Post by charmingnancy on Feb 16, 2009 23:04:56 GMT -5
Collie (Rough & Smooth)
Group: 7- Herding
Origin: British Isles (Scotland and Northern England)
Purpose: Rough: Herding Sheep and Cattle; Smooth: Drover's Dog
Description:
The Collie, both the Rough and Smooth (collectively known as the Scotch Collie), originated in the British Isles. The Rough Collie was originally used as a herding dog and during the early 1900's, the popularity of the breed as a family dog increased. Then, with the fame of "Lassie" in the 1940's and 1950's, the breed's popularity soared. Today, the breed's popularity has diminished somewhat, but his kindness, loyalty, intelligence, versatility, and affection ensures that he will always remain a popular choice as a family companion.
Appearance- Breed Standards:
Coat: There are two varieties of coat allowed. They are:
(a) Rough
The well-fitting, proper textured coat is the crowning glory of the Rough variety of Collie. It is abundant except on the head and legs. The outer coat is straight and harsh to the touch. A soft, open outer coat or a curly outer coat regardless of quantity, is penalized. The undercoat, however, is soft, furry and so close together that it is difficult to see the skin when parted. The coat is very abundant on the mane and frill. The face or mask is smooth. The forelegs are smooth and well feathered to the back of the pasterns. The hind legs are smooth below the hock joints. Any feathering below the hock joints are trimmed for the show ring. The hair on the tail is very profuse and on the hips it is long and bushy. The texture, quantity, and the extent to which the coat “fits the dog” are important points.
(b) Smooth
The coat is short, hard, dense and flat. The texture is strong, and the soft furry undercoat is abundant. The Smooth variety of Collie is judged by the same standard as the Rough variety, except that the references to the quantity and distribution of the coat are not applicable to the Smooth variety, which has a short, hard, dense, flat coat of good texture, with an abundance of undercoat.
Coat Colour: There is no preference among the five recognized colours allowed in the show ring. They are:
(a) Sable and White
Includes all shades of brown ranging from lemon yellow through orange and red to dark mahogany, with or without darker shadings in the coat, always with white markings.
(b) Tricolour
Predominantly black with tan markings over the eyes, on the cheeks and sides of the muzzle, and under the tail. Tan may also appear on the legs and feet, usually between the black and white areas of colour. White markings always present.
(c) Blue Merle and White
A colour pattern similar to the tricolour except that the black areas of colour are replaced by a grey mottled colour, ranging from a clear, silvery blue to a darker matte grey, with black merling or spotting distributed throughout.
(d) Sable Merle and White
Similar to the sable and white, but usually of a lighter sable colouring with darker sable mottling or spotting through the coat, often with grey tipping on the ears, and always with white markings.
(e) White
A basically white collie with a coloured head and ideally no more than twenty (20) percent colour on the body. The secondary colour may be any of the allowed colours or colour combinations.
White markings- Allowed white markings are as follows: on the neck, throat, chest, forelegs and feet, rear legs and feet, belly and tail tip. A blaze may appear on the foreface or back skull or both. In white factored dogs, a white spot or spots may appear on the body. The extent of the markings is immaterial unless the white areas detract from the desired expression and overall beauty of the dog. Other colours for registration purposes- Double Merle.
Eyes- In sable and white and tricolour collies, dark brown eyes are preferred and they must match each other in colour. Light coloured eyes are to be penalized according to the extent that they detract from the “sweet” expression so important in the breed. In blue merles and sable merles either or both eyes may be merle or china in colour, or dark brown with flecks of blue, though dark brown is preferred. In whites, eye colour confirms with that specified for the secondary coat colour.
Foreface- The foreface is chiseled to form a receptacle for the eyes and they are necessarily placed obliquely to give them the required forward outlook. They are almond shaped, of medium size and never properly appear to be large or prominent. The eye does not show a yellow ring or a sufficiently prominent haw to affect the dogs expression. The eyes have a clear, bright appearance, expressing intelligent inquisitiveness, particularly when the ears are drawn up and the dog is on the alert. A large, round, full eye seriously detracts from the desired “sweet” expression.
