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Subject: rec.pets.dogs:  Collies FAQ
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Date: 5 Dec 1992 06:02:22 GMT
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Archive-name: dogs-faq/collies

This is the breed-specific FAQ for Collies.  It is not posted on a
regular basis, but may be obtained via anonymous ftp at
pit-manager.mit.edu under /pub/usenet/news.answers/dogs-faq/collies.
Or, send email to [e-mail] with

send usenet/news.answers/dogs-faq/collies

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AUTHOR

Marla Belzowski, 30 March 1992.

DESCRIPTION

(exerpts from the Collie Club of America Standard.)

General Character -- The collie is a lithe, strong, responsive, active
dogs, carrying no useless timber, standing naturally straight and
firm.  The deep, moderately wide chest shows strength, the sloping
shoulders and well-bend hocks indicate speed and grace, and the face
shows high intelligence.  The collies presents an impressive, proud
picture of true balance.  In general, no part of a collies seems out
of proportion to any other part.

The head properties are of great importance.  When looking at a collie
the size of the dog's head is inclined to lightness and should never
appear massive.  Both in front and profile view the head bears a
general resemblance to a well-blunted lean 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 end of the black
nose, without being flared out in backskull ("cheeky") or pinched in
muzzle ("snipy").  In profile view the top of the backskull and top of
the muzzle lie in two approximately parallel straight planes of equal
length, divided by a very slight but perceptable stop or break.  A
mid-point between the inside corners of the eyes (which is the center
of a correctly placed stop) is the center of balance in length of
head.  The end of the smooth, well-rounded muzzle is blunt but not
square.  The underjaw is strong, clean-cut and the depth of skull from
the brow to the under part of the jaw is not excessive.  The teeth are
of good size, meeting in a sissors bite.  Overshot or undershot jaws
are undesirable, and penalized.  There is a very slight prominence of
the eyebrows.  The backskull is flat, without receding either
laterally or backwards and the occipital bone is not highly peaked.
Because of the importance of the head characteristics, prominent head
faults are very severly penalized.

Eyes should be almond-shaped, of medium size and should never appear
to be large or prominent.  The color is dark and the eye doesn't show
a yellow ring or have a sufficiently prominent haw to affect the dog's
expression.  In blue-merles, dark eyes are preferable but either or
both eyes may be merle or china in color without specific penalty.
The eyes should give a "sweet" expression.  Eye faults are heavily
penalized.

Ears are in proportion to the size of the head and, if they are
carried properly and unquestionably "break" naturally, are seldom too
small.  When in repose the ears are folded lengthwise and thrown back
into the frill.  On the alert they are drawn well up on the backskull
and are carried about three-quarters erect, with about one-fourth of
the ear tipping or "breaking" forwards.  A dog with pricked ears or
low ears cannot show true expression and is penalized accordingly.

Neck is firm, clean, muscular, sinewy and heavily frilled.  It is
fairly long, carried upright with a slight arch at the nape and
imparts a proud, upstanding appearance showing off the frill.

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 back is strong and
level, supported by powerful hips and thighs and the croup is sloped
to give a well-rounded finish.  The loin is powerful and slightly
arched.

Legs are strong and muscular with a fair amount of bone.  Narrow and
wide placement is penalized.  A cowhocked or straight stifle is
penalized.  The feet are small and oval shaped.

The tail is moderately long, reaching to the hock, with an upward
swirl at the tip.

Coat for a Rough collie is well-fitting and abundant except on the
head and legs.  The outer coat is harsh to the touch and the under
coat is soft and furry and so close together that it is difficult to
see the skin.  The coat is very abundant on the mane and frill.  The
face or mask is smooth.  The legs are well feathered at the back but
smooth and clean on the front of the legs.  The tail is long and
bushy.  The Smooth collie has a harsh, dense, flat coat of good
texture with and abundance of undercoat.

