Collie (Scottish Sheepdog) - description, characteristics and characteristics of the breed. Collie (Scottish Sheepdog) What is the name of the Scottish Sheepdog dog?

Origin:	Scotland
Dimensions:	Weight 25 - 35 kg, height 55 - 65 cm
Character:	Friendly, playful, active, smart
Where used:	Companion, guide, search
Lives:	10 – 14 years
Color:	Tricolor, sable, marbled blue

The graceful, friendly Scottish Sheepdog is a favorite of many. From a simple shepherdess she turned into a pet of royalty. The Scottish dog can be affectionate true friend and a formidable defender.

Origin story

Name the exact date no one can predict the appearance of the first representative of this breed. According to one version, the collie dog is a descendant of the oldest Celtic breed. Another says that these animals were brought to Scotland in the seventeenth century from Iceland. And the third hypothesis connects their appearance in Europe with the Roman conquerors.

What is known for sure is why dogs came to be called “collies.” According to their original purpose, they were shepherds, protecting flocks of sheep from predators. It is from the Scottish sheep “colley” that the name of the sheepdogs from Scotland comes from the same name. However, the collie breed became famous only in the nineteenth century, when it was noticed by Queen Victoria. After the appearance of these dogs at court, attention to them increased many times over.

Breed characteristics

According to dog breeders, the Scottish Shepherd is a very calm, friendly animal. If you add to this a noble appearance and beautiful color, you get the perfect a pet. Many appreciate these beauties for their wonderful character, lively mind, and active, cheerful disposition.

Appearance and standards

The very first standard for this breed was established back in 1981. The Scottish dog is distinguished by a harmonious, strong physique and light, graceful movements. These dogs have the so-called dry type of constitution, a narrow long head with almond-shaped eyes. The ears are small, triangular, erect, and the tail is saber-shaped.

The description of the standard contains an indication of two varieties of the breed: long-haired and short-haired. Regardless of coat length, the following colors are allowed:

• sable;
• marble blue;
• tricolor.

Any color can be diluted with white markings. The preferred option involves a white collar, white socks on the paws and a white tip of the tail.

Puppies

The collie puppy is an incredibly cute creature. Healthy babies active, playful, inquisitive. Separated from their mother, they really need care and affection. In order to raise a strong, smart, beautiful dog, it is necessary to devote a lot of time to her upbringing from an early age.

Good nutrition, active walks and a kind attitude are important for a collie puppy. It should be remembered that character and basic skills are laid in small four-legged friend aged from one month to six months. It is during this period that you need to give him Special attention.

Character

Collie considered one of the most calm, patient and friendly breeds. Their intelligent, noble appearance, intelligent, kind look and easy-going nature contribute to their popularity among dog breeders. They are not prone to aggression and are good with other pets.

This dog is very loyal to its owners. He is a wonderful companion, excellent family dog and a good nanny for small children. Despite its very friendly disposition, the Scottish Shepherd is not timid and can stand up for itself and its owner.

Content Features

The character and natural characteristics of this dog allow it to be kept calmly even at home. She gets along well with children and other animals in the house, without causing much trouble to anyone. Scottish beauties are neat and clean, do not have the characteristic dog smell and excessive drooling.

Dog care

Proper care for any pet includes proper nutrition, long active walks, and regular checks of the condition of the ears, eyes, teeth, and claws. The ears require careful examination because hair grows in them. If it is not removed in time, it can clog the ear canals.

Collie is long-haired, despite thick hair and dense undercoat, does not require frequent washing. Their coat has the special property of not retaining dirt, so it always looks clean. It is believed that the wool of representatives of this breed has healing properties. Various products are made from it, including socks, mittens, scarves, and sweaters. Daily brushing not only takes care of the condition and appearance of the pet, but also benefits people.

Due to their lean build and low heat loss, these shepherds consume less food than many of their counterparts. It is enough to feed an adult twice a day. Collie puppies feed from three to six times, depending on their age.

Training and use

In the description of the breed, attention is always drawn to the good mental abilities and excellent trainability of its representatives. They have excellent sense of smell, excellent hearing, vision, and amazing memory. If we also take into account their calm, good-natured character, we get an ideal specimen for training. Collies are active, hardy, can easily tolerate heat and cold, and are not afraid of rain and snow.

All these qualities make it possible to widely use dogs to help humans. They make excellent companions, guards, guides, and police bloodhounds.

Health

At proper care, timely prevention of diseases, regular veterinarian examinations, four-legged pets feel good and look healthy. According to the description of the owners, the breed is quite different good health, however, owners should pay attention to a few things.

