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About the Smooth Collie

Smooth Collies are active, intelligent dogs and make excellent family pets. They are medium sized (22” to 24” at the shoulder for bitches and 24” to 26” for dogs when adult) and short coated. They make good house dogs having a reliable and kind nature but they are quick to bark if a stranger is about. They are not aggressive or nervous.

They are beautiful, elegant, intelligent, friendly, loyal, loving and sensitive. They are real family dogs and are noted for being easy to train and very people-friendly. In addition to being very clean dogs, they are one of the easiest breeds to socialise. Typically the Collie is not a one-man dog. If raised properly and treated with respect, they make an ideal pet for the entire family.

We do not recommend that Collies be kept kennelled for long periods of time or left without human contact as they can become easily bored, as well as lonely. This can result in a noisy, unhappy dog. Collies, along with many other herding dogs, can be prone to barking if not taught good manners. They are people dogs, known for wanting to be with their owners.

While they are excellent watchdogs, they are not known for being aggressive. A Collie should never be nervous, shy or afraid. They love to play, retrieve and to go for long walks. In short, they make great companions for all.

Where did I come from?

Opinions differ on this. The Rough and the Smooth Collie are the same breed but whilst the Rough Collie developed a long, heavy, thick coat to cope with the harsh Scottish Highland weather, the Smooth Collie's short coat is better suited to the milder, wetter Lowlands. Most people believe they were bred to herd sheep or drive cattle and so needed to be fit and mentally and physically agile, with the capability of being able to work for long periods at varying speeds in different weather conditions. As with all Collie breeds, their history has ensured they enjoy a close bond with people.

The Smooth Collie is not the same breed as a Border Collie, Bearded Collie or farm collie. His appearance and needs are quite different.

The breed first became popular in the late 19th century when Queen Victoria visited the Scottish Highlands and fell in love with the breed. She kept both Rough and Smooth collies in her kennels.

The Rough Collie has always been more popular than the Smooth thanks to his glamorous coat and fame through the Lassie films. The two varieties are identical except for the length of coat. Some say that the Smooth Collie is more intelligent and athletic than his Rough cousin. Due to his lack of popularity, the Smooth Collie is listed by the Kennel Club as a vulnerable native breed.

Do I need lots of exercise?

Smooth Collies are very adaptable dogs - they will take as much exercise as you can give them. Many Smooths do well at obedience and agility and their intelligence and willingness to please makes them ideally suited for this. They will at the very least love the resulting attention, and you will have a well-behaved dog!

What do I like to eat?

Today there are many complete foods available at supermarkets or pet stores. These give a balanced diet with all the vitamins and minerals your Smooth Collie needs. A range of treats is also available and these can be given occasionally. Smooths are not generally fussy eaters.

Keeping me fit and healthy

Smooth Collies are generally a healthy breed. However, the Collie, like all breeds of dogs, has certain health issues. Collie Eye Anomaly is an inherited eye disease that is present at birth. Collie eyes can be easily checked when the puppies are 5-6 weeks old, by a qualified British Veterinary Association Ophthalmologist. It is something that the average Vet is not qualified to diagnose. Do not buy a Collie from a breeder who hasn’t had the dog’s eyes checked or doesn’t offer a certificate of its status.

Attention should be paid to a good dental hygiene routine as Collies tend to be more susceptible than many breeds to oral problems.

In some instances, Collies have been known to have sensitivity to certain drugs, such as Ivermectin (often used for worming – particularly Heartworm control in some overseas countries). If you live in an area prone to Heartworm, please do not use any heartworm preventative containing Ivermectin as the active ingredient.

Smooth Collies will live from 12 to 14 years. We recommend that the puppy or adult dog receives a Microchip implant or a tattoo for future identification purposes.

What about grooming?

Grooming the short but double coat is easy and not at all time consuming. Smooth Collies do shed but when this happens a bath to loosen the remaining hair and several good sessions with a steel toothed comb should be enough to finish this off.

Rough and Smooth Collies come in three colours – the sable and white ranges from a light golden colour to a rich mahogany; the tricolour is black, tan and white; the blue merle should be a pale silvery blue with black spots of various sizes.

Typically, all colours are marked with the traditional white collar, chest, legs, feet and tail tip. Sometimes the Collie may have white facial markings called a blaze.

Is the Collie the breed for you?

You should do your homework before buying a dog or puppy by reading up on the breed and talking with and visiting various breeders - and most importantly, by seeing the dogs. You can do this at dog shows, agility or obedience events or by visiting a breeder’s home or kennel.

People who love Collies for all the reasons the breed is famous for, usually do so for life! Once you have decided what you want in a dog and assured yourself that your lifestyle will allow you to keep a dog, make sure you have the desire and ability to commit to the lifetime of the dog. The Collie is the most beautiful and most noble of all the breeds and they deserve only the best!

Do not buy any puppy or dog from a puppy farm. When you contact a breeder, don’t be put off when they ask you lots of questions. This means that they care about where their puppy is going and the kind of life it will lead. Will the breeder take the puppy back if you are no longer able to keep or care for it? Check out the breeder’s premises. Dogs or puppies should be housed in clean, parasite and odour-free surroundings. Warning signs are matted, dirty smelling coats, inflamed, matter-filled eyes, flea and fly infestation, and/or scars on the faces and ears. The surroundings say a lot about the breeder. Puppies should come with information about vaccinations and dewormings, given and due, and about feeding. The best age for a puppy to go to his new home is 8 to 10 weeks.

What will I pay for a puppy?

The price of a well-bred, healthy puppy from good bloodlines will vary, depending on the area of the country, the breeder and the circumstances. Occasionally Smooth Collies find themselves in Rescue and are seeking permanent or foster homes. These dogs can be a variety of ages, sex and colours. Usually they are screened by the Rescue organisations for potential problems and suitability for adoption. Many of them are placed in rescue through no fault of their own, and once placed, live normal healthy lives. For a rescue near you, http://www.collienet.com/roughcollie_rescue.htm