Could a Collie Be the Perfect Dog for you?
A loyal companion that makes an excellent family pet, the Collie is as brilliant as it is beautiful. If you are looking for a large dog breed that is loyal and kind, the Collie could be the perfect dog for you. Here is a guide to everything you need to know about the Collie dog.
Breed Snapshot
- Size Large dog (22-34kg); 55 – 66cm in height
- Coat High shedding dogs that have a lot of thick soft hair. Should be brushed frequently
- Energy Energetic dog that should be walked daily and provided plenty of outdoor playtime
- Lifespan 12 – 14 years
- Country of origin Scotland
- Breed type An iconic herding dog that was made popular by English aristocrats during the 1800s, this dog is protective, elegant, and intelligent
- Other names “Rough Collie” and “Smooth Collie”
- Great breed for: Home with a yard or a farm, Families with kids
All About the Collie
Regarded as one of the world’s most popular dogs, thanks to its numerous Hollywood appearances over the years and its favored status among British royalty, the Collie is a humble dog that exudes confidence and elegance. The Collie dog as we know it today made its debut in Scotland in the 1800s but has long family line of distant relatives that date back more than 2,000 years.
Collies are an intelligent breed who are very protective of their human family. If you are in danger, your loyal pet will surely try to save the day. Collies were originally raised as sheep herding dogs but are primarily bred as companion dogs today. They are dynamic dogs that can swim, hike, run, and work alongside his or her owner.
What Do Collie Dogs Look Like?
Collies are stately looking dogs that feature a long coat and an adorable face that will melt your heart. Collies are usually black and white or brown and white in colour and their soft and luxurious coat seems to whisp around gently in the wind. Collies are a large breed that grow to be 55 – 66cm tall and weigh in at 22 – 34kg.
The body of a Collie dog is slender, but its fur coat makes it look so much bigger. This dog has a muscular body that is perfect for running or engaging in athletic activities. Collies have a long face with a protruding snout and pointy ears that can hear just about everything – and who could forget the sad eyes this dog has!
How Do I Train My Collie?
Collies are students for life and will pick up on any training you or a professional trainer provide. They are an easy breed to train, so you can train them at home or sign up for dog obedience classes with a professional trainer. Whether you begin training your dog at home or take it to classes, training should be started when your dog is a puppy so they can learn to be social with people and other dogs.
Collies love to please their owners, so positive reinforcement training can be an enjoyable experience for both you and your dog. Be sure to keep training sessions short and reward your dog with a small treat for a job well done. Training should be a happy time that allows you to bond with your pet.
How Do I Groom My Collie?
Collies are a low maintenance breed where you can complete all the grooming at home if you wish. Rough Collies need to be brushed weekly so to avoid allowing this dog’s fur to mat and get tangled. Smooth Collies do not require much brushing unless you are trying to get shed fur off of them. Bathe your Collie at least once a month to get rid of dirt and grime and to massage its oils around the skin.
Trim your Collie’s nails when they start to get long so they do not snag on objects and cause your dog pain. You can clean their ears with specialty dog ear cleaning solutions but do not swab their ears because you can injure their inner ear if the swab slips. Brush your Collie’s teeth regularly to maintain good oral health.
What Kind of Diet Should I Feed My Collie?
Collies need a protein rich diet to keep their skin and fur healthy and to provide them the energy they need to roam around and explore. Feed your dog only good quality dog food and keep grains to a minimum. Before serving your Collie any people food, be sure to consult with your vet to make sure you do not feed your dog anything that will make it sick. If your dog does not like to eat its dry food, you can add a little gravy to bump up the flavor profile a notch.
Quick Questions and Answers About Collies
What is the typical lifespan of a Collie?
Healthy Collies can live between 12 -14 years. This is a long life for a larger size dog.
Can Collies be left alone?
No. Collies are true family pets and they like to spend time with their owners. This is not a breed that does well staying home alone all day whilst you are at work. Should you need to be away from home for an extended period of time, take your dog to doggy daycare or hire a dog sitter.
Do Collies have health issues?
As with many larger breed dogs, Collies are susceptible to bloat and should be monitored for this condition, especially if they end up eating a large meal. Bloat can often be treated by a vet if the condition is caught early enough.
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