Dogs of this breed are prone to the following types of diseases.

It is unlikely that anyone does not know the Scottish Shepherd. This breed is the heroine of popular television series, books and stories, otherwise it is also called Collie.

The Collie's appearance cannot be confused with any other breed and is unforgettable. Their gorgeous long hair makes them simply handsome and beauties, and many people remember the Scottish Shepherd named Lassie from childhood.

Historical facts

The collie dog breed has a similar appearance to Shiloh Shepherds and herding dogs and this is not surprising, because its history began in England. The ancestors of these four-legged animals had the same appearance, were slightly squat and had thick and shaggy hair.

Experts believe that the first population of shepherd dogs came to Scotland as a result of territorial conflicts with the British. When the Scots attacked the Britons, they took trophies with them, which included dogs. It is a mixture of British and Scottish breeds that has created the gene pool for modern collies.

These dogs had excellent working skills, but with appearance things were worse. There were strong differences in coat color, and the dogs differed in proportions and bone structure. More or less, the breed was formed closer to the seventeenth century and they began to look more like modern animals. They became more squat, short, strong and shaggy.

In the eighteenth century, breeders began to actively work with the breed. They decided that the dogs needed to be made faster, more resilient and hard-working and added the blood of Scottish Setters to them. Skull box also strengthened as a result of mating with the Irish Setter. Other external features, such as muzzle length, height, etc., the Scottish Shepherd received from crossing with Greyhounds. The result, of course, was good, but it was not without negative consequences.

As a rule, such consequences do not appear immediately. However, breeds that developed in the 18th and 19th centuries have a fairly large number of marriages and other hereditary diseases. An example would be those individuals who have Borzoi blood in their genes. These specimens may have an irregular skull shape and a pure red color, which is considered defective. Due to this marriage, a separate breed was created, called the long-haired collie.

Gallery: Scottish Sheepdog (25 photos)

Types of dogs and the history of their names

The history of the origin of the breed is quite confusing. In view of this, there is no clear answer about the origin of its name. One of the generally accepted versions is the origin from English word“coal” - that is, coal black. Another version is the origin of the name from the profession “coal shepherd”, or shepherd of black-faced sheep. It is worth noting that the second version is less logical. According to international rules, the generally accepted name of the breed is the Scottish Shepherd. It unites all these dogs according to certain characteristics. But it is still customary to distinguish between the types of these animals:

Sometimes on dog breeding forums you can find another unusual collie - the marbled collie. She is a representative of the Australian breed or Aussie. This breed has a rather unusual color - blue merle, in which the pigmentation is partial. He meets at long-haired breed and extremely rare. There is also an Australian collie, the color of which is very rare - black merle. They have some similar traits to Aussies.

Characteristics of the collie breed

The breed standard was developed over many years, and only by 2011 was it finally adopted and used for most dogs belonging to this breed. One of the main controversial issues- this is the growth of pets:

• in Russia, the standard height for dogs is considered to be 60−69 centimeters;
• in America, height from 56 to 61 centimeters can be allowed;
• The international standard has approved a dog size of 51-61 centimeters.

Collies are powerful and slightly stocky dogs. However, as a result of mating long-haired and short-haired breeds, they became taller and less wide.

Currently, it is necessary to rely on the standard approved by the FCI (that is, the International Association of Cynological Federations). According to it, the height and weight of individuals depends on their gender.

For example, the height of a male dog is 56-61 centimeters. And their weight varies from twenty to thirty kilograms. The female is slightly smaller in size - approximately 18-25 kilograms in weight, and her height can be 51-56 centimeters.

The head of these dogs is wedge-shaped; when viewed from above, it appears narrow and elongated. The cheeks and cheekbones are lifted and look almost flat. The muzzle gradually narrows along the bridge of the nose to the nose, and if there are too many sharp changes or the muzzle is too pointed, then this is considered a defect in the breed. The lips are of medium thickness and fully pigmented. The teeth are straight and symmetrical, with a correct bite.

A small nose should only be black. The eyes are quite expressive, intelligent and have the average size. They are mostly brown in tone, but in rare cases, blue merles can have a blue tint.

The ears are large, semi-erect, in the form of a regular triangle and quite large. When the ears stand too straight, this is considered a breed defect. IN calm state they are slightly spread out to the side, and when the dog is focused, they are turned forward.

The body is strong and muscular, well developed. The build should be of average type. Excessive thinness or fatness is not acceptable and such animals will be disqualified. In the stance, there is a beautiful curve of the neck, a pronounced scruff and withers. The collie's tail is straight and slightly curled at the end. It is covered with long and thick fur.

