Collie's dog. Breed Collie: photo. Dwarf collies

Collie (Scottish Shepherd) is now considered the most fashionable breed of indoor dogs in the UK. There are long-haired and short-haired collies, border-collies and bearded collies. But all these species are distinguished by a wide flat skull, long neck and snout, half-eared ears, kind oval eyes and a straight back.

History of the breed

Different variants of writing the word "collie" at different times led to a divergence of opinion about where the name of this breed came from. Some believe that the word comes from the name of the black Scottish sheep - colleys, according to others, it is associated with the adjective col, meaning "dark." In the coloring of many Scottish sheepdogs, a dark color is really present. Interestingly, the word col also means "circle" or "collar." Because of this, according to the third, the breed in question owes its name to the white collar and the white wool on the chest, which are another distinguishing feature of these dogs.

The ancestors of the long-haired Collie appeared in Scotland more than 400 years ago, where they were imported from Iceland. The first descriptions of dogs similar to them were seen on the pages of one of the publications of 1790, dedicated to dogs of the British Isles. The breed mentioned in the book belonged to the shepherds. They are most likely, and served, so to speak, material for further breeding of English breeds, such as border-collie, long-haired and short-haired collies.

A significant contribution to the development of these species was provided by Queen Victoria. She started a Scottish shepherd dog, her example was soon followed by professional dog breeders. It is likely that at first the royal dog breeders crossed the Scottish shepherds with representatives of other breeds. It is possible that they were setters and greyhounds. As a result, a breed appeared, which in the modern world is a symbol of beauty and intelligence - the Scottish shepherd, or collie.

Character of dogs

It is rare where you meet an animal with such remarkable characteristics! The breed of collie dogs is considered the most intelligent, beautiful, faithful and kind. More ideal pet for a family with children is not found. The character of the Scottish shepherd shows a tendency to care for and care for the weak, which makes her the best nanny for children. With the kids, the collies can frolic for hours, resignedly allowing them small pranks. The dog almost never snaps back in response to attempts to pull it by the hair, ears or tail. But this does not mean that children can be allowed to torment the animal.

Scottish Shepherds very easily get along with other representatives of the animal world, they show friendliness even in relation to poultry and cats. At a high level there is also their intellect. Regular lessons with the pet allow you to achieve very good results. They can understand dozens of words, not to mention the performance of certain commands. Easily amenable to training. A collie dog is very inquisitive. First of all, she tries to deserve the praise and approval from the owner, so she will try hard. But remember: only with the help of affectionate words and delicacies as a reward you can achieve high results. Punishment and rudeness make Scottish sheepdogs insecure. And coercion will make them stubborn.

Over the past 100 years, the appearance of the modern collie has changed dramatically, but the instincts and character that have formed over the centuries have remained the same. Therefore, today you can see shepherds' behavior in the behavior of Scottish Shepherds, in the genetic code of which clearly recorded a strong attachment to people, unpretentiousness and good health.

Long-haired sheep-dogs are considered more aristocratic than short-haired sheepdogs. However, in critical situations, the smooth smooth-haired collie behaves more valiantly, it becomes a more formidable and dangerous opponent for outsiders. It should be noted that, despite its meekness, this breed is not considered "quiet". These are shepherd dogs, bred to manage their flocks in their own voice. Therefore, Scottish shepherds willingly bark, although they never do it without a reason.

Education

The collie breed has a high intelligence and is easy to educate. These dogs have well developed sense organs, therefore, you do not need to raise your voice unnecessarily, and you should not do it too often. They do not like violence and rough treatment, from such a relationship, a collie can be locked in itself forever. From the first days with the puppy you need to communicate calmly and smoothly. The best results will be achieved if the voice at the giving of commands will differ in intonation and timbre. The training of the Scottish Shepherd must begin with the very moment of its appearance in the house. The collie's dog will become what its owner wants to see. Therefore, the owner must clearly define for himself what he wants from his pet, what will be allowed to him, and what does not. Then it is necessary to persistently and calmly stop the pet every time he crosses the limits of what is permissible.

The Scottish Shepherd loves when she is satisfied, and often seeks to anticipate the wishes of her beloved host. Moreover, it adapts itself to the way of life of the family in which it lives. From the first month the puppies of the collie (longhaired or short-haired breed - are not important) should get used to the diet, place for rest and sleep, they need to be accustomed to their own name, washing, leash, and to walks and elementary teams.

To begin socializing a collie is desirable from birth, you need to take her out into the street, to introduce other animals and people. This will turn her into a pet, capable of living in society. A collie is temperamental and very energetic by nature. This character trait remains with her until the end of her life. The animals in question constantly need new impressions and movement. Keep these dogs on the chain is unacceptable! Constant communication with a person and feeling their need for them is vitally important.

Care of hair

The long-haired collies have very thick wool, which consists of a straight rigid coarse hair and a dense thick undercoat that protects them from heat and cold. The pet should be combed once or twice a week, and during moulting - every day. This avoids the formation of coils. This procedure can be carried out using a standard wool comb and comb with small teeth. More careful care requires an undercoat. Claws must be cut short.

Do I need to bathe a collie or not?

