The long-haired collie is one of the most beautiful and popular dog breeds. They are also called Scottish shepherd dogs. These are good and kind dogs that many people like, especially children. In the article we will consider the history of this breed. The character of the dogs, their exterior and much more will also be described.
Scottish Shepherd History
Collies have always been considered service dogs. Although it is called the Scottish Shepherd, 400 years ago it was brought from Iceland to Scotland. Therefore, by right, the breed should be called Icelandic.
Earlier, a long-haired collie was needed in order to guard the herd. Indeed, these dogs did a very good job. Therefore, today many parents are not afraid to entrust their child with a collie, especially if she is trained.
In 1860, the fate of the Scottish Shepherd changed. From England, Queen Victoria went on a journey. When she was in Scotland, she noticed a collie there, which was very beautiful and noble in appearance. The Queen returned home with several shepherd dogs.
Everyone in the royal residence fell in love with this breed. Moreover, the wonderful qualities of a collie were noted: mind, kindness, tenderness, delicacy, good education. To this day, Collie has many fans, from young children to the elderly.
Long-haired collie became more popular after the famous, interesting film called "Lassie" was released. Then they released a series where they showed collies not only educated, but also devoted to the owner. By the way, it is worth noting that in the film the dog was not idealized, but was shown how it really is.
Collie: description and color
The Scottish Shepherd is loved by people all over the world. Dogs have very beautiful colors. Collie can be marble gray-blue, three-color and red with white.
In the marble version, the dog's chest and head are painted in light gray, and the back and tail with a blue tint. In the tri-color collie, a black shade prevails. Beige and white are very few, but they are.
Sable is a color where red and white colors are present. The first is much larger than the second. Collie with this color can be found more often in Russia than, for example, in England or Scotland.
The wool of the Scottish shepherd is not only beautiful, but also very long, two-layer. Only on the face and lower parts of the legs is a very short coat.
These dogs do not live as long as we would like. Usually, life expectancy is not more than 12 years. However, this is only statistics. As you know, with good care they can live all 15, and even 17 years.
Character
A long-haired collie is a beautiful, kind, responsive dog. She is easy to train, quickly becoming a friend and family member. For children, this breed is indispensable. As a rule, the child is not afraid to play with the dog, and the parents are calm for their baby, since he is under good supervision.
The Scottish Shepherd is kept not only in its own homes, but also in apartments. After all, these dogs are beautiful both as guards and as babysitters for babies.
The Longhair Collie is a wonderful dog for the family. These dogs can not be kept in an empty apartment or in the country, as they can not stand loneliness. Even if there are cats, birds or other animals in the family, the collie can easily get along with everyone and even look after kittens, it’s very interesting to watch.
Collie has no idea that she has one master. She perceives each member of the family in the same way. He loves everyone, he is waiting from work, from school and is very happy that at last everyone is at home and there is no need to wait for anyone. That's why the collie breed is loved. Its characteristic is only positive. No one can say anything bad about this breed.
Disease predisposition
In fact, collies are very healthy dogs, they rarely get sick. However, as with any living creature, they have a predisposition to certain diseases.
- Congenital collie eye syndrome. This is a hereditary disease that affects vision. The dog does not see in the dark, as the retina is destroyed. Over time, if you do not pay attention to the disease, the collie begins to see poorly during the day.
- Entropion. This is a disease in which the edge of the eyelid and all eyelashes are turned towards the eyeball. From this, the dog has constant irritation and redness of the eyes.
- Distichiasis This is an anomaly in which an extra row of eyelashes grows. They affect some parts of the eyelid, which is why not only eye irritation appears, but vision is gradually lost.
- Yeast Dermatitis. This is a fungus that multiplies rapidly, which causes the dog to itch.
- Congenital deafness can be inherited. By itself, this disease does not appear. Therefore, it is necessary to study the heredity of the dog.
- Epilepsy. This is a neurological dysfunction. Such a disease is extremely rare in dogs, and not only in thoroughbred ones.
To avoid the above diseases, it is necessary to do all vaccinations and, at the slightest suspicion, consult a veterinarian who will immediately find the cause and prescribe the correct treatment.
Choosing a Collie Puppy
These cute fluffy lumps will not leave anyone indifferent. Collie puppies are sold in the markets. However, remember that they can be half-blood. Therefore, always ask the pedigree from the sellers.
The best choice is a certified kennel, where collie puppies are sold with all the necessary documents. Here you will be shown the parents, their pedigree and give advice on care and education. In no market will you receive such comprehensive information as in a nursery.
