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1. How many Collie coat colors are there? Do all collies look like Lassie?
2. I saw a shorthaired dog the other day that someone called a collie. Did this dog have all his long collie hair chopped off?
No! This is actually a smooth collie. There are 2 main varieties of collie coats - the rough collie, which has the familiar long bushy "lassie" coat, and then the smooth collie which has very short hair like a Doberman or Dalmatian does. Featured below is a sable/white smooth collie.
3. Are rough and smooth collies judged differently in the show ring?? Do they have a different standard?
No. The rough and smooth collie are both judged using the same set of breed standards. Its just that one has long hair and the other has short!
4. Where did the collie come from?
It is believed that the collie originated from the hills of Scotland centuries ago.
5. Is a collie a good family pet?
Most definitely! The collie is prized as being one of the friendliest, most adaptable, and most caring dog breeds. Their gentle nature, sweet spirit, and drive to please humans make them wonderful family dogs.
 
6. What are some of the most common things the every day collie owner would have to worry about?
Besides the general dog stuff (such as food, shelter, fresh water, companionship, and exercise), a collie owner would need to know that collies are sometimes very "nippy" due to their herding instincts, they love to "mouth" things and put their long lovely noses everywhere! Some collies have also been reported to have a habit of herding everything they see - small animals, children, other pets, etc. Because of the job they were bred to do (herd sheep) they also are a very vocal breed, given to incessant barking if not properly trained. With proper guidance from a loving owner though, these collie traits should not be a huge problem.
7. Um... what exactly is collie rescue?
Collie Rescue is basically various no-kill animal shelters that are dedicated solely to the collie breed. Unfortunately there are collies, for one reason or another, who no longer have a home. Collie Rescue groups takes in those collies, tends to their housing / food / medical needs, and places them in a foster home of trusted volunteers until someone comes along to adopt the collie. To learn more about collie rescue, you can visit the rescue portion of our site which includes links to numerous rescue organizations around the USA.
8. How come my dog never opens the door, save's my child's life, adopts little homeless kittens, or takes in orphaned boys to love? Aren't all collies suppose to be as smart as Lassie??
The dog you saw on Lassie was not born that way! Collies, by nature, are more adapt at learning human commands and obeying them fully. However, it takes practice! Many many hours went into training each of the Lassie dogs to do those tricks. You must also train your collies! No dog should go without obedience training (knowing how to behave in the human world) and trick training (knowing how to have fun with humans). If you do not have the patience to train to the level that Lassie was at, at least teach your dog the basic commands every pup should know such as sit, stay, come, down, quiet, and no.
9. Are collies colorblind like other dogs?
Actually, it is a myth that dogs are colorblind! In the past, it was assumed that since dogs weren't able to distinguish between as many colors as humans, that they therefore only saw in black and white. However, recent scientific studies has shown that dogs do have a varied range of colored vision although it's not as wide as the human's color spectrum.
10. Of course I've always heard that dogs love bones. Is it safe to give my collie one?
Chicken bones, one of the most common bones fed to dogs off the table is also one of the most dangerous foods. Most bones that humans consume are small - and remember, a collie is a large dog. A normal male collie doesn't hesitate to wolf down a small bit without taking a moment to chew. Small bones, which splinter easy, have sharp edges, and are swallowed fast by the large collie dog can cause fatal damage to the throat, esophagus, and even stomach. Furthermore, a small sharp bone could easily get lodged in a collie's throat. If you feel like you must give your dog a bone because you think "that's what dog's eat" - then please go to your local butcher shop and get a large leg bone or another type of bone and your collie will have to stop and think about before gulping it down!
11. Can collies really tell when a storm is coming?
Dogs have a very keen sense and can detect changes in the atmosphere as well as sharp hearing that can detect the sounds of thunder and an approaching storm long before humans notice it. Its well documented by various collie owners about how their own collies (who some are scared of storms!) will detect an approaching storm a good while before it appears on the horizon.
12. Which AKC group is the Collie in?
The American Kennel Club (USA) classifies Collies in the Herding group.
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