Collie
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2008-06-30T14:33:55Z
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[[Image:Rough Collie 600.jpg|thumb|The [[Rough Collie]] is arguably the most-recognized collie breed]]
[[Image:Welsh Sheepdog.jpg|thumb|The [[Welsh Sheepdog]] is a [[landrace]] working type, similar to the ancestors of many other collies]]
[[Image:Bearded Collie 600.jpg|thumb|This [[Bearded Collie]] shows how different collie breeds can be from each other]]
[[Image:Gwen the Border Collie.jpg|thumb|Although [[Border Collie]] has its own distictive look, it is clear that it derives from the same ancestors as other collie breeds.]]
[[Image: PhprceAJIPM.jpg|thumb|A [[Border Collie]] and [[Rough Collie]] Cross]]
{{otheruses4|Collie dogs|other uses of the word "Collie"|Collie (disambiguation)}}
(''For the [[Rough Collie]] and [[Smooth Collie]] see their separate articles, or for information on both, see [[Scotch collie|Scotch Collie]]'').
'''Collie''' refers to various landraces and breeds of [[herding dog]] originating in [[Great Britain|Britain]], especially the upland areas of the north and west. The exact origin of the name is uncertain, although it may derive from [[Early Scots]] ''coll'' ("coal" or "black"). The collie name refers especially to dogs of Scottish origin, but the collie type is far more widespread in Britain and in many other parts of the world, often being called [[Sheep dog|sheepdog]] or shepherd dog elsewhere <ref>{{citebook|author=Iris Combe|title=Herding Dogs: Their Origins and Development in Britain|year=1987}}</ref>. In the United States, "collie" is most often used to refer solely to [[Rough Collie]]s rather than the collective grouping of all collie breeds.
== Description ==
===Appearance===
Collies are generally large dogs weighing between 55-75lbs, fairly lightly built with a pointed snout and erect or partly erect ears, giving a foxy impression. Cattle-herding types tend to be rather more stocky. Collies are always alert and are active and agile. The fur may be short, flat, or long, and the tail may be smooth, feathered, or bushy. Some types were traditionally [[docking (dog)|docked]], and some types are [[natural bobtail|naturally bobtailed]] or tail-less. Types vary in colouration, with the usual base colours being black, black-and-tan, red, red-and-tan, or [[Coat (dog)|sable]]. Many types have white along with the main color, usually under the belly and chest, over the shoulders, and on parts of the face and legs, but sometimes leaving only the head coloured – or white may be absent or limited to the chest and toes (as in the [[Australian Kelpie]]). [[Merle (coat colour in dogs)|Merle]] colouration may also be present over any of the other colour combinations, even in landrace types. The most widespread patterns in many types are black and white or tricolour (black-and-tan and white).
===Temperament===
====Working types====
Working collies are extremely energetic and agile dogs with great stamina, well able to run all day without tiring, even over very rough or steep ground. They are intelligent, and are instinctively highly motivated to work. These characteristics generally make working strains unsuitable as pets, as few owners are able to give them the mental and physical challenges they need and, if not well fulfilled, they may become unhappy and badly behaved <ref>[http://www.sheepdogsforsale.com/Puppies%20for%20Sale.htm Border Collies unsuitable as pets (see warning near foot of page)]</ref><ref>[http://www.bordercollierescue.org/breed_advice/bcr_leaflets/adviceon.html Advice about unsuitability of working dogs as pets]</ref><ref>[http://www.sarnau-sheepdogs.co.uk/sales.html Typical working sheepdog sales page with warning about suitability as pets]</ref>. However, in addition to herding work they are well suited to active sports such as [[sheepdog trial]]s, [[flyball]], [[disc dog]] and [[dog agility]]. Working strains have strong herding instincts, and some individuals can be single-minded to the point of obsessiveness. They are often intensely loyal.
====Show and pet types====
Certain types of collie (for example [[Rough Collie]]s, [[Smooth Collie]]s, [[Shetland Sheepdog]]s and some strains of [[Border Collie]] and other breeds) have been bred as [[Pet|pets]] and for the [[List of dog sports|sport]] of [[Conformation show|conformation showing]], not as herding dogs, for many generations. These types have proved to be highly trainable, gentle, loyal, and well suited as pets.<ref>[http://www.westminsterkennelclub.org/breedinformation/herding/collier.html Westminster Kennel Club description of the Rough Collie]</ref><ref>[http://www.westminsterkennelclub.org/breedinformation/herding/collier.html Westminster Kennel Club description of the Smooth Collie]</ref><ref>[http://www.westminsterkennelclub.org/breedinformation/herding/shetshee.html Westminster Kennel Club description of the Shetland Sheepdog]</ref> Their gentleness and devotion also make them quite compatible with children. They are often more suitable as companions than as watch dogs, though the individual personalities of these dogs vary. The temperament of these breeds has featured in literature, film and popular television programmes. The novels of [[Albert Payson Terhune]] celebrated the temperament and companionship of collies and were very popular in the United States during the 1920s and 1930s. More famously, the temperament and intelligence of the Rough Collie was exaggerated to mythic proportions in the character [[Lassie]] which has been the subject of many films, books and television shows from 1938 to the present.