Color -- There are four recognized colors "Sable and White",
"Tri-color", "Blue Merle" and "White".  There is no prefernce amoung
them for show purposes. "Sable and White" is predominately sable (a
fawn sable color of varying shades from light gold to dark mahogany)
with white markings usually on the chest, neck, legs, feet and the tip
of the tail.  A blaze may appear on the forface or backskull or both.
The "Tri-color" is predominantly black carrying white markings as in
the "Sable and White" and has tan shadings on and about the head and
legs.  The "Blue Merle" is a mottled or "marbled" color predominately
blue-grey and black with white markings as in the "Sable and White"
and usually has tan shadings as in the "Tri-color".  The "White" is
predominately white, preferably with sable, tri-color or blue-marle
markings.  The white markings are not a factor in judging the collie
other than individual preferences.

Size:  Dogs are from 24 to 26 inches at the shoulder and weigh 60 to
75 lbs.  Bitches are from 22 to 24 inches at the shoulder and weigh
50 to 65 lbs.  Over or undersized dogs are penalized.

Expression: Is one of the most important points in evaluating the
collie.  It is a combination of head, eye, and ear expressions.

RECOGNIZED

American Kennel Club (Rough and Smooth collie)
United Kennel Club (Scotch Collie)
Kennel Club of Great Britain (Scotch Collie)
Canadian Kennel Club
Japanese Kennel Club
and many other kennel clubs

HISTORY

Most believe the Collie evolved in the highlands of Scotland and
Northern England.  Some claim that the Collies ancestors were brought
to the British Isles by Roman concuerors in the middle of the first
century, A.D.  But it is also known that the earlist invaders, the
Stone Age nomads also brought dogs with them to what is now Southern
England.  From these decendants came a hardy, quick-witted dog that
was needed to handle sheep, cattle, goats, and pigs, and they were
undoubtedly used for hunting along with their herding duties.  English
dogs were highly prised in Italy in the 11th century.  The growth of
the wool industry in the Middle ages was aided along by dogs known as
the ban dog and the cur in 15th and 16th century England.  Not until
about the 18th century did the breeding of domestic animals begin.
The rough Collie was virtually unknown in London as late as 1860,
while a bob-tailed smooth sheep dog was more common to that area.  The
rough Collie came down from Scotland and the border countries to
farmer's markets at Birmingham, following the development of the
railroads.  The Collie most likely made his show ring debut in
December, 1860, at Birmingham, the third formal dog show at which
conformation of individual animals was judged.  They were most likely
shown in the group classified "sheepdogs" with combined different
strains of rough and smooth Collies, bob-tails, and beardies.

None of the sheepdogs were very popular at this time.  They were
generally working dogs, without pedigrees, and they were more of a
farmers dog.  They were small, weighing 25 to 45 lbs, relatively short
legged, long-backed, short necked, and had unsightly feet and legs.
Many were cow-hocked, fiddle fronted, overangulated, with a wide
variety of tails lengths including no-tails, bob-tails, half-tailed
and long-tailed dogs all occurring in the same litter.  They had much
heavier heads and had terrier like eyes.  The coats were various
lengths from smooth to extremely long and frilled, in one black and
white Scottish strain.  The color was origionally black and white or
black and tan, but sometimes grey, dull brown or mixed brindle sable
in color.

The Collie's popularity began with Queen Victoria (1837-1901), who
fell in love with the breed on visits to her Scottish retreat.  It was
then that the lowly farmers dog was elevated to a state of canine
aristocracy.  It then became more fashionable to own a Collie and show
entries rose.

One of the most important Collies, a dog named Old Cockie, became
recoginzed in 1868.  All show Collies trace back to Old Cockie Through
his sable and white grandson Charlemagne, whose pedigree shows the
only two sables: Maude, his dam, and her sire, Old Cockie.  Old Cockie
live fourteen years as a cherished and pampered companion of Mr. James
Bissell.

