A Description Of The Collie Dog.
The Collie dog can make an excellent sporting dog and can be taught to do the work of the Pointer and the Setter, together with that of the Water Spaniel and the Retriever. He can be trained to perform the work of other breeds as well. He is clever at hunting, having an excellent nose, is a good vermin-killer, and a most loyal watch dog and companion.
Not much is known with certainty of the origin of the Collie, but his craftiness and his outward looks would seem to indicate a relationship with the wild dog. Buffon was of point of view that it was the true dog of nature, the stock and model for the whole canine species.
He thought the Sheepdog superior in instinct and intelligence to all other breeds, and that, with a character which other breeds do not share. It is the only animal that is born completely trained for the assistance of man.
At the shows this kind of dog is invariably at the top of the group. He is considered the most obedient, and is certainly one of the most lively. The second most popular breed of this type is the smooth-coated variety, which is a very hard-working, useful dog, well adapted for hill work and usually really fleet of foot.
He is not so sweet in temper as the black and white, and is slower to make friends. There is not a more elegant and physically good-looking dog to be seen than the show Collie of the present period. Bred from the old working animal, he is now practically a distinct breed.
The skull should be flat, fairly wide between the ears, and gradually narrowing towards the eyes. There should just be a small depression at the bottom. The width of skull necessarily depends upon the joint length of skull and muzzle; and the whole must be considered in connection with the size of the animal. The cheeks should not be full or outstanding.
The muzzle ought to be of a fair length, tapering to the nose, and should not show weakness. Whatever the colour of the animal, the nose must be black. The teeth should be of a good size, sound and level; very minor irregularity is permissible.
The mouth should be clean-cut and powerful. The eyes are a very essential feature, giving expression to the dog; they should be of medium size, set somewhat obliquely, of almond shape and brown colour apart from in the case of merles, when the eyes are frequently (one or both) blue and white or china; expressing high intelligence, with a bright, alert look when they are listening.
The ears should be and moderately wide at the base, located not too close together but on the top of the skull and not on the side of the head. When in repose they should be carried thrown back, but when on the alert brought forward and carried semi-erect, with tips somewhat drooping in the attitude of listening.
The neck should be brawny, powerful, of fair length, and a little arched. The body should be strong, with well sprung ribs, deep chest, fairly broad behind the shoulders, which should be sloping, loins very sturdy..
The fore legs should be straight and muscular, leaning neither in nor out at the elbows, with a fair amount of bone; the forearm rather fleshy, the pasterns showing suppleness without frailty. The hind-legs should be muscular at the thighs, clean and sinewy below the hocks, with well-bent stifles. The feet should be elliptical in shape, soles well padded, and the toes vaulted and close together.
Its general character is to be a lissom, lively dog, his deep chest showing lung power, his neck strength, his sloping shoulders and well bent hocks representing speed, and his expression of high intelligence. It should be a fair length in the leg, giving him more of a racy than a plodding appearance.
In a few words, a Collie should show endurance, activity, and intelligence, with free and deliberate actions. In height dogs should be 22 ins. to 24 ins. at the shoulders, bitches 20 ins. to 22 ins. The weight for dogs is 45 to 65 lbs., bitches 40 to 55 lbs. The smooth collie only differs from the rough in its coat, which ought to be hard, thick and quite smooth.
Owen Jones, the writer of this piece, writes on a number of subjects, but is currently involved with the canine distemper vaccination. If you want to kcurrently more, please visit our website at Distemper Vaccines
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