The stunning Collie, is one of the worlds most recognisable breeds, thanks to its starring role as the beloved movie hero Lassie.
Collies are medium-sized dogs with long elegant muzzles, expressive and mobile ears and intelligent eyes. There are two breeds of Collies; the Rough Collie and the Smooth Collie. The former is the more recognisable of the two, with its impressive showy coat and substantial neck ruff, whereas the Smooth Collie possesses a short, dense coat. Both types can appear from one litter. The breed is well-known for its sweet easy-going nature and its ability to get along with everyone and everything, including children, other dogs and household pets. Bred as herding dogs, they are intelligent and respond well to gentle training. They also enjoy plenty of exercise and playtime but are not as high-energy as a Border Collie. The fur of the rough-coated collie requires daily grooming to keep it in good condition, whereas the smooth-coated collie just requires a quick groom once or twice a week.
History
The Collie was developed as a working sheepdog and all-around farm dog in the Scottish Highlands. It increased in popularity when Queen Victoria acquired a Rough Collie after seeing one at Balmoral Castle. Its popularity further increased with the much-loved character Lassie who appeared in movies and books in the 1940s and 1950s.
