The Collie Smooth was Queen Victoria's favorite breed. She brought some of its representatives to her palace in 1860. But before that happened, most likely this race came to the British Isles with the Romans in the 5th century CE. The short-haired variety, apart from the length of the coat, practically does not differ from the long-haired variety - dogs are similar both in body and character. However, they are less popular than their cousins. In Poland, they are found sporadically.
The collie's posture is graceful, straight and muscular. The male height should be between 56 and 61 cm and weight between 20 and 29.5 kg. Females, as with most breeds, are slightly smaller - they measure 51 - 56 cm and weigh from 18 to 25 kg. Representatives of this breed live 14-16 years.
If you need a guard dog, and at the same time warm and family, this is the breed for you. Collie loves children, it can play with them for hours. It is definitely not going to hurt them, it is very composed and gentle. It watches over the house constantly and we can be sure that it will warn us against any threat. It will notice every disturbing detail. It is important that the dog undergoes careful socialization, as the vigilance instinct goes hand in hand with an innate distrust that can be quite bothersome during visits by family or friends. Collie performs very well in all conditions. It is cheerful, open and friendly. It does not show aggression as long as it is well trained. It learns with pleasure - learning new commands and remembering them is not a problem for this dog. It is characterized by extraordinary attachment to the family, of course mainly to the owner. By bringing it up, we cannot afford to give in and neglect its needs. A dog that is not trained can be troublesome.
By nature, it is an animal with a strong character and, undoubtedly, it may want to subjugate us whenever it finds the right opportunity. We should lead it firmly but gently at the same time. When we are too strict, it can become fearful. The relationship between a dog and a human should be based on trust and mutual respect. Without it, neither we nor the dog will enjoy it. One of its greatest needs is movement. Without providing the dog with activity, we cannot count on an obedient and calm pet. Inactivity has a negative effect on it. The dog will discharge its energy at home, e.g. by destroying our things or wandering around it.
The right amount of walks and games will make it easier for us to raise a dog. We can let it demonstrate both mentally and physically. It likes work very much and is passionate about it. However, it is best at sports, incl. running, agility or obedience. If we properly meet the pooch's need for activity, we can keep it in the apartment. Collies are a breed that will suit most people. We can be sure that we will never be bored with this dog by our side.
- Coat
The short coat of the Collie Smooth should be easy to care for. It is enough to comb it once every two weeks. During shedding, the frequency of this procedure should be increased. It is recommended to bathe the dog only when necessary.
- Eyes
The most problematic for the dog's health is its oblique almond eyes. They are fragile that is why the Collie is prone to their afflictions. In order to prevent your pet from suffering, we should perform special tests. Scrupulous eye care is also necessary, consisting in cleaning the area of sleepers and dirt that accumulates there.
- Ears
Although the ears are not particularly prone to any diseases, we should not give up caring for them. It is best to wash them from time to time and check their condition.
- Claws
Collies' claws only need to be trimmed regularly when they do not wear themselves, i.e. when the dog is moving over soft surfaces.
There are three colours of coat:
- sable with white
- tricolor
- blue marbled
The coat is short, smooth, with a hard top coat and a very dense undercoat. It must not be trimmed.
Eye diseases are the most common in breed representatives, incl. progressive retinal atrophy and collie eye anomalies. Sometimes there are also epilepsy and arthritis.
When feeding a dog, you should consider its nutritional requirements in terms of height and age. In addition, if you want to give your dog food prepared by you, you should add dietary supplements to support the proper development of the pet. This is called the Barf diet, the main ingredients of which are unprocessed animal products: raw meat, raw offal, meat bones, as well as fish, vegetables and fruit. All these products are rich in amino acids, vitamins and minerals, so you can be sure that your dog gets the best. The more different types of meat and offal, the more varied the diet, which has a positive effect on the health of our four-legged friend.
Dry food is also a good solution, provided that we choose it wisely. The most important thing is to read its composition. Dry food should not contain artificial preservatives, colorings, grains or animal by-products. However, its composition should be rich in dried or fresh meat.