To bathe a puppy of a collie is strictly forbidden, as it can catch a cold. Yes it is not necessary. It is enough to wipe the pet with a damp cloth, then brush it with a brush. The adult does not need washing either: in the summer she has the opportunity to swim in the water, and in the winter you can clean the wool with snow. Wash degreasing the wool, so that it loses its shine. Collie dogs have very delicate skin. Careless washing of soap residue can cause irritation and scratching.

Care of teeth

Brush your teeth a pet preferably once a week, using a soft brush and children's tooth powder or paste. You can also use lemon juice to clean the enamel. These preventive measures will help to prevent the appearance of plaque, which contributes to the appearance of caries, inflammation of the gums and other troubles. In no case do you steal objects that the dog has caught between your teeth - there is a risk of spoiling your bite.

Care of the ears

As a rule, problems with earning in the collie puppies begin in 3-7 months, which coincides with the period of the teeth change. This is quite normal. The level of calcium in the body in the dog fluctuates. This affects the bones and cartilage in the auricles. If the ears have straightened, it is necessary to immediately prepare a mixture of technical glycerin or anhydrous lanolin with talc (baby powder), bringing it to the consistency of thick sour cream. Then it is necessary to grease the ears abundantly (the upper half from the inside) from the line of the desired bend to the tip, which should fall. This procedure must be repeated until the ears, after removing the mixture, take the correct position. It may be advisable to reduce the dose of calcium in food. To resolve this issue, it is recommended to consult a specialist. If the above method does not give the desired effect, you can gently fold the ear in half and glue the upper tip to the inner side of the ear with an adhesive plaster. It is impossible to hang a load to the ears for the purpose of correcting them. Supernormal and passive dogs can be omitted more than half. To solve this problem, it is necessary, first of all, to take measures to reduce the weight of the pet, increase the amount of calcium in the menu, and also walk with it in an unfamiliar area, which will give the dog the opportunity to be alert and raise his ears.

stroll

Scottish Shepherds need physical activity. It is advisable to organize regular long walks for them. A collie dog enjoys playing with the ball, just loves to run without a leash and perform the host's commands.

Collie breed: features of molting

Moulting is a periodic change of the coat. There are several forms of this process:

• Age moult - junior wool is replaced by an adult;
• Seasonal molt - dense winter wool is replaced by a rare and short summer;
• Molting associated with health problems;
• Molting bitches after birth and estrus.

Age molting is observed at about one-year-old age. It should be remembered that the terms depend on the conditions of detention, heredity, nutrition, season, etc.

Seasonal moulting strongly depends on the conditions of detention. The collie dog, living in the yard, on the street, molts 2 times a year: in spring and autumn. With room contents, the molting process can continue almost all year round. All this is explained by the fact that in a closed room a constant temperature is maintained, which leads to a violation of the biological rhythms of natural "dressing" and "undressing". And often because of this, the process of changing wool flows slowly and drags on for many months, until the next seasonal molt. However, this problem is easily solvable if you deal with it closely.

In bitches molting can also be associated with hormonal fluctuations and from periods of estrus. Very strongly the dogs begin to shed after birth. No need to panic - this is a natural process. Soon they will grow new hair, more lush and dense than before delivery.

Feeding

The dog collie breed is not fastidious. Animals can be fed as special dry and wet food from the store, as well as home-cooked dishes. Before choosing one of the methods of feeding, you need to think carefully about all the points. The first option is suitable for busy hosts. Those who want to give preference to their own food, believing that this is the most economical option, you need to take into account one nuance: the waste from your own table does not fit dogs. It is necessary to think over for the pet a full menu, using for cooking only high-quality products.

List of useful products for Scottish Shepherds:

• Boiled beef;
• liver;
• Eggs;
• Boiled fish without bones, the best is the sea;
• dairy;
• Cereals;
• cheese;
• seaweed;
• vegetables;
• yeast;
• Medicinal plants in the form of herbal supplements;
• Vitamins.

Harmful products:

• Raw pork, river fish and lard;
• Tubular bones;
• peas;
• fried potatoes;
• pearl barley;
• Flour products;
• sweets.

Recommendations for the purchase of a collie puppy

Description of the breed of the Scottish sheepdog can be found in the official standard, which must be read before buying a puppy. You can buy a mentally and physically healthy dog in nurseries, specialized clubs or a professional breeder. Also, you should carefully study all available proposals, read reviews about the sellers. This will reduce the risk of acquiring sick animals or those that do not meet breed standards. Many people are interested, at what age can you buy a puppy? The best option is from one and a half to two months. At this time they have enough smooth and strong paws, a long neck with a good post. Pay attention to the exterior of the dog. According to the standard, the height at the withers and the length of the trunk should be approximately equal. The back of the dog should be even, without a hump or a sag.

Some clarifications

Another frequently asked question: "Is there a dwarf collie from the Scottish Shepherd?" Beginners should know that there is no such breed. Yes, there are dogs very similar to the "Scots". It's about Shetland Sheepdog, or Sheltie. Dwarf collie is, so to speak, the national name of a particular breed, albeit with an admixture of blood of long-haired brethren. It is possible that once the breeders tried to bring out a miniature copy of the Scottish Shepherd. Be that as it may, sheltie is very popular today, especially among apartment owners.

Finally

Summarizing, we note that Scottish Shepherds can become not only your favorite pets, but also true family members. After all, they are smart, healthy, unpretentious, very contact, innate nannies, able and loving to take care of children.