When choosing a puppy, you need to pay attention to his physique and jaw. The body should not be too massive, as well as the jaw. Collie is very tender and graceful, therefore she cannot have rough limbs. Paws of puppies are straight, without distortions, and the tail is moderately long.
Wool is an important aspect when choosing. Even in puppies, she is straight, bright, long and smooth, but not curly or dull. The coat in small dogs is very pleasant, and the color is saturated. White color in puppies may indicate a mixed type. Therefore, it is very important to pay attention to both the pedigree and the color.
The puppy from this purebred Scottish shepherd is very kind, affectionate, playful. He has no aggressiveness. Pay attention to friendliness. After all, this is a very important factor in the dog. The friendlier she is, the faster she will become a member of your family. Very beautiful collie puppy. The photo above shows what color they have.
What nickname to choose for a collie puppy
It is described above that this is a service dog. Therefore, it is more acceptable to give short nicknames so that the dog responds quickly. It is important that the letter “P” is present in the nickname. After all, then the name is more sonorous, which is important for the dog.
Dog handlers recommend such nicknames for a collie: Arnes, Astra, Kirk, Cedric, Lycra, Mink, Laura, Frant, Laura, Lard, Derk, Roy, Bravo, Curry, Sarri, Fred, Madeira, Gerk, Ron. These names will help you name your puppy so that the whole family likes it.
Many people call their dogs based on their color scheme. If the collie is predominantly black, then they call it in English - Black. When more red, the dog is called Orange. Many owners use this method to make it easier to choose a nickname for a dog.
Maintenance and care
Collies need a calm atmosphere. They love to soak up the mattress. Long walks are not for her. For this breed it is enough to get out into the forest once a week. The rest of the time, the collie will be happy to walk near the house. Two walks are enough for her (in the morning and evening).
Collie coat requires regular care. It must be combed out every evening so that there are no tangled hairs. Rare combing adversely affects the coat. She becomes dull and ugly.
For hair care, you must use a special shampoo that maintains color and shine. If the paws or belly are very long, trim them, trim them so that the silhouette becomes more harmonious.
Food collie
Puppies up to six months must be fed 6 times a day. Then you can gradually transfer to three meals a day. Closer to 12 months the dog is fed 2 times a day. Water needs to be changed every morning so that it is clean.
Collie needs to be fed diet food. This is beef, low-fat chicken, milk, egg, cottage cheese, fish, vegetables. Porridge is the basis of nutrition, you need to add meat, offal, milk, vegetables, fish, vitamins to it.
Do not abuse dry food, as it is unhealthy. Try to alternate it with cereals. Frequent feeding with dry food is addictive, and the dog refuses other food.
Training
Dog Scottish Shepherd easily performs any command. They grab everything very quickly. The main teams that a collie should know are “fu”, “aport”, “near”, “to me”, “bring”, “place”. After training, your pet will easily learn to bring slippers or a newspaper, stand on its hind legs, ask to go outside and much more.
An evil guard from a collie will not work, since there is absolutely no aggression in it. Therefore, she will not be able to attack the enemy. However, if he sees danger, without any training he will sacrifice himself for the sake of the owner.
Pros and Cons of a Long-Collie
Scottish Shepherd dogs are very nice and friendly dogs. However, there are both positive and negative aspects in such breeds. The pluses include the kindness of the dog, loyalty, lack of aggression. Therefore, you can safely leave your children with a collie, and you will be sure that the kids are under reliable supervision.
The disadvantages of this breed, although insignificant, but still they are. Scottish shepherd dogs have very long hair, which requires regular care. It is not very convenient to keep such a dog in the apartment. After all, it’s hard to get rid of wool. Allergic collies can not start. Plus, these dogs are very difficult to experience separation from the owner, even for several hours.
Look at the collie puppies. The photo shows what kind and gentle look they have. Is it possible to refuse such a beautiful dog?
Collie Reviews
Many people with whom this breed lived are satisfied with both its character and behavior. Collie has a gorgeous appearance and a wonderful character. That is why many owners of their pets love it.
Infrequently, you can see the real breed of collie. Reviews about her, as you see, are only positive. Dogs rarely get sick, never get angry, but require respect and attention. What else do true animal lovers need? Only such kind, affectionate and lovely pets.
Conclusion
Many confuse breeds such as collie and sheltie. However, these are two different dogs. Visually, they are very similar, but collies are twice as tall as sheltie, they are better trained, they have a softer and more gentle character. Another significant difference is the color, which has a lot more options for Sheltie than for a Scottish Shepherd. Therefore, when buying, pay attention to all indicators.
There is no kinder and more affectionate dog than a collie. Therefore, if your baby wants a pet, try to get such a dog, and your child will forget about boredom.