Nose, Eye Rims, Lip Colouration- All coat colour designations should show dark pigment in those areas. The nose should be solid black in colour.
Head: The head properties are of great importance. When considered in proportion to the size of the dog, the head is inclined to lightness and never appears massive. A heavy-headed dog lacks the necessary bright, alert, full-of-sense look that contributes so greatly to expression. Both in front and profile view, the head bears a general resemblance to a well-blunted wedge, being smooth and clean in outline and nicely balanced in proportion. On the sides, it tapers gradually and smoothly from the ears to the nose, without being flared out in back skull (cheeky) or pinched in muzzle (snipey). In profile view, the top of the back skull and the top of the muzzle lie in two approximately parallel, straight planes of equal length, divided by a very slight but perceptible stop or break. There is a very slight prominence of the eyebrows. The back skull is flat, without receding either laterally or backward and the occipital bone is not highly peaked. The proper width of back skull necessarily depends upon the combined length of skull and muzzle and the width of the back skull is less than its length. Thus the correct width varies with the individual and is dependent upon the extent to which it is supported by length of muzzle. A midpoint between the inside corners of the eyes (which is the centre of the correctly placed stop) is the centre of balance in length of head. The teeth are of good size, meeting in a scissors bite.
Ears: The ears are in proportion to the size of the head and, if they are carried properly and unquestionably “break” naturally, are seldom too small. Large ears usually cannot be lifted correctly off the head and even if lifted, they will be out of proportion to the size of the head. When in repose the ears are folded length-wise and thrown back into the frill. On the alert, they are drawn well up on the back skull and are carried about three-quarters erect, with about one-fourth of the ear tipping or “breaking” forward.
Expression: Expression is one of the more important points in considering the relative value of Collies. “Expression,” like the term “Character,” is difficult to define in words. It is not a fixed point as in colour, weight, or height and it is something the uninitiated can properly understand only by optical illustration. In general, however, it may be said to be the combined product of the shape and balance of the skull and muzzle, the placement, size, shape, and colour of the eyes, and the position, size and carriage of the ears. An expression that shows sullenness or which is suggestive of any other breed is entirely foreign. The Collie cannot be judged properly until its expression has been carefully evaluated.
Neck: The neck is firm, clean, muscular, sinewy. It is fairly long, is carried upright with a slight arch at the nape and imparts a proud, upstanding appearance.
Forequarters: The forelegs are straight and muscular, with a fair amount of bone considering the size of the dog. A cumbersome appearance is undesirable. The forearm is moderately fleshy and the pasterns are flexible, but without weakness.
Body: The back is strong and level, supported by powerful hips and thighs and the croup is sloped to give a well-rounded finish. The body is firm, hard and muscular, a trifle long in proportion to the height. The ribs are well rounded behind the well-sloped shoulders and the chest is deep, extending to the elbows. The loin is powerful and slightly arched.
Hindquarters: The hindlegs are less fleshy than the forelegs, are muscular at the thighs, very sinewy and the hocks and stifles are well bent. The comparatively small feet are approximately oval in shape. The soles are well padded and tough and the toes are well arched and close together. When the Collie is not in motion, the legs and feet are judged by allowing the dog to come to a natural stop in a standing position so that both the forelegs and the hind legs are placed well apart, with the feet extending straight forward. Excessive “posing” is undesirable.
Tail: The tail is moderately long, the bone reaching to the hock joint or below. It is carried low when the dog is quiet, the end having an upward twist or “swirl. When gaited or when the dog is excited, it is carried gaily, but not over the back.
Gait: Gait is sound. When the dog is moved at a slow trot towards an observer, its straight front legs track comparatively close together at the ground. The front legs are not out at the elbows, do not “cross over,” neither does the dog move with a choppy, pacing, or rolling gait. When viewed from the rear, the hind legs are straight, tracking comparatively close together at the ground. Viewed from the side, the reasonably long, “reaching” stride is smooth and even, keeping the back line firm and level. As the speed of the gait is increased, the Collie single tracks, bringing the front legs inward in a straight line from the shoulder toward the centre line of the body and the hind legs inward in a straight line from the hip toward the centre line of the body. The gait suggests effortless speed combined with the dog’s herding heritage, requiring it to be capable of changing its direction of travel almost instantaneously.
