Longhair Collie
Temperament:
At least since the 40s and the TV series 'Lassie', the longhaired collie is known to everyone as a dog breed. Representatives of the breed are considered intelligent and friendly. They have a pronounced protective instinct and seek 'pack connection'. They are suitable as family and companion dogs for active households.
Characteristics
The Collie has a friendly and affectionate character. He is intelligent and attentive, very teachable and easy to motivate. He is active and loves long walks, needs exercise, play and regular address. The dogs are very attached to their owners and have a strong protective instinct. Therefore, they can sometimes be suspicious of strangers.
In general, the longhaired collie adapts well to new circumstances. He is therefore well suited as a family or companion dog. He is considered to be calm and stable. He is usually friendly and open-minded towards other dogs. Also households with children are no problem. If you provide him with a place that can serve as a retreat, the Collie also copes well with turbulent times. The dogs strike when danger threatens.
Collies want to be challenged. Nose work, agility or obedience are occupations you should consider for your Collie. The dogs will do anything for their owners, however, you should not always hope for top performance or tireless endurance. The original working instinct of herding dogs has long disappeared from the breed. The Collies do not possess a pronounced hunting instinct. The Longhaired Collie is particularly suitable as a guide dog for the blind or as a guard dog.
Since longhaired collies are sensitive, consistency and sensitivity are required when training them. It is optimal if you already have experience with dogs. A too hard hand is not called for here, because the Collie could quickly resign and lose its motivation. A clear education is necessary, because the dog learns to trust his owner and recognizes him as the pack leader. Overall, the Longhaired Collie is considered docile and easy to lead.
The Longhair Collie originates from Great Britain. The breed is FCI recognized and is assigned to group 1 (herding and driving dogs). The dogs are medium in size, the body is long, with clearly defined ribs and arched loin. The tail should reach to the hocks. The Longhaired Collie appears elegant and powerful.
It has a long, very dense coat with a lot of soft undercoat. Colors that can appear are blue merle, tricolor and sable. The typical markings of the Longhair Collies should be present and white. The muzzle is long and narrow, the nose leather is always black. The brown oval eyes appear intelligent and alert.
Coat care:
Shedding:
Energy level:
Trainability:
Children suitable:
The right food
The diet of your Collie should be tailored to its individual needs. First of all, the age is decisive. If the dog is still a puppy, a puppy food should be chosen. Growing dogs have different nutritional needs than adult dogs. Good, commercially available puppy foods are designed to meet these needs. Once your Collie is a year old, you can switch to an adult dog food. Here it is now important to consider your dog's individual situation when choosing.
In general, a food should have a high meat content. Particularly in the case of dry food, there are great differences. The meat content is indicated in percent on the package. Furthermore, the grain content should be low.
Many dogs can develop grain allergies during their lifetime. Industrial sugar and additives should be avoided. When feeding, you should also consider your dog's activity level. A sporting dog needs more energy than a pure family dog. With a longhaired collie, it also makes sense to choose a food that also provides optimal care for the coat and joints.
Both during growth and later, you should check your dog's weight regularly. If your Collie puts on fat, it is not always immediately visible under the lush coat. If you have questions about diet or the right food, veterinarians are happy to help. Some also offer individual ration calculations. It is important that the dog receives exactly the calculated amount.
If treats are to be given, they must be deducted from the ration. As a dog snack for in between or for training, dry food pellets, dried chicken or even carrot pieces are suitable. Please do not give your dog leftovers from the table. These are often too fatty and can lead on the one hand to illnesses and on the other hand to your dog refusing his own food.
Long hair collie care
Grooming a longhaired collie is a little more involved than many other dog breeds due to the long and lush coat. Regular brushing, about every two weeks, is mandatory, otherwise the coat will become matted or dirt from walks will remain in the coat. If matting is present, it can be removed with scissors or de-felting sprays. During the shedding process, your Collie will shed lots of hair. Brushing out the undercoat daily can help reduce tufts of fur inside.
When brushing should also look at the skin. This should be smooth, without deposits or redness. Also remember to check your Collie for ticks after every walk and pick them off if necessary. Regular parasite prophylaxis is important, as is a complete vaccination schedule. From an early age, the dog should be accustomed to undergoing an examination. Practice with him again and again and look in the mouth, in the ears or check the paws.
Due to the mass of fur, the Longhair Collie does not tolerate high temperatures and heat well. Make sure he has access to a cool spot in such situations and always provide plenty of water. A 'wet and wild' splash in the garden is also considered a popular refreshment.
Suitable accessories
When you first acquire a dog, there are a lot of things to think about. Bowls, leashes, harnesses, collars, beds, blankets, toys and food are essential, add to the initial cost and need to be replaced again and again. With Collies, you may spend a little more on grooming supplies than with other dogs.
If the dog is to ride in the car, a crate or at least a harness set may be useful. A membership in a dog school as well as insurances for your Collie also belong to the accessories. The dog owner liability insurance covers the costs if your dog eats the shoes of a hated colleague. In addition, there are health insurance policies for dogs. Here at least the OP insurance is always a good choice.
Origin & History
The ancestors of the Longhair Collies are Scottish. The breed has developed from a British herding dog breed. Dogs brought to Britain by the Romans in the 5th century BC mated with them. The first descriptions of Collies date back to the 13th century.
These original Collies were smaller, stockier and had a broader head. They were used for herding in the Scottish Highlands. The sheep herded by the dogs had black heads and were called 'Colleys'. The dogs themselves were called 'Colley Dogs', which later gave rise to the name 'Collie'.
In the 19th century, the Borzoi was crossed into the Collie. This made the build taller and leaner and the coat texture finer. The Collie was recognized as a pedigree dog around 1850 and a few years later the first standards were established.
The dogs then arrived in the USA on merchant ships, where the American variety of the longhaired collie was created. Since the 19th century, the Collie was mainly a show and companion dog and was hardly used for herding, which has now given it the status of a family dog.
