Origin and Purpose: Both breeds of Collies originated in the British Isles. The Rough Collie was originally used as a herding dog, while the Smooth Collie was the drover’s dog. These dogs worked closely with the Shepherd, and their co-operative nature persists today, making the Collie very trainable.

Temperament: Collies are a loyal, affectionate intelligent breed. They are happy playful dogs, Because of their gentle, active nature they are considered an excellent family dog.

Height: Males are 24-26″, females 22-24″

Weight: Males 60-75lbs, females 50-65;bs

Coat:

• 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. The undercoat, however, is soft, furry and so close together that it is difficult to see the skin when parted. Frequent brushing/combing to remove dead hair is usually enough to keep the coat in excellent condition.
• Smooth – The coat is short, hard, dense and flat. The texture is strong, and the soft furry undercoat is abundant.

Feeding: The Collie is a hardy breed, they do well on most good quality foods. They should be feed regularly, in amounts to keep their weight in a normal range, to maintain good health.

Colour: There are five recognized colours; Sable and White, Tricolour, Blue Merle and White, Sable Merle and White, and White with a coloured head and ideally no more than 20% colour on the body. White markings are allowed on the neck, throat, chest, forelegs and feet, rear legs and feet, belly and tail tip. A blaze may appear on the fore face, skull or both.

Training: The Collie is an extremely intelligent breed that learns quickly, they do well in Obedience, agility, flyball, therapy, and scent detection work. Attending classes and giving the young collie lots of exercise will ward of boredom and keep them out of trouble.

Housebreaking: Collies are naturally clean and eager to please, making housing breaking comparatively easy.