Breed of collie dogs and their coloring

Scottish Sheepdogs have thick and fluffy fur. If you look at the general parameters, they are classified as long-haired dogs. The shortest hairs of the coat cover the muzzle, lower paws and ears. But there is rich fur on the chest and tail. Their paint is divided into several groups:

• sable - with this color there is a yellow-brown or red tint with white color;
• mahogany - the main shade is white, and a wheat-golden or brownish-red color is added;
• tricolor - similar to the tortoiseshell color of cats, that is, there are black, white and brown shades (sable or mahogany);
• blue merle is a rather rare color, where the main color is white, and the tan is not completely dyed black-blue. Welcomed, but not required. if yellowish tan is present.

It should be noted that white should always be present. It should be located in the chest and neck area, on the chin and paws, and also at the tip of the tail. A longitudinal white marking on the muzzle along the nose to the forehead may be allowed.

Contents caring for furry pets

Since the dog of this breed is quite fluffy, its coat requires special care. These pets need to be brushed regularly. But it’s better not to use slicker brushes, because they can ruin the dog’s appearance. They can be bathed two or three times a year using a gentle shampoo. In places where the fur is too long, you can trim it using scissors. This way the pet will look more harmonious.

Collies are very active and just need long walks and exercise. If you have time, it’s better to go to a park or forest on the weekend. On other days they need morning and evening walks least. In the apartment they need a comfortable bed or mattress.

Small puppies are fed small meals six times a day. And by six months, puppies are transferred to three meals a day. When they are one year old, feeding them twice a day is enough. That is, this is morning and evening. A bowl of clean water should be present at all times. so that your pet can quench his thirst at any time.

The diet of these animals includes beef, lean chicken, offal, dairy products, fish, eggs, cereals, vegetables. But foods such as poultry bones, pork, fatty and sweet foods, pasta, potatoes, spoiled or unripe vegetables and fruits, and raw river fish should not be given. You can also choose dry food for your pet, which is suitable for dogs of long-haired breeds.

Average lifespan of dogs This breed is ten to twelve years old.

These animals are very intelligent and should be taught the necessary commands. They respond well to training and you can start training them starting from three months. Sometimes they can even perform certain tricks and bring slippers to their owner. Either the owner himself or members of his family can train the pet to do all this. The breed is non-aggressive, therefore, you should not try to assign the function of a security guard to her. Also, do not treat them roughly or aggressively. It is not allowed to beat or punish them.

Attention, TODAY only!

(bearded collie) are recognized as independent breeds. There are heated debates among dog handlers about the other two varieties - long-haired (rough) and short-haired (smooth).

The international cynological organization FCI, which includes the Russian Cynological Federation (RKF), considers these two varieties to be one breed, but in the UK, short-haired collies are identified as a separate breed. Since there are separate standards for both varieties, in order to avoid confusion we will agree that further we'll talk about the long-haired collie, popular in Russia.

Collies owe their name to Geoffrey Chaucer. Did "father" call English poetry“They are in honor of the black-headed Scottish sheep that the dogs grazed, or he meant the color of the dogs, in principle it doesn’t matter anymore. It is under this name that Scottish Cattle Dogs are known throughout the world.

The most common three versions of the origin of the Scottish Sheepdog are:

1. Celtic. Even before the Romans came to the islands, the Scottish Celts used small shepherd dogs to herd sheep. Their ancestors were British dogs, Old Scottish greyhounds and sheepdogs.
2. Southern or Roman. According to this version, the ancestors of the collie are the dogs that accompanied the Romans on British campaigns in the mid-1st century BC. and native Scottish dogs.
3. Icelandic. It is believed that the dogs that served as “material” for future Scottish Sheepdogs were brought to Scotland by Icelandic settlers in the 17th century.

Each of these hypotheses has the right to exist, but with complete confidence we can only say that Scottish Shepherds have the blood of ancient wolf-like dogs that lived in the Highland region bordering England and Scotland.

The spread of the breed in the British Empire was facilitated by Queen Victoria, who brought collies from her Scottish residence to Windsor Palace in 1860. By the beginning of the 19th century, Scottish Sheepdogs were already performing their herding duties not only in the British Isles, but also in the pastures of New Zealand and Australia.

There are three hypotheses about the origin of the Collie (Scottish Shepherd) dog breed.

Smart, gentle dogs were liked not only by shepherds; they were increasingly used as domestic companion dogs. And already by the 60s of the 19th century, the breed was divided into working border collie dogs and long-haired collies themselves.

