How to choose a collie puppy

History of the breed

Much has been written about this breed, but no specific facts have been found indicating the origin of this Scottish Shepherd.

For the first time, Colley was mentioned in his poems by J. Chaucer (his works date back to the 14th century). Subsequently, Scottish Shepherds were described in the following books:

• "English dogs";
• "The History of Quadrupeds";
• "Encyclopedia Britannica of Dogs".

All these works say that the Scottish Shepherd is a herding breed of dog, the characteristic feature of which is long hair, the color of which is black or black and white.

There are the following versions of the origin of this shepherd breed:

• Colley's ancestors came to Scotland thanks to the Roman legionnaires, who brought them with them during their next campaign;
• other researchers believe that by the time Roman legionnaires appeared in England, there were already representatives of shepherd breeds in this country.

But according to experts, Collies appeared as a result of crossing local Old English sheepdog breeds and those dogs that were brought with them by conquerors and peoples moving to England from other countries.

Mostly herding dogs were in demand in the mountainous region located at the junction of the borders of England and Scotland - in the Highlands. In these countries, wolves were exterminated many centuries ago, so Scottish Shepherds are not an aggressive breed at all - there was no need for them to save livestock from predators. The tasks of this shepherd dog were to prevent individuals from straying from the herd, and also to participate in the search for missing sheep or cows.

Such qualities have been fixed at the genetic level for centuries, so now those individuals who live in the city consider the owner and his family to be their “flock” and therefore are very nervous if one of the family members goes somewhere during a walk - Collies try to “ nail the stray back to his pack.

Queen Victoria of England was very fond of dogs; representatives of many dog ​​breeds known by that time lived at her court. And in 1860, several representatives of these herding dogs were brought to the royal court. From that time on, these dogs began to be raised as companions. For these purposes, the most beautiful specimens with long hair were selected from the next litter. And those individuals who continued to “work” as shepherds began to be called border collies.

Representatives of this breed were first officially presented at an exhibition in 1860, and 2 decades later the main Collie standard was created. At that time, the main colors of these dogs were black and black and white. But later, in the process of selection, these individuals also developed other colors: red, sable, marbled.

The dogs of that period had a coarser body structure, and modern elegant Collies appeared thanks to their crossing with Russian greyhounds.

In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Collie puppies began to be bought up by dog ​​lovers from many countries around the world: the USA, Russia, Australia, and New Zealand. In many European countries, as well as in America, dog breeding clubs for this breed were created, in which, among other things, selection work was carried out to improve the breed. And in Australia, representatives of this species were used only as shepherds to guard and protect flocks of sheep.

In Russia, these individuals were widely used as service dogs. During the wars, they were also orderlies, delivered secret documents, and were used to search for mines.

Story

There is a version that the breed was named after Scottish sheep. They had black heads and legs. They were called colley. They say that the breed began to form in the 14th century. They were shepherds, now they are companions.

The Collie dog breed was infused with the blood of Gordon setters (black and tan) with Irish ones (dark red, closer to burgundy). The breeders wanted the collie to be long-haired, and the skull to be lighter and infused with the blood of the famous Russian greyhound.

In the last decade of the 19th and early 20th centuries. The British said: “Russian-type collies.” In England, the first dogs of this breed appeared in 1860. Even then there were long-haired and short-haired varieties and even short-tailed individuals. But only 25 years later (1885) did collies become what we are used to seeing on the streets. The first standard was approved by the Collie Fans Club in 1891. There were 3 amendments, additions and the last version from 1962.

From the 19th to the 20th century, collies were exported to Russia, Australia, the USA and New Zealand, and other countries. In Australia, collies were simply shepherds, and in the USA and New Zealand, as well as in England, clubs for collie lovers opened.

The Russians sincerely fell in love and became attached to the collie. During hostilities, when the Russians fought the Japanese, dogs served as orderlies. During the Great Patriotic War, dogs delivered secret reports and searched for mines.

Now collies are popular all over the world. City dwellers need such a friendly and active companion. Both the collie and the sheltie, a smaller dog, are popular.

Description of the breed, characteristics

This breed of large dogs has a proud posture, extraordinary endurance and activity. There are several types of Scottish Sheepdogs:

• smooth-haired;
• long-haired.

