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THE COLLIE IN YOUR HOME
The Collie falls in the mid-range of responsibility when it comes to the practical concerns that influence the choice of a breed as a family dog:
Size & Manageability
As with many of the large breeds, the Collie tends to be a very gentle, laidback
dog. It is not mean-spirited or vicious by nature, making it easy to manage. Though both genders have similar personality traits, each Collie is a distinct “individual.” Size is where the sexes differ.
The standard kennel crate used for
Collies is about 23” X 27” X 36” and
a dog bed is usually in the 36” X 48”
range which are approximate indications
of the amount of sleeping space
the dog needs in the house as well as
travel space in the car. Though a large
dog, the Collie is built for endurance
rather than brute strength. The responsiveness
of character and the body
style—the frame of the dog is light and
the neck long—make the Collie a fairly
easy dog to control.
Domestic Impact
Some people believe that the impact of a dog on a household depends solely
on coat length and shedding and that these are the factors of primary importance in the choice of a breed as a family dog. Coat is actually a relatively
minor part of the domestic impact of any dog and of the amount of time and
effort that it takes to care for the dog.
Domestic considerations go beyond
coat maintenance to include size of the dog, shedding, stuff tracked in by
the dog, how the dog smells wet and dry, the tendency to chew, be destructive
and knock things off low furniture, general demeanor around the house, ease of housebreaking, drooling, digging
holes in the yard, and the desire
to roll in unpleasant things or wallow in
water courses, which make frequent
bathing necessary.
Maintenance of a
dog includes brushing, hair and nail
trimming or clipping, bathing, and teeth
and ear cleaning.
Cleanliness
Both varieties of Collie are doublecoated
dogs who do shed their undercoats
at regular intervals, annually for
adult males and approximately three
times every two years for females.
Otherwise, the dogs are extremely
clean, quiet around the house and easy
to maintain. Collies housebreak easily
and are very fastidious in their personal
habits. Even as puppies, they do not
chew excessively. They are gentle on
their toys, tending to carry them around
rather than chew them up.
Regular coat brushing is necessary
for both varieties of Collie as is the
routine maintenance of teeth and toe
nails which is the same for any breed.
Collies are not a clipped breed.
Cutting the body coat of a Rough
Collie does not eliminate shedding. It is
customary, however, to trim the hair
on the feet and around the face and
ears on Rough Collies. Occasional
trips to a grooming shop can assist a
Collie owner in coat maintenance.
HEALTH
The science of canine
health has surged forward
by leaps and bounds in
recent years, to the great benefit
of dogs and the families who
love them. Veterinary research and the dedication
of breeders have had a very
positive impact on the Collie. The
general health of the Collie has consistently
improved over the last 50
years because of the diligence of
the Collie Club of America and the
group’s strong dedication to Collie
Health. We started our own
health foundation in 1986, The Collie Health Foundation, which
continues to be one of the
models on which other foundations
are based, including
the American Kennel Club’s
own Canine Health
Foundation.
Eyes
Collie puppies are examined between
7 - 8 weeks of age by a veterinary ophthalmologist,
and each dog sold has a
certificate from the ophthalmologist
that describes the individual’s vision.
Before you buy a Collie, therefore, you will know the exact status of that individual’s
eyes. Test breeding has practically
eliminated PRA from the gene
pool. What remains is a series of conditions
known collectively as Collie Eye
Anomaly (CEA). Much of the genetics
of this is of interest to breeders for
breeding stock, but does not really
impact a companion dog at all. In brief,
mild CEA involves the pigment in the
Choroidal area of the eye and does not
affect vision, nor does it worsen as the
dog ages.
Skin
Diligence on the part of breeders and advances in the formulation of dog foods and the treatment of parasites,
particularly topical flea/tick treatments,
have made many skin problems a thing
of the past and greatly reduced others
to the point of rarity.
General Health
Hip and elbow dysplasia, heart problems, and epilepsy which are common in many large breeds, are not common problems in Collies, though they do occur occasionally. Cancers do not occur in Collies at a rate that is different from any other dog. Collies and other white-footed herding breeds are sensitive to certain drugs, among which are Ivermectin, the active ingredient in some heartworm preventatives, and the over-thecounter human drug Immodium.
For more information about drug sensitivity in Collies, visit
the website of Washington
State University’s College of
Veterinary Medicine.
You can get your dog tested for
drug sensitivity as well as keep
up with the latest research.
Longevity in Collies is fairly consistent. About 12 years is the usual life span of this breed.
Allergies (In Humans)
There really is no such thing as a completely hypoallergenic dog, since substances such as pollens and molds can stick to a dog and be transmitted to the person who touches it. A serious allergy in a family member, therefore, requires the management of a physician before any animal is introduced into the household.