Faults: A soft, open outer coat or a curly outer coat, regardless of quantity, is penalized. Because of the importance of the head characteristics, prominent head faults are severely penalized. Overshot or undershot jaws are undesirable, the latter being more severely penalized. Eye faults are heavily penalized. A dog with prick ears or low ears cannot show true expression and is penalized accordingly. Both narrow and wide placement of the forelegs are penalized. Noticeably fat dogs or dogs in poor flesh or with skin diseases or with no undercoat, are out of condition are moderately penalized accordingly. A dog which moves cowhocked, or a dog with straight stifles, should be penalized.
Size:
Dogs are from 24-26 inches (60-67 cm) at the shoulder and weigh from 60-75 lb. (27-34 kg). Bitches are from 22-24 inches (55-61 cm) at the shoulder, weighing from 50-65 lb. (22-30 kg). An undersized or an oversized Collie is penalized according to the extent to which the dog appears to be undersized or oversized.
Temperament:
The Collie's gentle nature and high tolerance makes him excellent with children of all ages. Small children may be treated as "flock" where the dog can try to herd them but they also become very protective of "their" children and make excellent watch dogs. The Collie is truly a people dog and needs human companionship. Not a one-man dog but, rather, loves his entire family equally. The Collie should be outgoing, loving, and affectionate. He may be a bit reserved toward strangers but a shy or nervous dog is not typical of the breed.
Other than being a wonderful family companion and friend, the Collie is extremely versatile and seen participating in all kinds of sports and activities as well as being used as a working dog in several areas — From show ring to flyball, agility, obedience, draft work, herding, as well as search and rescue, therapy, service, guide dog — The Collie does it all.
Health:
The Scotch Collie is typically a very healthy breed, and is known to inherit few health conditions that are both serious and prevalent. Some health conditions of note include Collie Eye Anomaly, PRA (progressive retinal atrophy), bloat, dermatomyositis, grey collie syndrome (a type of neutropenia), collie nose (discoid lupus erythematosus), and demodicosis. Seizures, hip dysplasia, microphthalmia, and cyclic neutropenia are also occasionally seen. The Collie Health Foundation maintains a website and database on disorders affecting collies.
Some Scotch Collies (and other collie breeds) have a particular allele of the multi-drug resistance gene, MDR1. This is also known as "the ivermectin-sensitive collie", however the sensitivity is not limited to ivermectin, a common drug used to treat and prevent various ailments in dogs including heartworm disease. More than 20 drugs are expected to cause adverse reactions including milbemycin and loperamide. A study by the Veterinary Genetics Laboratory at UC Davis concluded that all dogs with this mutation are descendants of a single dog which most likely lived in Great Britain during the middle of the 19th century.
The mutation of the MDR1 gene is found in Scotch Collies and related breeds worldwide and affects approximately 80% of Scotch Collie dogs in the United States. Dogs with this mutation are predisposed to various sensitivities and some may suffer a potentially fatal neurotoxicosis.
Ivermectin is a popular choice in the prevention of heartworm disease in dogs, an extremely serious and potentially fatal condition. Despite the high prevalence of sensitivity in Scotch Collies to this medication, the low dosage provided is generally considered safe and preventative drugs such as Heartgard are advertised as approved for Scotch Collies, having a wide margin of safety when used as directed. A simple test, recently developed at and provided by Washington State University, can determine if a dog is a carrier of the mutation which causes sensitivity.
Average Lifespan:
Scotch Collies typically live an average of 12 to 14 years.
History:
The origin and history of the Scotch Collie dog breed is not entirely known, but we do know that it included ancestors originating in Scotland and northern England. Before this time, however, the breed has an ancestry that spans thousands of years as the Scotch Collie's ancestors had been used to herd sheep and cattle for many centuries in both the Highlands of Scotland and throughout early England.
