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Fast Facts:
Description: Perhaps the most widely recognized of all dog breeds (because of Lassie), the Collie is a strong, active dog. He combines speed and strength with grace. The expression on the Collie's refined head shows alertness and intelligence.
AKC Group: The Collie is in the Herding group.
Coat: Collies come in two coat varieties. The Rough coat has a long, straight outer coat with a soft, shedding undercoat, which requires regular brushing. The Smooth coat has a short, flat outer coat with a soft, dense undercoat.
Height: Male Collies range from 24 inches to 26 inches. Female Collies range from 22 inches to 24 inches.
Weight: Male Collies range from 60 to 75 pounds. Female Collies range from 50 to 65 pounds.
Colors: In the USA Collies are typically sable white, tricolor, blue merle, and white. In Canada, the sable merle is also recognized.
Temperament: The Collie is an extremely intelligent, friendly dog breed, who makes an excellent children's companion and gets along well with other household dogs. Suspicious of strangers, the Collie makes a good watchdog.
Country of Supposed Origin: The Collie originated in Scotland.
Life Expectancy: The expected life span of the Collie is 8-12 years. Have been known to live well into their teens with good care.
Living Environment: Collies do best in homes with fenced yards. This dog breed is not recommended for apartment life since it tends to bark alot when bored and is inactive indoors.
Summertime picnics, going barefoot, pop quizzes, mudpies, bubble blowing, skipping rope, ice cream trucks, and long lazy days - those are some of the things that characterize "childhood". For many of us, we always desire to recapture those innocent days. And for those of us who grew up with dogs, it sears our heart and etches a permanent milestone into our memories that horrible moment when we lose each our beloved childhood pets.
For me, I remember the very first dog I ever got to call my own. I remember going to the pound when I was only 3 years old with my mom and dad and picking out a shy, lonely looking mixed breed puppy that was sitting all by himself in the back of his cage while all the other hyper ones clamored at the gate wanting me to "pick them". I was only a toddler, but I clearly remember my heart going out to the dejected little reddish colored pooch and feeling a deep-rooted connection with him. So, a few minutes later there he was - riding home with us on my lap in the small cardboard box we had brought along with us. I named him "Pup Pup" (a.k.a. Pooch) and thus began my love affair with dogs.
Over the course of my childhood, we had numerous dogs pass thru our home... all of which were mixed breeds (and, until a year or so ago, I preferred them over purebreds). There were even a couple of litters of pups that my female dog Bandit produced over the years (sired by none other than Pup Pup himself). However out of all the doggies that passed our way and thru our lives, there are only three that in my heart I consider "my special childhood pals". These are Pup Pup (who lived to the age of 14), Pup's own son Pup "PJ" Junior (who passed away shortly after his father) and then there was my first collie Floppy.
One morning during the first part of my second grade year, I was awoken by the feel of something wet touching my nose as I lay on the living room couch catching a few more moments of sleep before school. Thinking that it was daddy dropping cold water on me to wake me, I wiped my face groggily and moaned. But, to my surprise as I opened one eye, there was a little puppy sitting there in my dad's hands! It was his cold little nose I had felt. In my excitement, I almost didn't make it to school that day! I named the little guy Floppy Brown Ear, due to the fact that one ear folded over and the other stood strait up. At the time I knew nothing about collies.... (READ MORE)
