Collie

Collie
Known for its loyalty and intelligence, the Collie dog is a native of Scotland. These dogs are super sensitive and have unbelievable capabilities to meet their owner’s needs. Collies are one of the most recognizable & beloved dogs breeds due to their super adaptive nature. This particular breed is highly fond of children and family-oriented, yet they do not feel depressed when left alone.
Origin
Collies are a breed that originated in Scotland & Northern England. There is also a common belief about Collies that they accompanied the Romans around 500BC. However, they were not quite recognized typically as a good dog breed until the beginning of the 18th century. During the 1800s, Collies were carefully bred to serve their masters for guarding and herding sheep. It was from them that people came to recognize this breed as loyal and friendly. After this, Queen Victoria adored Collies, and the breed started gaining popularity worldwide.
Size
An adult collie is 22 to 26 inches tall and weighs somewhere between 50 to 70 pounds. Collies are considered a mid to large-sized breed. While male collies weigh 60 to 75 pounds, an adult female collie may be between 5o to 65 pounds. The most attractive feature of their face is their dark brown almond-shaped eyes.
Coat
Collies generally fall under two categories- the rough collie and the smooth collie. The rough collies have a beautiful sweeping/floating long coat, whereas smooth collies have a shorter coat. Due to the long floating coat, the rough collies have an elegant appearance. This particular category has two coats-the outer and the inner coat. The harsh outer coat protects them from outside elements, while the soft inner coat helps keep them warm and cosy.
On the other hand, the smooth collies were bred to assist their masters in the market and did not require long fur. In terms of looks, the rough collies are more elegant and attractive; however, the short coat variety is easier to maintain and clean. In terms of colours, this particular breed mostly comes in 4 types- sable with shades of golden or mahogany, tri-colour collies that are black with white markings, blue merle with shades of blue, black & white and white collies, which are primarily white with tints of tri-colour, sable or blue.
Temperament
Collies are sensitive, intelligent and friendly dogs and have mid-temperament. While they are pretty much active, they are not ferocious. As they socialize easily, they are easy to train. They are one of the most elegant and human-friendly breeds.
Care
While the smooth collies are easy to take care of, the rough ones need extra care. These dogs start dropping their coat in June, and one needs to take the dog for occasional grooming sessions to keep the fur healthy and glossy. Also, one must vacuum the house frequently if one adopts a rough Collie.
Health
This particular dog breed tends to live between ten to fourteen years. Though collies are not a pretty fragile breed and generally stay healthy and active, specific health issues are associated with this breed. As the dogs get bigger and older, they might get Hip Dysplasia. In this condition, the hip ball & socket gets displaced, resulting in pain and joint dysfunction.