Representatives are characterized by a correct and proportional body build, and the length of their body is slightly greater than the height of the dog at the withers.

The calm and affectionate disposition of these individuals, friendliness and devotion to the owner - these are the main features of Collies, for which they are loved by tens of hundreds of dog breeders all over the world.

• The head is medium in size, wedge-shaped, with a flat skull. The structure of the head is characterized by a shallow depth of the skull from the level of the eyebrows to the lower jaw.
• The color of the nose is black. The bite is regular, scissor-shaped. The jaws are powerful, completely covered by the lips.
• The eyes are medium shaped, almond-shaped, dark in color, with a lively look.
• The back is slightly arched, of medium size, smoothly blending into the lumbar part, which has a characteristic rise. The chest is deep, the curve of the ribs is clearly visible.
• The tail is larger than average in size, usually drooping downwards, and the end is slightly curved upward.
• The limbs are correctly placed, strong and muscular.
• This breed is characterized by a very thick coat, the hair is hard and straight, and the thick undercoat is softer.

Breed standard

The standard requirements for long-haired Collies are as follows:

• correct physique - harmonious, with proud posture;
• type of construction – dry and strong;
• movements are not heavy;
• head shape – long and narrow;
• bite – scissor-shaped;
• eyes – almond-shaped;
• The ears are triangular, the ends are slightly curled forward.

The height of a male at the withers is up to 06 m, that of a female is up to 56 cm. The weight of an adult male is 21-28 kg, and that of an adult female is 20-25 kg.

American Collies are larger in size than their European counterparts and have a wider muzzle shape.

The main standard colors of this breed are as follows:

• tricolor;
• from light red to sable;
• marble.

For any color the following must be present:

• white collar";
• white “socks” or “knee socks” on the paws;
• the tip of the tail is also white;
• there is a white “mark” on the muzzle.

Appearance

The dogs are elegant and beautiful. Males at the withers are from 61 to 66 cm, and females from 56 to 61 cm. Males weigh from 27 to 34 kg, and females from 23 to 29 kg. These are medium sized dogs.

Their physique is harmonious. The body is slightly elongated compared to height. The muscles are well developed. The head is wedge-shaped. The scruff is flat. The muzzle is elongated and rounded. Small ears that fold back nicely. The nose is black. The eye shape is almond-shaped and the color is black. The neck is strong. The front legs are muscular and straight. They stand quite close to each other. The hindquarters are trained and sinewy. The paws are oval in shape and have soft pads. The tail hangs in its normal position. Long.

Dogs have two types of coat: smooth-haired and wire-haired. Their undercoat is thick and soft. The guard hair in some is straight and long, in others it is hard and long.

Colors:

• Red and white;
• Black with a blue tint;
• Tricolor;
• White.

Advantages and disadvantages of Collie

The main advantages of this breed include:

• friendliness;
• loyalty and devotion to the owners;
• sufficient intelligence;
• complete lack of aggressiveness.

This breed has no serious disadvantages, but there are some minor disadvantages:

• The long hair of these individuals should be regularly groomed to maintain a beautiful appearance;
• during the molting period, the wool will “fly” throughout the apartment, so it is better not to keep it in the apartment;
• if family members have an allergic reaction to wool, then the idea of ​​having a collie in the house will have to be abandoned;
• This dog cannot stand loneliness and separation from its owners.

Maintenance, care

Before buying a puppy, you should allocate a place in an apartment or in a private house for this pet, which will be permanent for the entire time that the dog will live with this owner. In a designated corner you should put a special mattress on which the animal will spend its free time (when it is not running around the apartment). The atmosphere in the house should be calm, family members should not communicate with each other in a raised voice.

Collies are not fans of long walks and overly active games in the fresh air; it is quite enough for her to go to a park or forest area once every 7 days. And for daily walks in the morning and evening, it is enough for such animals to take a walk near the house.

Their long coat should be brushed daily to prevent matting. If this procedure is carried out less frequently, the coat becomes dull, and the overall appearance of the animal may suffer.

When bathing these animals, you should use special shampoos, which can be purchased in specialized stores that sell products for animals. Such shampoos help maintain the natural color and shine of the coat.