Collies were first shown at the exhibition in 1860, and in 1871 the red Scottish Sheepdog male Old Cockie was presented to the public, which is considered the progenitor of all modern colored breed lines.

After breeders introduced blood into the breed, collies acquired the aristocratic elongated head shape, which was reflected in the first breed standard, published in 1881. By the beginning of the twentieth century, Scottish Shepherds conquered European countries and the United States. Nowadays, collies are one of the most popular breeds in the world.

Important. Herding dogs appeared in Russia in 1904, when the government purchased 400 collie nurses, who later participated in the Russo-Japanese War. After the revolution, Scottish Shepherds were bred as working dogs. To the Great Patriotic War Hundreds of collies served at the front as orderlies, sappers, and shell deliverers.

Appearance and breed standard with photographs

Long-haired collies are classified as herding dogs without mandatory working tests. The dog gives the impression of being harmoniously built, impressive-looking, and possessing a feeling self-esteem.

Despite the great variability appearance and the exterior of a collie dog, the description of the breed, officially approved in 2011 by the FCI, lists the required breed characteristics:

Coat type and color

Scottish Shepherds are herding dogs adapted to work in harsh conditions, their water-repellent and self-cleaning coat provides excellent protection from the elements and is simply beautiful.

Their straight or slightly wavy coat follows the contours of the body. The undercoat is abundant, thick, fluffy, very soft, it lifts straight, hard guard hairs, giving hairline additional volume.

There are six short hairs on the head, muzzle, and tips of the ears. The hair lengthens towards the base of the ears. The luxurious mane, frill, feathering on the legs, and fluffy tail add special beauty to the collie.

The Scottish Shepherd standard allows only three colors, but within each there are many variations that are difficult to describe:

Any color requires white markings (Irish spotting). White markings on the chest, collar, paws, tip of the tail, marks or stars on the forehead, nose and muzzle are typical. They can vary in size and shape.

Important. During the formation of the breed, the original black and white color without tan was considered unspectacular and was removed from the standard. But in the USA the rare white and red harlequin colors are recognized, which are classified as unacceptable in FCI partner countries.

Character and temperament

Scottish Sheepdogs were originally selected for herding qualities. They were not required to be aggressive, like larger wolfhounds; preference was given to dogs with a balanced type nervous system. The shepherds instilled in their helpers an instinct that did not allow them to be the first to attack animals and people, but, at the same time, they cultivated in the collie the character of a guard, capable of standing up for himself, his charges and his owner in case of danger.

When collies began to be used as companion dogs, they tried to preserve their innate qualities: gentleness and balanced character. IN modern description The breed and character of the dog are characterized as calm, moderately friendly, reserved.

Collies are balanced, calm and non-aggressive dogs.

Such qualities, coupled with high trainability, make it possible to use Scottish Shepherds as guides, orderlies, and companions for the elderly. Thanks to their built-in protective instincts, they make vigilant, but not evil watchmen.

Collies are oriented toward their owner and his environment. He is a wonderful companion for children who are cared for with care. Often, when living in an apartment with children, some of the responsibilities are removed from the adults, becoming a kind of nanny for the child.

If there are other animals in the house, they also fall into the dog’s “herding” circle. Scottish Shepherds are reserved and somewhat wary of strangers.

In modern realities, collies rarely perform their direct duties of herding livestock, so they are not required to have great endurance and physical activity. However, without active exercise, walks, games with the owner or relatives, dogs become depressed. This often manifests itself in loud barking, irritability, etc. If the dog is given enough attention, it does not bother its owners, adapting to the rhythm of family life, and feels equally at home both in a rural house and in a city apartment.

Scottish Shepherds have innate cleanliness, accuracy and delicacy. They are full of dignity and proud, so a sharp shout or a jerk with a leash may be perceived as undeserved punishment and they may be offended.

Collie dogs take care of all family members, including other pets.

Subtleties of education and training

Scottish Sheepdogs are different high intelligence and learning ability. Thoughtful, correct, consistent education makes it possible to raise a pet that understands the owner at a glance, deprived bad habits observing the rules of behavior at home, on walks, and at exhibitions.

Accustoming to order and observance of the rules of the hostel begins from the first minutes of the puppy being in the house. To begin with, the pet is accustomed to its name and its place. For every correctly performed action, the baby is rewarded with a word, stroking, a toy, or a treat.

Important. When training collies, they rarely resort to physical punishment (slap, jerk with a leash). In order to let the dog know that it has made a mistake, a stern tone is enough.