The word "collie" is thought to come from the word for "black" or "coal" in Old English. The Scotch Collie breed consists of both the Rough Collie and the Smooth Collie. A division between long-haired and short-haired variants also existed in the 19th century. However, it is apparent that at one point the Scotch Collie was much smaller than today's dog, like the many other working collie breeds. The ancestor of the Scotch Collie was short, somewhere around 14 inches or so at the shoulders with a broader head, and black or black-and-white. The dogs that came to be the Scotch Collie had been used to herd and guard the flocks and herds of their caretakers.
Although the Scotch Collie and its ancestors had been used for several centuries as a working dog herding sheep and cattle, it was in England in the 19th century that the dog became popular as a pet and show dog rather than a working dog breed. Queen Victoria took an interest in Scotch Collies and the rest of the country soon followed suit. It was also at this time that the dog became larger through cross-breeding with breeds such as Borzois. At this point, Scotch Collie breeders began to standardize the breed and keep written pedigree records.
Scotch Collies were shown in dog shows in England as early as 1860 and made its way to the United states by 1880. By about 1886, the Scotch Collie breed was fully standardized and remains roughly the same today. It was in this same year the Collie Club of America was formed, becoming one of the founder breeds of the American Kennel Club.
A surge in popularity occurred in the United States in the 1940s and 1950s with the release of the movie "Lassie Come Home" in 1943 and the subsequent television series that began in 1954 and ran for seventeen years. The first dog to star as Lassie in the 1943 movie Lassie Come Home was "Pal", originally from Glamis Collies of California. Pal was bred with a number of female dogs to ensure the Lassie look could be continued. The Lassie looks of sable coat with a white blaze, large white collar, and four white paws is legally trademarked. The collies are also intentionally bred oversized so that the males selected can work with older child stars. All collies to play Lassie have been male because male collies retain a thicker summer coat than females which "looks better on television". Also, the male is larger and a child actor can play opposite the dog for longer before outgrowing him.
Eight generations of Pal and his descendants portrayed the beloved collie in more than ten movies and two television series, until the late 1990s. All of the canines starring in those movies and TV series were owned and trained by Frank and Rudd Weatherwax and later by Rudd's son, Robert Weatherwax.
Sources:
Wikipedia
Canada's Guide to Dogs
CKC
Wikipedia (Lassie)
Pictures:
Photobucket
Group: 7- Herding
Origin: British Isles (Scotland and Northern England)
Purpose: Rough: Herding Sheep and Cattle; Smooth: Drover's Dog
Description:
The Collie, both the Rough and Smooth (collectively known as the Scotch Collie), originated in the British Isles. The Rough Collie was originally used as a herding dog and during the early 1900's, the popularity of the breed as a family dog increased. Then, with the fame of "Lassie" in the 1940's and 1950's, the breed's popularity soared. Today, the breed's popularity has diminished somewhat, but his kindness, loyalty, intelligence, versatility, and affection ensures that he will always remain a popular choice as a family companion.
Appearance- Breed Standards:
Coat: There are two varieties of coat allowed. They are:
(a) Rough
The well-fitting, proper textured coat is the crowning glory of the Rough variety of Collie. It is abundant except on the head and legs. The outer coat is straight and harsh to the touch. A soft, open outer coat or a curly outer coat regardless of quantity, is penalized. The undercoat, however, is soft, furry and so close together that it is difficult to see the skin when parted. The coat is very abundant on the mane and frill. The face or mask is smooth. The forelegs are smooth and well feathered to the back of the pasterns. The hind legs are smooth below the hock joints. Any feathering below the hock joints are trimmed for the show ring. The hair on the tail is very profuse and on the hips it is long and bushy. The texture, quantity, and the extent to which the coat “fits the dog” are important points.
(b) Smooth
The coat is short, hard, dense and flat. The texture is strong, and the soft furry undercoat is abundant. The Smooth variety of Collie is judged by the same standard as the Rough variety, except that the references to the quantity and distribution of the coat are not applicable to the Smooth variety, which has a short, hard, dense, flat coat of good texture, with an abundance of undercoat.
Coat Colour: There is no preference among the five recognized colours allowed in the show ring. They are:
(a) Sable and White
Includes all shades of brown ranging from lemon yellow through orange and red to dark mahogany, with or without darker shadings in the coat, always with white markings.