==Collie types and breeds==
[[Herding dogs]] of collie [[Dog type|type]] have long been widespread in [[Great Britain|Britain]], and these can be regarded as a [[landrace]] from which a number of other landraces, types, and formal [[dog breed|breed]]s have been derived, both in Britain and elsewhere. Many of these are working herding dogs, but some have been bred for [[Conformation show|conformation showing]] and as [[Pet|pets]], sometimes losing their working instincts in the selection for appearance or for a more subdued temperament.<ref>[http://www.roughcolliesofdistinction.com/breed_ancestry.htm ''The ancestral relationships of contemporary British herding breeds''. Iris Combe & Pat Hutchinson 2004. Chart of relationships between various British herding dog breeds, and outline of their history.]</ref>
Herding types tend to be more variable in appearance than conformation and pet types, as they are bred primarily for their working ability, and appearance is thus of lower importance.
Dogs of collie type or ancestry include:
*[[Australian Cattle Dog]]. Dog used in Australia for herding cattle. Dogs of this type are also known as Queensland Heeler, Blue Heeler and Red Heeler.
*[[Australian Collie]]. Not actually a breed, but a popular cross between two other collie types, [[Australian Shepherd]] and [[Border Collie]].
*[[Australian Kelpie]]. Developed in Australia from collies originally brought from Scotland and northern England.
*[[Australian Shepherd]]. Developed in the US, probably from dogs of British origin (of [[Farm Collie]] type), but now found in other parts of the world (including Australia).
*[[Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog]]. Dog with stumpy tail used in Australia for herding cattle.
*[[Bearded Collie]]. Now largely a pet and show breed, but still of collie type, and some are used as working dogs.
*[[Border Collie]]. The most well-known breed for herding sheep throughout the world. Originally developed in Scotland and Northern England. Not always suitable for herding cattle.
*[[English Shepherd]]. Developed in the US from stock of [[Farm Collie]] type originally from [[Great Britain|Britain]]. Not to be confused with the very different [[Old English Sheepdog]].
*[[Farm Collie]]. Landrace herding dog found on many livestock farms in Britain, in the US (derived from British dogs), and perhaps elsewhere. In Britain, often simply called "farm dog".
*[[German Coolie|German Coolie, Koolie, or Collie]]. Developed in Australia, probably from British collies.
*[[Huntaway]]. Developed in [[New Zealand]] from a mixture of breeds, probably including some collie – but it is not of collie type.
*[[Lurcher]]. Not a breed, but a cross of collie (or other [[herding dog]] or [[terrier]]) with [[Greyhound]] or other [[sight hound]]. Traditionally bred for [[poaching]], with the speed of a sight hound but more obedient and less conspicuous.
*[[McNab (dog)|McNab (Shepherd)]]. Developed in the US partly from dogs of collie type.
*[[Old English Sheepdog]]. Derived from "Shags", hairy herding dogs. Not to be confused with the [[English Shepherd]].
*[[Rough Collie]] and [[Smooth Collie]] (sometimes considered varieties of one breed, originally called [[Scotch Collie]]). Now show and pet dogs, these were created by crossing working collies with other dogs (especially [[Borzoi]]s) and are of rather different type to other collies.
*[[Shetland Sheepdog]]. A small show and pet breed developed in England partly from herding dogs originating in [[Shetland]]. The Shetland dogs were originally working herding dogs, not collies but of [[Spitz]] type (similar to the [[Icelandic Sheepdog]]). However in the development of the modern breed these Spitz-type dogs were heavily mixed with collies and [[toy dog|toy]] breeds, and are now similar in appearance to a miniature [[Rough Collie]].
*[[Welsh Sheepdog]]. Landrace herding dog from [[Wales]].
The [[heeler]] types of dog are probably related to collies, being usually shorter-legged dogs used primarily for herding cattle.
==Famous Collies==
* [[Lassie]]
* [[Colleen (Road Rovers)|Colleen]] from ''[[Road Rovers]]''
* Jessie, the dog from the satirical novella ''[[Animal Farm]]'' by [[George Orwell]], is portrayed as a Border Collie in the [[Animal Farm (1999 film)|1999 film]] version
* Laddie from ''[[The Simpsons]]''
* Flo & the other puppies in ''[[All Dogs Go to Heaven]]''
* Blanco, pet of [[Lyndon Johnson]]
* [[Reveille (Texas A&M)|Reveille]], official mascot of [[Texas A&M University]]
* Lad of Sunnybank, from the series of novels by [[Albert Payson Terhune]]
*Wilson of the 1984 ''Manga'' series (and 1986 ''Anime'') by [[Yoshihiro Takahashi]], [[Ginga Nagareboshi Gin]], and ex-circus dog.
*Fly and Rex, [[Border Collie]]s from the movie ''[[Babe (film)|Babe]]'', and the original book ''[[The Sheep-Pig]]'' by [[Dick King-Smith]].
*Thunder and Lightning, Granny Aching's near-telepathic sheepdogs in [[Terry Pratchett]]'s ''[[Discworld]]'' novel ''[[The Wee Free Men]]'' and its sequels.
*Laddie, an extremely dense but [[photogenic]] film-collie in [[Terry Pratchett]]'s ''[[Discworld]]'' novel [[Moving Pictures (novel)|''Moving Pictures'']]; a satire on too-perfect film-dogs such as [[Lassie]].
*Murray the dog of Paul Buchman & Jamie Buchman in the TV series ''[[Mad About You]]''
==References==
{{Reflist}}
==External links==
*[http://www.collieclubofamerica.org/ Collie Club of America]
*[http://www.rscta.co.uk The Rough and Smooth Collie Training Association]
*[http://www.awca.net/ American Working Collie Association]
[[Category:Herding dogs]]
[[Category:Dog breeds]]
[[Category:Dog types]]
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