Feeding

Up to six months, the number of daily feedings is 6. Then, over the course of a couple of months, the number of feedings is reduced to three. And closer to the year, the young animals are transferred to two meals a day, morning and evening. The water in the drinking bowl should be changed daily in the morning so that it is always clean.

The diet of Scottish Shepherds should include the following purely dietary products:

• lean varieties of beef and chicken;
• milk;
• eggs;
• cottage cheese;
• lean fish;
• vegetables.

The main food product is porridge, to which meat and offal, milk, vegetables and fish are added. A complex of vitamins necessary specifically for this breed of dog is also added to the porridge.

Dry food should also be present in the diet, but in reasonable quantities, as its abundance can lead to health problems in these pets.

Upbringing

Raising and training Scottish Shepherds should begin from the first day a puppy appears in the house; remember that this pet is not prone to aggression, so it will not be possible to raise a collie to be a full-fledged guard.

The growing pet learns very quickly - it grasps any command on the fly. The main commands that should be taught to a growing dog:

• ugh;
• fetch;
• near;
• to me;
• bring;
• place.

The collie quickly gets used to living conditions like in a city apartment. Same in a private home, he knows well how to behave at home or on a walk. Although this dog is not aggressive, it will still be able to protect its owner if necessary.

Parenting mistakes

Despite the animal's quick learning ability, the owner will have to be patient during the puppy's training period - the growing pet is overly energetic and curious, and cannot tolerate conversations in raised voices. Therefore, during training and subsequently, all commands to the dog should be given in an even, calm tone.

You should also not try to raise this animal to be a full-fledged watchman; it is better to raise a companion for joint walks.

Collie

» Gorgeous collie puppy, 2.5 months old, bought in a nursery, from award-winning parents, microchipped, with documents, vaccinations according to age, she has a collar, is smart, of excellent quality and has a sociable character, leash trained, goes to the toilet in a diaper, knows your place in the house (the house will come with the puppy). As a gift for the puppy you will receive a cosmetic set for caring for it. Need to sell urgently due to my son’s allergies 3500 UAH
» Help me find a home for a young dog, a girl, tricolor color, vaccinated, veterinary passport, the mother is a g/w collie imported from America and the father is a g/w mountain dog, the type of dog is more similar to the mother but larger and also g/h, trained in basic commands, grasps everything almost immediately, desirable work with her on the training ground, excellent security qualities and in general this dog has a happy fate, she was the only one who had the chance to survive, I know her life story from birth, my phone number is 89151034802 Natalya.

» Hello! I’m thinking about getting a dog) Collie is an excellent option for me, plus it’s short-haired!! But I have a number of questions - is it easy to train, is it suitable for apartments?, how to feed it correctly? and in general a general question... how do you know what does the dog need to relieve herself???..and another question about walking, how many times a day do you go outside with her....and if she likes to walk in the evenings, it’s very late??or does she get up too early in the morning??I’m not at home at all. often, but still sometimes things happen, is it okay if she stays either alone or with her family?? phew, I think I asked everything, I’ll be glad to see your answers))

» A little fun from rural life. In the evenings on a walk, if the three of us walked, two dogs and me, then the tactics of behavior are as follows: Amanda walks behind me (always a shepherd), Timon rushes forward (reconnaissance). If everything is calm, then we drift. If an unfamiliar person appears on the road, Timka barks and quickly runs up to me. The man is approaching, Timon is hanging out at my feet or doing figure eights close by, Amanda is quietly walking along the side of the road, hiding in the grass, and comes up behind the stranger. As soon as Timon saw that Amanda was in place, he imitated a jump forward with a bark, the stranger jumped back (usually), Amanda carefully picked up his leg in his mouth. If you don’t twitch, then that’s where it all ends; if you twitch, you can tear your pants. For some reason, strangers always turn out to be foreigners. None of the villagers experienced this themselves... It’s a paradox... but in any case, I have to apologize...

