The Collie Dog.

The Collie dog can make an exceptional sporting dog and can be trained to do the work of the Pointer and the Setter, together with that of the Water Spaniel and the Retriever. He can be trained to perform the work of other breeds as well. He is clever at hunting, having an excellent nose, is a good vermin-killer, and a most faithful watch dog and companion.

Not much is known with certainty of the source of the Collie, but his cunning and his outward looks would seem to point toward a relationship with the wild dog. Buffon was of point of view that he was the true dog of nature, the stock and model for the whole canine species.

He considered the Sheepdog superior in instinct and intelligence to all other breeds, and that, with a character which other breeds do not share. It is the only creature that is born completely trained for the service of man.

At the shows this type of dog is invariably at the top of the group. It is thought to be the most tractable, and is certainly one of the most lively. The second most popular breed of this type is the smooth-coated variety, which is a very hard-working, useful dog, well adapted for hill work and normally really fleet of foot.

He is not so sweet in temper as the black and white, and is slower to make friends. There is not a more graceful and physically good-looking dog to be seen than the show Collie of the present period. Bred from the old working dog, he is now practically a separate breed.

The skull should be flat, moderately wide between the ears, and steadily tapering towards the eyes. There should only be a small depression at the bottom. The width of skull necessarily depends upon the combined length of skull and muzzle; and the whole must be measured in relationship with the size of the dog. The cheeks should not be full or prominent.

The muzzle ought to be of a fair length, tapering to the nose, and must not show feebleness. Whatever the colour of the dog, the nose must be black. The teeth should be of a decent size, sound and level; very minor unevenness is allowed.

The mouth should be clean-cut and powerful. The eyes are a very important feature, giving expression to the dog; they should be of medium size, set a little obliquely, of almond shape and brown colour apart from in the case of merles, when the eyes are often (one or both) blue and white or china; expressing high intelligence, with a bright, alert appearance when they are listening.

The ears should be and fairly wide at the base, located not too close together but on the top of the skull and not on the side of the head. When in repose they should be carried thrown back, but when on the alert brought forward and carried semi-erect, with tips slightly sagging in the posture of listening.

The neck should be muscular, powerful, of reasonable length, and somewhat arched. The body should be strong, with well sprung ribs, deep chest, fairly broad behind the shoulders, which should be sloped, loins very powerful..

The front legs should be straight and strong, leaning neither in nor out at the elbows, with a fair amount of bone; the forearm somewhat fleshy, the pasterns showing suppleness without frailty. The back-legs should be muscular at the thighs, clean and sinewy below the hocks, with well-bent stifles. The feet should be oval in shape, soles well padded, and the toes vaulted and close together.

Its general character is to be a lithe, lively dog, his deep chest showing lung power, his neck strength, his sloping shoulders and well bent hocks representing speed, and his expression of high intelligence. He should be a fair length in the leg, giving him more of a racy than a plodding appearance.

In short, a Collie should demonstrate endurance, activity, and intelligence, with free and deliberate actions. In height dogs should be 22 ins. to 24 ins. at the shoulders, bitches 20 ins. to 22 ins. The weight for dogs is 45 to 65 lbs., bitches 40 to 55 lbs. The smooth collie only differs from the rough in its coat, which should be hard, thick and very smooth.

Owen Jones, the author of this article, writes on a number of subjects, but is now involved with the canine distemper vaccination. If you want to know more, please visit our site at Distemper Vaccines