After the baby firmly grasps the nickname, they begin to develop the skill of cleanliness:

• at the first sign that the puppy wants to go to the toilet (sniffs the floor, spins around in one place, whines), he is taken outside;
• The puppy is taught a routine: taken for a walk in the morning, after meals and in the evening.

It is advisable to punish a dog for puddling only if you caught it directly at the crime scene. Delayed punishment doesn't work. The dog simply does not understand why he is being punished.

Raising a long-haired collie puppy begins at 1.5-2 months.

Once the puppy reaches 1.5 -2 months, he is taught to be patient when washing his paws, cleaning his ears, teeth, eyes, combing, and blow-drying.

Training begins with the simplest commands (, “walk”,). To, “stand”, “cannot” begin when the puppy is at least 2 months old. At the same age, the baby needs to be socialized - to provide him with the opportunity to contact other dogs. Otherwise, he will not develop the skills to communicate with his own kind, which can lead in the future to improper sexual behavior, cowardice, excessive caution, and unjustified aggressiveness.

Upon reaching the age of 13-16 weeks, the puppy begins to make claims to leadership. By not placing the dog at the lowest hierarchical level in the family during this period, the owner risks getting many problems in the future.

By the age of six months, a collie puppy should firmly grasp basic commands. After this, you can begin serious training. Scottish Shepherds have access to all its types, with the exception of guard and guard. You can choose a general training course (GTC), a companion dog course (VN), a guided course city ​​dog(UGS), obedience, sports herding, dancing with dogs (freestyle), Frisbee, search and rescue service (SRS) course, coursing.

Collie dogs can be used for agility and other sports.

In the case of collies, we have to agree with the saying that beauty requires sacrifice. If care and maintenance are quite simple, then maintaining the luxurious coat of a Scottish Shepherd in proper order will require a lot of effort.

Grooming

One of the problems collie owners face is shedding.

Hair change occurs for various reasons:

To avoid matting the fur, go over it daily with a massage brush. Start in the direction of hair growth, then scratch against. The fur behind the ears, inner thighs and underpants should be combed with special care.

The dog is combed more thoroughly on “bath” days. The collie's coat does not require frequent washing; the Scottish Shepherd is usually washed in cases of heavy soiling, during shedding and before shows.

The dog is combed before and after bathing:

1. Use a metal comb to comb the fur all over the dog, starting from the head. Supporting with one hand upper layer wool, comb the undergrowth and the lower layer of wool, and then proceed to the upper layers.
2. The procedure is repeated using a slicker brush.
3. Using scissors or clippers, cut off excessively long hair on the belly, inside thighs, at the base of the tail, around the anus, on the paws.
4. Use your fingers to pluck the hair in the ears and on the tips of the ears.
5. The dog is washed using shampoo, which is then thoroughly washed off.
6. Apply lanolin to the coat, allow the dog to shake it off well, and wipe it off.
7. Direct the warm jet of a hairdryer at the dog and style the fur with a massage brush.
8. Allow the dog to dry completely and repeat the entire brushing procedure from the beginning.
9. The coat is powdered with talcum powder, thus removing the yellow tint on the face and paws.

The thick, luxurious coat of the Scottish Shepherd requires regular grooming.

Important. After a walk in the rain, snow, or swimming in a pond, the wool must be dried with a hairdryer and sprinkled with talcum powder.

Hygiene procedures

In addition to caring for your dog's coat:

Fleas, lice, and lice can cause serious damage to the rich coat of a collie; in addition, from spring to autumn there is a threat of tick attacks.

To eliminate the threat of helminth infection:

• worm the bitch and the dog 14 days before mating;
• the dog that has given birth is given anthelmintic drugs again;
• according to a scheme that can be suggested at a nursery or clinic;
• deworming of dogs is carried out 7-10 days before each scheduled vaccination;
• To prevent infection with helminths, dog bowls are washed after each feeding, raw meat is given only after freezing for at least 3 days, the dog is not allowed to communicate with stray dogs, or eat food picked up from the ground during a walk.

Feeding collie dogs

Scottish Shepherds are unpretentious eaters. Their menu may consist of natural products or industrial feed. The main thing is that the diet meets the dog’s needs for fats, carbohydrates, proteins, mineral salts and vitamins.

Collie dogs being fed raw meat, cereals, vegetables, fruits.

