Smooth Collie
Temperament:
At first glance, the smooth collie looks more like a greyhound because of its slender build. But his character is typical Collie. The smooth collie is cuddly and a perfect family dog with a stormy temperament.
Characteristics
The smooth collie belongs to the herding and driving dogs and is assigned to Section 1, the shepherd dogs.
The athletic build of the smooth collie shows that it is a sporty dog. It needs a lot of exercise and activity, as it was originally used as a working dog.
According to the FCI, males reach a weight of up to 29 kilograms. Bitches weigh up to 25 kilograms. This makes them significantly heavier than their long-haired counterparts. Males reach a height of up to 61 centimetres, bitches reach a shoulder height of up to 56 centimetres.
The smooth collie is characterized by its short and dense coat. Grooming them is much less time-consuming than with their long-haired relatives (the long-haired collies). Smooth collies are available in three different color variations: Tri-color, sable-white and blue-merle. Almost all Collies have the typical white paws.
Attentive, cuddly, friendly and cheerful - this is how you could describe the character of the smooth collie. He is a real family dog and loves the company of his humans. He is sensitive and affectionate and therefore anything but a runaway. The worst thing that can happen to a smooth collie: A life in kennels!
Originally bred as a herding dog, the smooth collie loves long walks and all kinds of exercise. You can have a lot of fun with him at the dog park and he loves dog sports such as agility. But he is also easy to keep busy. He also enjoys playing fetch or rehearsing small tricks.
Due to its playful and curious nature, the Collie is not entirely free of hunting instinct. Young dogs in particular are often unable to resist the temptation to chase a deer in the forest. The good news is that anti-hunting training has proven to be very effective for smooth collies. Older dogs can often be taken for walks or jogs in the forest without a lead.
The smooth collie loves its humans above all else and is easily impressed by them. This makes training easy: the Collie is sensitive and usually listens very well to instructions. This is why the smooth collie is also an ideal beginner's dog.
Coat care:
Shedding:
Energy level:
Trainability:
Children suitable:
The right food
When choosing food, make sure that it contains high-quality ingredients, is balanced and meets your dog's requirements. Age, size or weight, activity and health status play an important role. You should follow the manufacturer's recommendations for the amount of food.
Treats should only be fed in moderation and deducted from the basic diet to avoid obesity.
Puppies can be fed 4-6 times a day. The number of meals should be gradually reduced to 2 per day until the dog is fully grown. A rest period should be observed after meals.
Fresh drinking water should be available at all times.
Health & Care
Grooming the smooth collie is relatively easy. This is mainly due to the fact that the coat does not require extensive grooming. The best companion for grooming: a brush!
To maintain the shine of the coat, it should be brushed regularly. This gently removes dirt and loose hair. Incidentally, dogs often enjoy brushing and experience it as a kind of massage. A de-matting brush is a good idea during the shedding period. It loosens tangles in the undercoat.
It is normally sufficient to simply brush out the dirt. smooth collies therefore do not need to be bathed. If brushing is not enough, you can bathe him with a mild dog shampoo.
The only disadvantage of short hair is that it tends to get caught in clothing and upholstery. Especially on dark surfaces, the hairs are easy to spot and difficult to remove. Only one thing helps here: daily vacuuming with a vacuum cleaner.
Paw care should also not be forgotten. Check the pads on your pet's paws regularly: if they are cracked, a greasy cream usually helps quickly. The claws should be trimmed regularly. The vet or a dog groomer can help the first time.
Suitable accessories
The smooth collie is a very playful dog. You should therefore provide him with plenty of fetch toys and other small games for active dogs.
The smooth collie loves treats just as much as any other dog. You can spoil your four-legged friend with small treats and reward him when he learns a new trick.
Other accessories that are part of every dog's basic equipment: collar or harness with lead, dog basket or dog mat as a place to retreat to, water and food bowl, tick tweezers, claw clippers, mild dog shampoo, brush and comb, toothbrush and toothpaste for dogs, transport box for transportation in the car and a first aid kit. It is best to ask your vet what belongs in the first aid kit.
Origin & History
While the long-haired collie was bred more as a fashion dog, the smooth collie was bred as a working dog. It is descended from the Scottish shepherd dog, the first records of which date back to the 13th century. The smooth collie was mainly used as a herding and guard dog.
However, the pedigree of the smooth collie goes back even further. Its origins probably go back to the Roman guard dog and the Spitz.
Collies owe their name to the sheep they used to herd. Colleys are sheep with a black head and black legs. Their herding dogs were called Colley dogs. The name collie developed from this.
The smooth collie is until today far less known than the Longhaired Collie. The smooth collie originates from Great Britain and was used there as a herding dog for a long time.
The Collie Club was founded in England in 1840. In 1870, the first evaluation classes for the smooth collie were introduced. Incidentally, the Collie also had and still has some aristocratic fans in Great Britain, including Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth.
The first Collies were brought to Australia and America in the 19th century. In the 1960s, the herding dogs from Great Britain also arrived in Europe.
Collies became famous worldwide through the Lassie series. However, it was mainly the long-haired Collies that became famous. The shsmooth collie is still far less well known than its long-haired relative.