(b) Tricolour
Predominantly black with tan markings over the eyes, on the cheeks and sides of the muzzle, and under the tail. Tan may also appear on the legs and feet, usually between the black and white areas of colour. White markings always present.
(c) Blue Merle and White
A colour pattern similar to the tricolour except that the black areas of colour are replaced by a grey mottled colour, ranging from a clear, silvery blue to a darker matte grey, with black merling or spotting distributed throughout.
(d) Sable Merle and White
Similar to the sable and white, but usually of a lighter sable colouring with darker sable mottling or spotting through the coat, often with grey tipping on the ears, and always with white markings.
(e) White
A basically white collie with a coloured head and ideally no more than twenty (20) percent colour on the body. The secondary colour may be any of the allowed colours or colour combinations.
White markings- Allowed white markings are as follows: on the neck, throat, chest, forelegs and feet, rear legs and feet, belly and tail tip. A blaze may appear on the foreface or back skull or both. In white factored dogs, a white spot or spots may appear on the body. The extent of the markings is immaterial unless the white areas detract from the desired expression and overall beauty of the dog. Other colours for registration purposes- Double Merle.
Eyes- In sable and white and tricolour collies, dark brown eyes are preferred and they must match each other in colour. Light coloured eyes are to be penalized according to the extent that they detract from the “sweet” expression so important in the breed. In blue merles and sable merles either or both eyes may be merle or china in colour, or dark brown with flecks of blue, though dark brown is preferred. In whites, eye colour confirms with that specified for the secondary coat colour.
Foreface- The foreface is chiseled to form a receptacle for the eyes and they are necessarily placed obliquely to give them the required forward outlook. They are almond shaped, of medium size and never properly appear to be large or prominent. The eye does not show a yellow ring or a sufficiently prominent haw to affect the dogs expression. The eyes have a clear, bright appearance, expressing intelligent inquisitiveness, particularly when the ears are drawn up and the dog is on the alert. A large, round, full eye seriously detracts from the desired “sweet” expression.
Nose, Eye Rims, Lip Colouration- All coat colour designations should show dark pigment in those areas. The nose should be solid black in colour.
Head: The head properties are of great importance. When considered in proportion to the size of the dog, the head is inclined to lightness and never appears massive. A heavy-headed dog lacks the necessary bright, alert, full-of-sense look that contributes so greatly to expression. Both in front and profile view, the head bears a general resemblance to a well-blunted wedge, being smooth and clean in outline and nicely balanced in proportion. On the sides, it tapers gradually and smoothly from the ears to the nose, without being flared out in back skull (cheeky) or pinched in muzzle (snipey). In profile view, the top of the back skull and the top of the muzzle lie in two approximately parallel, straight planes of equal length, divided by a very slight but perceptible stop or break. There is a very slight prominence of the eyebrows. The back skull is flat, without receding either laterally or backward and the occipital bone is not highly peaked. The proper width of back skull necessarily depends upon the combined length of skull and muzzle and the width of the back skull is less than its length. Thus the correct width varies with the individual and is dependent upon the extent to which it is supported by length of muzzle. A midpoint between the inside corners of the eyes (which is the centre of the correctly placed stop) is the centre of balance in length of head. The teeth are of good size, meeting in a scissors bite.
Ears: The ears are in proportion to the size of the head and, if they are carried properly and unquestionably “break” naturally, are seldom too small. Large ears usually cannot be lifted correctly off the head and even if lifted, they will be out of proportion to the size of the head. When in repose the ears are folded length-wise and thrown back into the frill. On the alert, they are drawn well up on the back skull and are carried about three-quarters erect, with about one-fourth of the ear tipping or “breaking” forward.
Expression: Expression is one of the more important points in considering the relative value of Collies. “Expression,” like the term “Character,” is difficult to define in words. It is not a fixed point as in colour, weight, or height and it is something the uninitiated can properly understand only by optical illustration. In general, however, it may be said to be the combined product of the shape and balance of the skull and muzzle, the placement, size, shape, and colour of the eyes, and the position, size and carriage of the ears. An expression that shows sullenness or which is suggestive of any other breed is entirely foreign. The Collie cannot be judged properly until its expression has been carefully evaluated.