With a natural feeding scheme, the menu includes:

• beef, lean lamb, meat poultry, offal;
• cottage cheese, fermented milk products, hard cheese;
• stale black bread, cereals, eggs;
• ready-made soybean pastes;
• fruits (large apricot pits, drains removed first);
• vegetables (carrots, cucumbers, tomatoes, broccoli);
• vitamin and mineral supplements (Polidex, Calcidee, Brewers Yeast).

Collies must be limited in fatty foods.

In addition, the list of prohibited products includes:

• raw pork meat and lard, which can cause infection with incurable Aujeszky's disease;
• raw river fish, often affected by helminths;
• sea ​​fish with small bones;
• tubular bones;
• legumes;
• potato;
• smoked products;
• sweets.

The diet is limited to pasta, wheat, pearl barley and barley porridge.

The daily portion of Scottish Shepherd meat or offal is 300-500 g. Meat can be replaced with fish and cottage cheese 1-2 times a week.

When feeding dry food and industrial canned food, pay attention to the composition. For collies, choose food containing no more than 26% protein (proteins) and 15% fat. It is better to choose premium and super-premium food (, Egle Pak,).

The food packages always indicate the dog’s age, lifestyle and calculation of the daily diet. Premium class food is balanced and does not require vitamin and mineral supplements to be added to the diet.

Collie dogs can be fed ready-made dry food of at least premium class.

With any feeding regimen, the dog must have constant access to fresh water. With a diet consisting of dry food, the daily volume of water is increased.

Feeding mode

During the first days of the puppy’s stay in the house, they adhere to the feeding regime and diet established by the previous owners.

Then they are gradually transferred to a scheme convenient for the owner, adhering to the frequency:

• up to 3 one month old— 5-6 times a day;
• from 3 to 5 months - 3-4 times;
• from 6 to 8 months - 3 times;
• from 9 to 12 months - 2 times;
• after a year - 1-2 times.

Important. Puppies are fed from a bowl placed on a stand to avoid spinal curvature.

Health and Diseases of Scottish Sheepdogs

Collies are active, energetic dogs, average duration Their lifespan, like that of all shepherd dogs, is 12 years; rare individuals live up to 15 years.

Unfortunately, in the process of formation, the Collie breed acquired a predisposition to genetic diseases:

Collie dogs with congenital deafness are not allowed for breeding.

Important. A number of drugs (derivatives of ivermectin and loperamide) often cause severe allergic reaction. Hypersensitivity to antibiotics, oncology drugs and cardiac glycosides is less common.

Cost and rules for selecting a puppy

The cost of collie puppies can vary greatly. If the future owner’s plans do not include a desire to participate in competitions and exhibitions, then you can buy a middle-class puppy. Their cost varies from 17,000 to 50,000 rubles.

It should be noted that the prices for Scottish Shepherd puppies not intended for exhibitions with a pedigree and a veterinary passport, purchased “from hand”, practically do not differ from the prices of the kennel. The price of puppies without documents starts from 5000, but there is no certainty that some crossbreed will not be sold as a collie.

Elite puppies with excellent pedigree, champion parents, and show prospects cost significantly more - from 50,000 rubles.

When buying a puppy you should definitely:

• check pedigree, veterinary passport;
• examine the puppy, compare its appearance with the requirements of the standard;
• observe the puppy’s behavior, check his hearing by clapping his hands loudly;
• find out the diet and feeding regime.

The long-haired collie is one of the most beautiful and is also called Scottish Sheepdogs. These are good and kind dogs, which are liked by many people, especially children. In this article we will look at the history of this breed. The character of the dogs, their appearance and much more will also be described.

History of the Scottish Sheepdog

Collie has always been considered Although it is called 400 years ago, it was brought from Iceland to Scotland. Therefore, by right the breed should be called Icelandic.

Even earlier, a long-haired collie was needed to guard the herd. And indeed, these dogs did the job very well. Therefore, today many parents are not afraid to entrust their child to a collie, especially if she is trained.

In 1860, the fortunes of Scottish Sheepdogs changed. From England I went on a trip. When she was in Scotland, she noticed a collie there that was very beautiful and noble in appearance. The queen returned home with several shepherd dogs.

Everyone in the royal residence fell in love with this breed. Moreover, the excellent qualities of the collie were noted: intelligence, kindness, tenderness, delicacy, good upbringing. To this day, collies have many fans, from young children to old people.

The Longhaired Collie became more popular after the famous, interesting film called "Lassie" was released. Then they released a series where they showed a collie that was not only educated, but also devoted to its owner. By the way, it is worth noting that in the film the dog was not idealized, but was shown as it really is.

Collie: description and color

The Scottish Sheepdog is loved by people all over the world. The dogs have very beautiful colors. Collies can be marbled blue-gray, tri-colored, or red and white.

