You may have known the Collie from the classic movie “Lassie”. Today, the Collie is easily thought of as children’s buddy or as the farm dog somewhere in the Midwest. What greatly influenced this image is how movies or TV series portrayed this breed.
The Collie is also easily thought of as an all-American dog. To some extent, this is truthful because the duplicates of the original breed were produced in America. However, this breed really originated from the highlands of Scotland way back in the 17th and 18th century.
Back in Scotland, there were two varieties of Collies; namely, the smooth-coated Collie and the rough-coated Collie. Basically, the Collie was used to herd the sheep in farms. She did her task very well and labored as much as ten people would have. The smooth-coated Collie was used in the warmer places, while the rough-coated kind was used in the colder parts of the country.
The Collie or the “Coally dog” -- as how she was referred to at that time -- became very popular in Scotland primarily because their major industry back then was sheep products. This breed was also known for their bravery and intelligence. The Collie not only excelled in herding sheep but was also very effective in protecting her owner and the flock from wolves.
The name “Coally” was believed to have been derived from the fact that the original Collies were all black. However, today’s Collies come in different colored coats. There are sable and white, or blue merle Collies. Some are tri-color, others are plain white.
The Collie is considered to be one of the breeds that can be trained easily. She can be a great show dog. She is known to be gentle, affectionate and graceful. However, she has this temperament of not repeating any trick she has done well already.
In addition, the Collie is a very responsible dog. She has a good reputation of faithfully protecting whatever is entrusted to her. And choosing a Collie to portray the role of Lassie couldn’t have been more perfect.
Like most long-haired dogs, Collies need to be well-groomed all the time to protect them from any skin disorder, fleas and ticks. Owners should pay much attention to them because they are outdoors most of the time, which makes them more prone to any of these problems.
Ever since the 17th and 18th centuries, the Collie is so used to guarding and protecting others -- like sheep. This makes her a good watchdog for the family. She is known for her loyalty and faithfulness to those she knows well, and can be very sceptical and reserved to strangers.
The Collie is pretty much comfortable outdoors, that’s why she is not suited for apartment living. She needs a vast space where she can run free around and be at her happiest state. So if you’re looking for your own “Lassie” -- a dog that you can trust to be loyal and faithful to you -- the Collie will definitely be an excellent choice.
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