Neck: The neck is firm, clean, muscular, sinewy. It is fairly long, is carried upright with a slight arch at the nape and imparts a proud, upstanding appearance.
Forequarters: The forelegs are straight and muscular, with a fair amount of bone considering the size of the dog. A cumbersome appearance is undesirable. The forearm is moderately fleshy and the pasterns are flexible, but without weakness.
Body: The back is strong and level, supported by powerful hips and thighs and the croup is sloped to give a well-rounded finish. The body is firm, hard and muscular, a trifle long in proportion to the height. The ribs are well rounded behind the well-sloped shoulders and the chest is deep, extending to the elbows. The loin is powerful and slightly arched.
Hindquarters: The hindlegs are less fleshy than the forelegs, are muscular at the thighs, very sinewy and the hocks and stifles are well bent. The comparatively small feet are approximately oval in shape. The soles are well padded and tough and the toes are well arched and close together. When the Collie is not in motion, the legs and feet are judged by allowing the dog to come to a natural stop in a standing position so that both the forelegs and the hind legs are placed well apart, with the feet extending straight forward. Excessive “posing” is undesirable.
Tail: The tail is moderately long, the bone reaching to the hock joint or below. It is carried low when the dog is quiet, the end having an upward twist or “swirl. When gaited or when the dog is excited, it is carried gaily, but not over the back.
Gait: Gait is sound. When the dog is moved at a slow trot towards an observer, its straight front legs track comparatively close together at the ground. The front legs are not out at the elbows, do not “cross over,” neither does the dog move with a choppy, pacing, or rolling gait. When viewed from the rear, the hind legs are straight, tracking comparatively close together at the ground. Viewed from the side, the reasonably long, “reaching” stride is smooth and even, keeping the back line firm and level. As the speed of the gait is increased, the Collie single tracks, bringing the front legs inward in a straight line from the shoulder toward the centre line of the body and the hind legs inward in a straight line from the hip toward the centre line of the body. The gait suggests effortless speed combined with the dog’s herding heritage, requiring it to be capable of changing its direction of travel almost instantaneously.
Faults: A soft, open outer coat or a curly outer coat, regardless of quantity, is penalized. Because of the importance of the head characteristics, prominent head faults are severely penalized. Overshot or undershot jaws are undesirable, the latter being more severely penalized. Eye faults are heavily penalized. A dog with prick ears or low ears cannot show true expression and is penalized accordingly. Both narrow and wide placement of the forelegs are penalized. Noticeably fat dogs or dogs in poor flesh or with skin diseases or with no undercoat, are out of condition are moderately penalized accordingly. A dog which moves cowhocked, or a dog with straight stifles, should be penalized.
Size:
Dogs are from 24-26 inches (60-67 cm) at the shoulder and weigh from 60-75 lb. (27-34 kg). Bitches are from 22-24 inches (55-61 cm) at the shoulder, weighing from 50-65 lb. (22-30 kg). An undersized or an oversized Collie is penalized according to the extent to which the dog appears to be undersized or oversized.
Temperament:
The Collie's gentle nature and high tolerance makes him excellent with children of all ages. Small children may be treated as "flock" where the dog can try to herd them but they also become very protective of "their" children and make excellent watch dogs. The Collie is truly a people dog and needs human companionship. Not a one-man dog but, rather, loves his entire family equally. The Collie should be outgoing, loving, and affectionate. He may be a bit reserved toward strangers but a shy or nervous dog is not typical of the breed.
Other than being a wonderful family companion and friend, the Collie is extremely versatile and seen participating in all kinds of sports and activities as well as being used as a working dog in several areas — From show ring to flyball, agility, obedience, draft work, herding, as well as search and rescue, therapy, service, guide dog — The Collie does it all.
Health:
The Scotch Collie is typically a very healthy breed, and is known to inherit few health conditions that are both serious and prevalent. Some health conditions of note include Collie Eye Anomaly, PRA (progressive retinal atrophy), bloat, dermatomyositis, grey collie syndrome (a type of neutropenia), collie nose (discoid lupus erythematosus), and demodicosis. Seizures, hip dysplasia, microphthalmia, and cyclic neutropenia are also occasionally seen. The Collie Health Foundation maintains a website and database on disorders affecting collies.