In the marbled version, the dog's chest and head are painted light gray, and the back and tail have a blue tint. The tricolor collie is predominantly black. There are very few beige and white colors, but they exist.

Sable is a color that contains red and white colors. There is much more of the first than of the second. Collies with this color can be found more often in Russia than, for example, in England or Scotland.

The coat of Scottish Shepherds is not only beautiful, but also very long, double-layered. Only on the face and lower parts The paws have very short hair.

These dogs do not live as long as we would like. Typically, life expectancy is no more than 12 years. However, these are only statistics. As you know, with good care they can live for 15 or even 17 years.

Character

The Longhaired Collie is a wonderful, kind, sympathetic dog. She is easy to train and quickly becomes a friend and family member. This breed is irreplaceable for children. As a rule, the child is not afraid to play with the dog, and the parents are calm about their baby, since he is under good supervision.

The Scottish Shepherd is kept not only in their own homes, but also in apartments. After all, these dogs are wonderful both as guards and as nannies for children.

The Longhaired Collie is a wonderful family dog. These dogs cannot be kept in an empty apartment or country house, as they cannot stand being alone. Even if there are cats, birds or other animals in the family, the collie easily gets along with everyone and even looks after the kittens, which is very interesting to watch.

A collie has no idea that it has one owner. She treats each family member equally. He loves everyone, waits for them from work, from school, and is very happy that finally everyone is home and doesn’t have to wait for anyone. This is why they love the collie breed. Her characteristics are only positive. No one has anything bad to say about this breed.

Predisposition to diseases

In fact, collies are very healthy dogs; they rarely get sick. However, like any living creature, they have a predisposition to certain diseases.

• Congenital collie eye syndrome. This hereditary disease, which affects vision. The dog cannot see in the dark because the retina of the eyes is destroyed. Over time, if sick, the collie begins to see poorly during the day.
• Entropion. This is a disease in which the edge of the eyelid and all eyelashes are turned to the side eyeball. This causes the dog to have constant irritation and redness of the eyes.
• Distichiasis. This is an abnormality in which an extra row of eyelashes grows. They affect some parts of the eyelid, causing not only irritation of the eyes, but also gradually loss of vision.
• Yeast dermatitis. This is a fungus that multiplies quickly, causing your dog to itch.
• Congenital deafness can be inherited. This disease does not appear on its own. Therefore, it is necessary to study the dog’s heredity.
• Epilepsy. This is a neurological dysfunction. This disease is extremely rare in dogs, and not only in purebred dogs.

To avoid the above diseases, it is necessary to get all vaccinations and, at the slightest suspicion, contact a veterinarian, who will immediately find the cause and prescribe the correct treatment.

Choosing a collie puppy

These cute fluffy little balls will not leave any person indifferent. Collie puppies are sold in markets. However, remember that they can be half-blooded. Therefore, always ask the sellers for pedigree.

Most right choice is a certified nursery where collie puppies are sold with all the necessary documents. Here you will be shown the parents, their pedigree and given advice on care and upbringing. In no other market will you receive such comprehensive information as in a nursery.

When choosing a puppy, you need to pay attention to its build and jaw. The body should not be too massive, nor should the jaws. The collie is very gentle and graceful, so it cannot have rough limbs. The puppies' paws are straight, without curvature, and the tail is moderately long.

Wool is an important aspect when choosing. Even in puppies it is straight, bright, long and smooth, but not curly or dull. The coat of small dogs is very pleasant, and the color is rich. White color in puppies may indicate a mixed type. Therefore, it is very important to pay attention to both pedigree and color.

The puppy from a real purebred Scottish Shepherd is very kind, affectionate, and playful. He has no aggressiveness. Pay attention to friendliness. It's very important factor in a dog. The friendlier she is, the faster she will become a member of your family. Very beautiful puppy collie. The photo above shows what color they come in.

What nickname to choose for a collie puppy

It is described above what it is service dog. Therefore, it is more acceptable to give short nicknames so that the dog reacts quickly. It is important that the letter “R” is present in the nickname. After all, then the name is more sonorous, which is important for a dog.

Dog handlers recommend the following nicknames for collies: Arnes, Astra, Kirka, Cedric, Lycra, Mink, Laura, Frant, Laur, Lard, Dark, Roy, Bravo, Curry, Sarri, Freda, Madeira, Gerka, Rona. These names will help you name your puppy something that the whole family will like.

