Popular Dog Breeds
- 1. Collies and Shetland Sheepdogs
- 2. Border Collies, Australian Shepherds and Australian Kelpies
- 3. Bearded Collies and Old English Sheepdogs
- 4. Retrievers
- 5. German Shepherds
Collies and Shetland Sheepdogs
iStockphoto
Jacque Lynn Schultz, C.P.D.T., Companion Animal Programs Adviser. National Outreach
This begins a three-part series looking as sheep-herding dogs. Part I covers Collies and Shetland Sheepdogs; Part II will cover Border Collies, Australian Shepherds and Australian Kelpies; and Part III will profile Bearded Collies and Old English Sheepdogs.
Sheep and sheepdogs were plentiful along the border of Northern England and Scotland. For more than 500 years, agile, long-bodied dogs herded sheep and watched over their shepherds. Each region developed its own special type to be efficient in local terrain. The rough-coated dogs with their weather-proof fur assisted the shepherd in moving the flocks to various grazing spots and retrieving straying lambs. Their smooth-coated brethren were more likely used as drovers - moving sheep and cattle to market or later, on and off railroad cars. Early collies were smaller than today's, with broader skulls and shorter muzzles. Their coats were mostly black and white, similar to that of the Border Collie. The "Lassie" look that we are familiar with today was derived from a sire of the 1860s know as Old Cockie. He is credited with the more extreme wedge head shape and the introduction of the sable and white coat. Today's collie coats can also be tri-color (black, tan and white), blue merle, or solid white.
The Collie has fallen out of favor as a working sheepdog - supplanted by the Border Collie, Aussie and Kelpie - but his popularity as a family companion holds strong. The breed is loyal and affectionate and proves his familial devotion by his watchfulness, barking an alarm if he suspects trouble. His herding dog background contributes pluses and minuses to his suitability as a household pet. The Collie is a fairly active breed and a natural athlete whose exercise needs must be met in order to stave off restlessness and destruction. His strong desire to herd can cause harm if he is allowed to come in contact with moving vehicles as they make most uncooperative "sheep". However, the Collie is a good learner and eager to please, so training should be a breeze. While some sources rank the Collie low when it comes to demanding affection, it has been this author's experience that when ignored, the Collie will resort to whining to make his desire for attention known.
With two coat types (rough and smooth), the Collie may be a suitable choice for both those who enjoy grooming a thick plush coat weekly and those who prefer to breeze through their dog's coat care with a quick brushing. This breed is a seasonal shedder with the worst of it coming out in spring and fall. The short-coated smooth may seem to shed more than his rough-coated relatives as the smooth's dead hair falls to the ground while the rough's loose hair gets caught up in the thick coat. If not frequently brushed out, painful mats will form.
The Collie is prone to eye problems. Nearly 95% of the breed has tested positive as either affected or a carrier of the gene for Collie eye anomaly. Progressive retinal atrophy is also present in some lines. Other health problems seen in Collies are Collie nose (a depigmenting, crusting dermatitis) and dermatomyositus.
The Shetland Sheepdog
Looking like a Collie in miniature, the Shetland Sheepdog
developed on the barren Shetland Islands, an area known for
producing diminutive livestock. The breed was most likely
descended from rough Collies brought over from the Mainland which
then mated with small herding dogs from Iceland or Greenland
brought there by fisherman or immigrants. The Sheltie was used to
herd both sheep and Shetland ponies around the islands in search
of enough to graze on and charged with keeping the ponies out of
vegetable gardens when food was scarce. The breed was refined to
resemble a show Collie in miniature in the early part of the 20th
Century when exported to the Scottish Mainland.
The Sheltie is a swift, agile little dog and is known as an excellent jumper, a skill much needed in the rocky Shetlands. It is little wonder that with those physical skills and a sweet, sensitive personality and eagerness to please, the Sheltie is a top competitor in competition obedience, agility and flyball. Like the Collie, the Sheltie is a fairly vocal breed and can be quite the watchdog. They are not comfortable with strangers and may go to some lengths to avoid being touched by them. They must be socialized early and often or the pups may grow up to be timid and fearful dogs that snap out when unknown children approach. Some are very sound-sensitive and need placement in homes with low-key older children or quiet adults.
They are prone to the same eye diseases as Collies and may also be at risk for hypothyroidism or patellar luxation.
Next in
Before You Adopt: Popular Dog Breeds:
Border Collies, Australian Shepherds and Australian Kelpies