» If there is anything better in the world than a collie, it is a collie... Our Amanda lived with us for 15 years and 8 months. From the first day, a little miracle, wise, affectionate, quiet, settled in our house. As I grew older, I noticed many interesting and difficult to explain things; for the first time, at the age of one, I lost her... I took it with me to the repair factory, and there was a dog on duty and they rushed at her as if she were a stranger, she pulled the leash out of my hands and disappeared…. For half a day I scurried around all the adjacent factories and companies, asking if anyone had seen me, leaving my phone number in case they showed up. I walked home in a depressed mood and determined never to get a dog again, since I didn’t save it, then what happened... The door to the entrance of the house was locked, on the floor the door to the hall was also locked, going into the entrance and opening the door to the hall with a barbed door, I sat down... Amanda was lying on the rug by the apartment door, her muzzle resting on her outstretched paws and looking at me with the naivety of a child. Believe it or not, I still don’t understand: how I entered the house, how I entered the hall, only I had the key, and my family came in the evening. She treated strangers with attention and there were individuals whom, not loving from the very beginning, she could grab by the ankle until the last days. What’s interesting: she didn’t bite, but rather grabbed, and if you don’t twitch, then after “ugh!” The jaws dropped, and those who were afraid were guaranteed torn trousers. One day in the summer outside the city, on a plot of land, a woman passed by, there is such a category, looking for her own adventure. I walked to the side, saw a dog and people nearby, asked: does it bite?”, they answered that anything can happen, came closer and rested on our car. Amanda affectionately came from behind and grabbed her by the ankle, there was a lot of squealing... After filling the wound with food, they sent the victim away, showing her the vaccination certificates, and lost the dog from sight. We searched for two hours. We went around the whole village and found it behind the church, behind the altar. The dog lay there... And cried. There were a lot of interesting, I would even say incredible stories, there isn’t enough time to read them all...

Read all reviews and comments about the Collie breed

Puppies

Before buying a puppy of this breed, you should decide for what purpose you are purchasing it. If the owner needs a good friend, then he should pay attention to the puppy’s health and character.

When purchasing a pet for further participation in exhibitions, you should select it based on its exterior from parents with excellent exhibition data and a good pedigree.

Choosing a puppy

It is better to buy a puppy from a specialized nursery, where they will provide a pedigree, a certificate of health and vaccinations.

When choosing a dog, you first need to pay attention to its health and compliance with the breed standard.

It is advisable to first observe the behavior of the puppy where it is kept, pay attention to the behavior of the mother, how the puppy communicates with other individuals from the litter, and its activity.

A healthy puppy moves well, without falling on its paws, there is no discharge from the eyes and nose, its nose is moist, and its eyes are shiny.

The conditions for keeping the puppies must be appropriate - the enclosure must be clean and dry, and not crowded. But it will not be possible to raise a healthy litter in dirt and cramped conditions.

Price

The cost of the puppy will depend on what the Collie is purchased for. Usually, a puppy “for yourself” can be purchased on the Internet, but without a pedigree. In this case, its price will be low - about 6,000 - 8,000 rubles. But with such a puppy you cannot take part in exhibitions, or use the individual for further breeding.

• The price for a pet with all the necessary documents is from 14 to 34 thousand rubles.
• But the price of the future show-class champion exceeds 85,000 rubles.

These prices are for the beginning of 2021.

Owner reviews

Based on numerous reviews about this breed, you can get the following idea about the Collie:

• these are good-natured, affectionate and loving pets;
• By purchasing a Scottish breed puppy, the owner receives a devoted friend who will always be there;
• Collie does not tolerate loneliness well, so there should always be one of the family members next to him - in this respect, the dog is very similar to a small child, constantly demanding attention to his person.

And yet, if a dog owner wants to acquire an affectionate and cheerful four-legged friend, then he cannot find a better breed than a collie. Just remember that such a dog will never become a zealous watchman at a summer cottage, and will not take an active part in hunting or fishing with its owner. But as a companion or qualified guide for a blind person, the Scottish Shepherd is perfect.

Price

Without a pedigree, the cost of a puppy is 6-10 thousand rubles. You can purchase such a pet by reading advertisements on the Internet. In nurseries, babies from 15 thousand rubles. and more. Teenagers are sold cheaper and for symbolic money if they were recently purchased and one of the family members has developed an allergy.

If you want a puppy to participate in exhibitions, purchase only from nurseries. Choose according to the pedigree and appearance of the parents. If breeders have photos of ancestors, be sure to look. If the baby’s parents are titled, imported from other countries, then the cost of the puppy will be high.