Collie
Breed Profile
Collies constitute an exclusive type of herding dogs, including many related landraces and standardised breeds. The type hails from Scotland and Northern England. Some collie breeds are still used as working dogs, some for herding cattle, sheep and other livestock, while others are kept as pets, show dogs or for dog sports, in which they display great agility, stamina and trainability
Temperament
The well-bred Collie is sweet, friendly, and gentle. It is a family dog and thrives on feeling part of household activities. Especially keen on children, it enjoys playing with them and watching over them. In addition, the Collie has a very high IQ and is very loyal to its folks. This dog is bright and is a fast learner.
Color & Coat
Coat: The Collie has two coat types: Rough (long hair) and Smooth (short hair). The Rough Collie sports an abundant, straight outer coat that feels harsh to the touch, and a soft, furry undercoat that is so thick it’s difficult to locate the skin when the hair is parted. The Smooth Collie has a short, dense, flat outer coat with a thick undercoat.
Color: The Collie comes in four hues: sable (think Lassie), tricolor (black with white markings and tan shadings), blue merle (silvery blue and black), and white (predominantly white with markings).
Health
Some collie breeds (especially the Rough Collie, Smooth Collie and the Australian Shepherd) suffer from a genetic defect, a mutation within the MDR1 gene. Also, affected dogs may be extremely sensitive to some drugs, such as Ivermectin, as well as to some antibiotics, opioids and steroids (over 100 drugs in total). Affected dogs also exhibit a reduced cortisol concentration than normal.