the colour of the dog, the nose must be black. The teeth should be of a good size, sound and level; very minor unevenness is permissible.
The mouth should be clean-cut and powerful. The eyes are a very essential feature, giving expression to the dog; they should be of medium size, set somewhat at an angle, of almond shape and brown colour except in the case of merles, when the eyes are often (one or both) blue and white or china; expressing high intelligence, with a bright, alert look when they are listening.
The ears should be and moderately wide at the base, located not too close together but on the top of the skull and not on the side 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 somewhat drooping in the attitude 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 a few words, a Collie should show endurance, activity, and intelligence, with free and deliberate 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, thick and very smooth.
Owen Jones, the author of this article, writes on a number of subjects, but is now concerned with the canine distemper vaccination. If you want to know more, please go to our website at Distemper Vaccines
source: https://petanimalworld.com/types-of-herding-dog-breeds/
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