Loyal and courageous, the Collie is the symbol of all the best traits a canine companion has to offer.
Heritage
The Collie had humble beginnings as a working farm dog in nineteenth century Scotland. That is, until 1860 when Queen Victoria fell in love with them. Wealthy Europeans wanted a dog like the Queen's, and the Collie craze was born–even in America. By 1900, they were the most popular breed in America.
Albert Payson Terhune's tales of the Sunnnybank Collies helped keep the breed in the public's heart, and Lassie cemented the Collie's reputation as the best dog a boy could have. They even shared the White House with three different Presidents.
Smart, friendly and absolutely devoted to family, the Collie lives up to its reputation. True, he can bark to excess, but hand him a toy or a chew, and that can cut down bark time.
Upkeep
To grow your Collie's coat to its full potential, feed a nutritious food with vitamin supplements. You must keep the coat free of parasites and dirt.
Coat care for the rough coat requires a little attention a lot of the time. Use a pin brush to remove tangles every other day or as needed. Brush the coat in layers so you get all the way to the skin. Spritzing these areas with a mixture of water and conditioner will prevent static electricity and hair breakage as you brush. If you find a mat, carefully work it apart after spritzing it.
During shedding season, use a shedding tool to remove the thick undercoat. Brushing right after bathing, when the hair is still slightly damp, will usually remove the most coat.
For the best looking results, use a shampoo that builds body. You may also wish to use color-enhancing shampoos, or if your dog has itchy skin, avocado oil or oatmeal based shampoos. Blow-drying the coat will make it especially plush.
Coat care for the smooth coat is similar--just easier. Brush once a week to removed dead hair. Use a shedding tool during shedding season. Bathe as needed.
Most Collies have healthy ears, but you should still check them for signs of redness, itching or debris weekly. Any time they get goopy, clean with an ear-cleanser. If the goop comes back, see your veterinarian.
Brush the teeth daily.
Clip the nails every two weeks or so using a heavy-duty dog nail clipper.
Collies can be affected by age-related physical changes, such as arthritis. Besides any intervention recommended by your veterinarian, a soft cushion to lie on and glucosamine chondroitin supplements added to the diet can help soothe aching joints.