Some Scotch Collies (and other collie breeds) have a particular allele of the multi-drug resistance gene, MDR1. This is also known as "the ivermectin-sensitive collie", however the sensitivity is not limited to ivermectin, a common drug used to treat and prevent various ailments in dogs including heartworm disease. More than 20 drugs are expected to cause adverse reactions including milbemycin and loperamide. A study by the Veterinary Genetics Laboratory at UC Davis concluded that all dogs with this mutation are descendants of a single dog which most likely lived in Great Britain during the middle of the 19th century.
The mutation of the MDR1 gene is found in Scotch Collies and related breeds worldwide and affects approximately 80% of Scotch Collie dogs in the United States. Dogs with this mutation are predisposed to various sensitivities and some may suffer a potentially fatal neurotoxicosis.
Ivermectin is a popular choice in the prevention of heartworm disease in dogs, an extremely serious and potentially fatal condition. Despite the high prevalence of sensitivity in Scotch Collies to this medication, the low dosage provided is generally considered safe and preventative drugs such as Heartgard are advertised as approved for Scotch Collies, having a wide margin of safety when used as directed. A simple test, recently developed at and provided by Washington State University, can determine if a dog is a carrier of the mutation which causes sensitivity.
Average Lifespan:
Scotch Collies typically live an average of 12 to 14 years.
History:
The origin and history of the Scotch Collie dog breed is not entirely known, but we do know that it included ancestors originating in Scotland and northern England. Before this time, however, the breed has an ancestry that spans thousands of years as the Scotch Collie's ancestors had been used to herd sheep and cattle for many centuries in both the Highlands of Scotland and throughout early England.
The word "collie" is thought to come from the word for "black" or "coal" in Old English. The Scotch Collie breed consists of both the Rough Collie and the Smooth Collie. A division between long-haired and short-haired variants also existed in the 19th century. However, it is apparent that at one point the Scotch Collie was much smaller than today's dog, like the many other working collie breeds. The ancestor of the Scotch Collie was short, somewhere around 14 inches or so at the shoulders with a broader head, and black or black-and-white. The dogs that came to be the Scotch Collie had been used to herd and guard the flocks and herds of their caretakers.
Although the Scotch Collie and its ancestors had been used for several centuries as a working dog herding sheep and cattle, it was in England in the 19th century that the dog became popular as a pet and show dog rather than a working dog breed. Queen Victoria took an interest in Scotch Collies and the rest of the country soon followed suit. It was also at this time that the dog became larger through cross-breeding with breeds such as Borzois. At this point, Scotch Collie breeders began to standardize the breed and keep written pedigree records.
Scotch Collies were shown in dog shows in England as early as 1860 and made its way to the United states by 1880. By about 1886, the Scotch Collie breed was fully standardized and remains roughly the same today. It was in this same year the Collie Club of America was formed, becoming one of the founder breeds of the American Kennel Club.
A surge in popularity occurred in the United States in the 1940s and 1950s with the release of the movie "Lassie Come Home" in 1943 and the subsequent television series that began in 1954 and ran for seventeen years. The first dog to star as Lassie in the 1943 movie Lassie Come Home was "Pal", originally from Glamis Collies of California. Pal was bred with a number of female dogs to ensure the Lassie look could be continued. The Lassie looks of sable coat with a white blaze, large white collar, and four white paws is legally trademarked. The collies are also intentionally bred oversized so that the males selected can work with older child stars. All collies to play Lassie have been male because male collies retain a thicker summer coat than females which "looks better on television". Also, the male is larger and a child actor can play opposite the dog for longer before outgrowing him.
Eight generations of Pal and his descendants portrayed the beloved collie in more than ten movies and two television series, until the late 1990s. All of the canines starring in those movies and TV series were owned and trained by Frank and Rudd Weatherwax and later by Rudd's son, Robert Weatherwax.
Sources:
Wikipedia
Canada's Guide to Dogs
CKC
Wikipedia (Lassie)
Pictures:
Photobucket