Many people name their dogs based on color range. If a collie's color is predominantly black, then it is called English language- Black. When there is more red color, the dog is called Orange. Many owners use this method to make it easier to choose a name for their dog.

Collies need a calm atmosphere. They love to bask on the mattress. Long walks are not for her. For this breed, it is enough to get out into the forest once a week. The rest of the time the collie will be happy to walk near the house. Two walks are enough for her (in the morning and evening).

Collie hair is required regular care. It needs to be combed every evening to avoid tangled hairs. Infrequent brushing is bad for the coat. It becomes dull and ugly.

To care for the coat, you need to use a special shampoo that maintains color and shine. If there is very long hair on the paws or belly, trim it, trim it so that the silhouette becomes more harmonious.

Collie food

Puppies up to six months old need to be fed 6 times a day. Then you can gradually switch to three meals a day. Closer to 12 months, the dog is fed 2 times a day. The water needs to be changed every morning to keep it clean.

Collies need to be fed diet food. This is beef, lean chicken, milk, egg, cottage cheese, fish, vegetables. Porridge is the basis of nutrition; you need to add meat, offal, milk, vegetables, fish, and vitamins to it.

Do not overuse dry food, as it is harmful to health. Try to alternate it with cereals. Frequent feeding of dry food becomes addictive, and the dog refuses other food.

Training

The Scottish Shepherd dog easily follows any command. They grasp everything very quickly. The main commands that a collie should know are “fu”, “fetch”, “near”, “to me”, “bring”, “place”. After training, your pet will easily learn to fetch slippers or a newspaper, stand on its hind legs, ask to go outside, and much more.

A collie will not make a vicious guard, since she has no aggression at all. Therefore, she will not be able to attack the enemy. However, if he sees danger, without any training he will sacrifice himself for the sake of his owner.

Pros and cons of the Longhaired Collie

Scottish Shepherds are very good and friendly dogs. However, there are both positive and negative aspects to such breeds. The advantages include the dog’s kindness, devotion, and lack of aggression. Therefore, you can safely leave your children with a collie, and you will be sure that the kids are under reliable supervision.

The disadvantages of this breed, although insignificant, still exist. Scottish Sheepdogs have very long hair that requires regular grooming. It is not very convenient to keep such a dog in an apartment. After all, fur is hard to get rid of. People with allergies should not own collies. Plus, these dogs have a very hard time being separated from their owner, even for a few hours.

Look at the collie puppies. The photo shows what a kind and gentle look they have. Is it possible to refuse such a beautiful dog?

The collie is descended from the Scottish herd dogs. After the Roman conquest, the invaders' dogs were crossed with local breeds (short-haired and long-haired herding dogs). The result was a magnificent animal with a proud posture. The breed was formed in Scotland at the end of the 18th century. In addition to excellent herding qualities, collies have proven themselves in almost all services - sledding, guard, rescue and search. The first collies were brought to Russia in 1904 and became famous as sanitary dogs during the Russo-Japanese War.

Video: Scottish Collie

Appearance

The long-haired collie has a strong body, rectangular in format, with a dry neck, deep chest, rounded ribs, straight back, slightly convex loin.

The head is wedge-shaped, chiseled, elongated, of proportional size. The eyes are almond-shaped, medium in size, dark brown in color. Blue Merle dogs have blue or blue speckles. The ears are directed forward, with a “kink”, semi-erect, widely spaced, medium in size.

The tail is long, reaching to the hocks, and the dog usually carries it down. The limbs are dry and muscular, with oval paws and tightly clenched toes.

The coat of long-haired collies is straight and hard, thick, there is a mane and frill, feathering and pants on the paws. The tail is fluffy. The recognized colors are sable (light golden to mahogany), tri-color (predominantly black with tan markings on the head and legs and with a white collar), blue merle (blue-gray merle, sometimes with a black speckled pattern).

Character

Collie is a smart, intelligent, active and sociable dog with developed intelligence. Excellently brought up and trained, but with patience, gentleness and perseverance. She always tries to achieve the praise of her owner, she is sensitive and affectionate. I am pleased to take part in active games. The collie is usually balanced, but can also be overly timid or temperamental and needs constant movement and physical activity. She is inquisitive, does not treat strangers very kindly, but does not show aggression. Loves to bark.

Specialization and content features

Excellent Scottish Collie herding dog. Very popular as a companion and pet, and in Lately It also became widespread as a decorative plant due to its impressive appearance. Can perform successfully sports competitions and be used as a guide dog.

Can live in an apartment, but best of all - on a personal plot. She needs long walks every day physical activity. For grooming, the coat should be brushed twice a week.