Enzymes found primarily in saliva and
also in dander trigger animal allergies.
The most important factor in determining
the allergenic nature of a breed is
the fit of the lips followed by the type
of coat. Because the Collie has tightfitting
lips and a double coat which
holds the dander next to the skin, the
breed is only moderately allergenic.
Family traffic management which
includes the restriction of the dog from
parts of the house such as bedrooms,
coupled with bathing and grooming
protocols done outside the house
minimize the impact of allergens on
the family.
THE COLLIE CLUB OF AMERICA
The decision to add a new dog to your home, especially a new breed for which the owner is unfamiliar,
is not easy. Thankfully for
the new Collie owner, your
Collie is actually part of a
larger, well-established community
of breeders and enthusiasts
who come together as
The Collie Club of America.
Though individual member goals may
vary, the one collective goal of this
community is to further the best interests
of the breed through education,
distribution of information, shared
breedings, furthering of competition
and performance events, mentoring,
health initiatives, publications and
communications.
CCA District Director
A Collie is not a difficult dog to find, though well-bred, purebred Collies are not often advertised in the newspaper and are never sold in pet shops. Well-bred dogs are found by networking. There are many small quality breeders across the country, connected by the Collie Club of America’s network through our District Directors and local Collie Clubs. Each state or part of a state in the U.S. has an elected District Director whose job it is to assist people who are looking for Collies.
The District Director for your area will be able to answer specific questions about what
dogs are available from breeders or Collie Rescue, or whether litters are planned
for the near future. He or she can also give you specific information about the breeders and Collie kennels in your
part of the country and answer additional questions you may have about the breed. Find your District Director.
Local Collie Clubs across the country are also knowledgeable about the
breed and host Collie events such as Collie Specialty Shows, Performance  Trials and Collie educational and social
events. Your District Director will also have information on local clubs and events that might be of interest to you
and your family as well as information to help further your interest in the Collie.
BREEDER RESPONSIBILITY
Responsibility to the Breed is reflected in the quality of the individual dogs, the
limited quantity that is bred, and the breeder’s lifetime commitment to their dogs regardless of where they may be living. Collie breeders care very much
about placing their dogs in the right homes. When a puppy or adult dog is
purchased, responsible breeders provide a contract that covers the dog for life. They provide detailed information to new owners on day-to-day maintenance
and health care of the dog. And they are available to offer advice and help even after the dog has gone to its new home.
HOMECOMING
Before a new dog
comes home for the
first time, there are
various preparations that
need to be made by both the
dog’s new family and the
breeder. Once a match has been made
between a family and a Collie, a
good breeder will provide information
and guidance to help the
dog settle into its new home. As
part of the procedure for transferring
a dog to its new owners,
each Breeder will provide a “puppy
packet” containing paperwork pertaining
to that dog. The Breeder will
spend time explaining this paperwork
to be sure each part is understood.
This is the perfect time for the family
to ask all their questions about their new Collie, from dog care,
grooming and training to future
expectations. The Puppy Packet should
include:
- A Contract signed by both breeder and buyer that details
the rights and responsibilities of
both parties.
- The AKC Registration of the
dog or the written statement of
when the registration will be
delivered (it is common to hold
back registrations during an initial
settling-in period.)
- A Health Certificate, signed
by a veterinarian, which includes
all immunizations that have been
given to the puppy and which are
needed in the future.
- A copy of the dog’s Eye Check,
signed by a veterinary ophthalmologist.
- Written Feeding and Care
Instructions.
- A Starter Supply of the
dog’s food.
A Puppy Packet might also
include:
- A collar and lead.
- A favorite toy.
- A bottle of the breeder’s
water.
- Grooming brushes.
- Ear Training instructions.
Family Preparations
Getting ready for the arrival of a new dog
is exciting and fun. It is worthwhile to
invest some time now to ready for this
“big event” so that you can spend your
new dog’s first hours at home fully enjoying
the magic. Some of the preparations
for a new dog can be done quite quickly,
while others require more time and
resources. Most breeders will hold a
dog for you with a deposit while you
make your final preparations for homecoming.
Fencing
The most important long-term preparation
you will need to consider is probably
the fencing of your yard. Large breed
dog breeders would all prefer to place a
dog in a family with a fenced yard.
Fencing keeps the dog safe and makes
it much easier for the family to care for
the dog, especially in poor weather. Four
feet in height is the standard minimum
height of a fence for a large dog, and this
is fine for a Collie. Electronic or “invisible” fencing is not recommended for Collies. It keeps the dog in, but does not
protect the dog’s area from intrusion by
other animals, neighborhood dogs, or
even “unwelcome” human visitors. This
makes
e-fences a difficult mental adjustment
for the contained dog.
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