CHARACTERISTICS AND TEMPERAMENT

Collies are very family oriented dogs.  They love children, they are
very intelligent, quick learners, very sensitive, playful, and great
outdoors dogs.  Collies get along well with other pets.  Collies
however are not for everyone.  The do require a lot of exercise to
keep them happy and fit.  Collies are very energetic and will become
easily bored if left alone for extended periods.  They are very good
at finding things to do if they are bored, which will often include
digging, barking and other general destructive behaviors.

Collies should not be tied up or chained.  Because they are a herding
dog they are able to run up to 40 miles a day.  It is preferable to
have a large fenced yard or a large kennel area.  Collie are also
great athletes and can easliy jump a 4 or 5 foot fence when motivated
to do so.  A 6 foot fence is suggested for fencing off areas.  Collies
understand boundaries of yards well and it is advisable to walk a new
puppy around the yard twice a day for the first week, and once a day
for two following weeks to teach them the yard limits.  Collies can
become car chasers and it is advisable to stop this at the FIRST sign
of car chasing activity.

Collies make excellent obedience dogs.  The require a soft touch when
initally learning the exercise and a quick correction once they do
understand but just refuse to do the exercise.  Collies can become
stubborn and unwilling to learn anything if too much correction is
used.  They are also bright enough to figure out ways to avoid doing
exercises.  In general they are very intelligent and very sensitive
dogs.  Collies also retain many of their inheirated herding abilities
and make excellent working dogs.  Smooth collies are occasionally used
as assistance dogs for physically handi-capped people.  Collies have
also been known to be used as therapy dogs, Search and Rescue dogs,
Avalanche Dogs, Water Rescue dogs, Drug-detection dogs, and Fire
Rescue dogs.  Collies have been decorated five times for Ken-L-Ration
Hero Dogs.

Grooming is a neccessity for rough collies.  Rough coats take some
care.  A good brushing one a week will take care of many mats and
tangles and a bath every two months or so is ok.  Smooths are much
easier to care for.  They have short hair like a shepherd, but still
have the thick double coat.  Smooths seem to shed a lot because the
fur is more likely to fall out, where as in roughs, it is more likely
to tangle up into hair balls.  Collies shed about as much as any other
dog.  Their major hair loss is in the spring as the weather gets warm
and in the fall as the new winter fur comes in.  If you brush them out
then, shedding shouldn't be a big problem.  Large mats should be
removed with thinning shears if they presist behind the ears, under
the legs or around the neck.  It is also advisable to remove the fur
from the inner pads of the feet and the lower areas of the hock and
pasterns.  Those dogs with dew claws need them trimmed at least once a
month.

Collies live about 12 to 16 years on average.  Males are a bit more
rambunctous than females.  Females are usually pretty reserved.  Both
are equally acceptable for children.  All of the "Lassie's" were male
collies.  Females tend to have less coat than the males and are
slightly smaller.  Both are equally intelligent.

Collies also "think" they are also great "lap" dogs.  Get your collie
puppy from a responsible breeder and you should not have any problems.
Collies from pet stores and back yard breeders are notorious for eye
and other problems.  Get a guarantee of quality with your puppy and
don't be offended by spay/neuter contracts for pet puppies (most pet
puppies will have slight eye problems but are not serious for neutered
pets).  Pet puppies are about $250 - $400 and show dogs are usually
$500 and up.  You aren't getting a bargan at $150 or so, if the
breeder doesn't check eyes.


SPECIAL MEDICAL PROBLEMS

Collies do have eye problems.  95% of the collies have been reported
to have CEA, which is small deformities in the eye.  Almost all of
these deformities do not cause blindness and there are various
severities of CEA (Collie Eye Anomaly).  Most responsible breeders
will know and check their puppies for the problem at a veterinary
opthamoligist.  There are some dogs that are "Normal eyed" which means
they are not affected, but they may be carriers of the genes causing
CEA.  CERF -- Canine Eye Registration Foundation -- registers
"Normal-eyed" dogs.  If you just want a pet, a grade 1 or 2 CEA (and
even a grade 3) are just fine.  Grade 3 and over should never be bred.
Grades 1 and 2 are still bred and shown, but breeders are making an
effort to not breed any affected dog.  Right now it is difficult to do
with 95% affected dogs

CEA (Collie Eye Anomaly) is the most common form of eye problem found
in the collie, both rough and smooth variety.  It is also found in the
border collie, and the shetland sheepdog.  It is believed to by
controlled by a genetic cluster, or large group of genes, and thus, it
is hard to control by breeding, and ranges in severity.

There is no discrimination between sex, coat color, type of coat
(rough or smooth), or presence of the merling gene.  Usually both eyes
are affected, but not necessarily to the same degree.  Those dogs with
minor anomaly make fine pets and usually do not loose their eyesight.
Those that are more severly affected can loose their eyesight within a
few years of diagnosis if the retina is detached by a blow to the head
or else they will be born blind.  These dogs usually do not make
acceptable pets.

Contrary to popular belief, breeding two mildly affected dogs will
only result in affected puppies, ranging from severe to mild.  No
puppies from the mating will have "normal" eyes -- ( NOT affected to
ANY degree with CEA).  The only way to possibly get "normal-eyed"
puppies is to breed a non-affected dog to another non-affected dog.
Because the CEA is carried as recessive genes, a mating between two
"normal-eyed" dogs can result in puppies with CEA ranging from mild to
severe and "normal-eyed" CEA carriers.

ONLY geneotypically "normal-eyed" dogs will give an entire litter of
"normal-eyed" puppies and it is reasonable to assume that some
of these will be carriers unless neither parents are carriers.

PRA -- progressive retinal atrophy -- will result in blindness.  It is
pretty rare in the collie now, but is another thing to ask about.

Collies have VERY low rates of hip dysplasia.  Most breeders do not
check or OFA their dogs.  Collies and Boston Terriers are about equal
in the number of hip dysplasia cases.  It is still perferable to have
the dogs checked before breeding.

Collies are quite sensitive to heart-worm medication and some other
harsh chemicals.  Some tend to have skin problems.  Hot spots are
sometimes found in muggy summer months.  They have also been known to
have epilpsy.

REFERENCES

1.  Books:

The New Collie
by:  The Collie Club of America
Howell Book House Inc,
230 Park Ave
New York, NY  10169
copy right 1983
(approx. $24 )

The Collie: A Veterinary Reference for the Professional Breeder
by:  Dr. Sharon Lynn Vanderlip DVM
Biotechnicl Veterinary Consultants
P.O Box 327
Cardiff by the Sea, CA  92007
copy right 1984
(approx. $34.50)

Collie Concept
by:  Mrs. George H. "Bobbee" Roos
P.O. Box 7027
Alpine Publications, Inc.
Loveland, CO  80537
(approx. $29 )

Collie Club of America Book of Champions, Vol. I (1884-1961) (CCA)
Collie Club of America Book of Champions, Vol. II (1962-1976) (CCA)

2.  Magazines:

Collie Cues
6200 Bay View Ave.
Richmond Heights, CA  94806

Collie Review
8790 Applan Way
Los Angeles, CA  90046

3.  Breeders:

Disclaimer: These breeders have been recommended in good faith by
readers of rec.pets.dogs.  However, you are still responsible for
verifying that a particular breeder meets your needs to your
satisfaction.

Contact the Collie Club of America for breeder recommendations.


4.  Clubs:

Collie Club of America
Mr. John Honig, Secretary
72 Flagg Street
Worcester, MA  01602
  (educational materials available upon request)

Collie Club of America Bulletin
Editor:  Shirley A. Schaffer
5735 South M-76
Alger, MI  48610
(non-member subscription $30/yr)