Rough Collie

From Pet Encyclopedia

Rough Collie

Origin of Breed

Scotland UK

Breed Nick Names

Lassie, Collie

Contents 1 Introduction 2 Origin and History 3 Appearance 4 Temperament 5 Health 6 External Links 7 References

[edit] Introduction

[edit] Origin and History

The following article was written by Hazel Hunt (Collins) of the "Rifflesea" Affix at the request of "Dog's Monthly" and is reproduced from the 1983 edition of "The International Collie Handbook" with some corrections by Hazel in November 2000.

From the day the first wild dog crept into man's cave for warmth and comfort, or more probably was carried home as a puppy abandoned by the pack, the dog has enjoyed a special relationship with him. In those far off days, when man was the hunter and gatherer, the dog's speed and hunting ability converted him into an extra weapon in man's struggle for survival. Later, as he became the sower and reaper, the dog was used to guard man's property and warn him of approaching enemies. It was much later still, when man gave up hunting and turned to rearing his own animals, that the ever-adaptable dog began to serve man in a new way.

No longer was the dog selected for his size and ferocity, but rather for his agility, his patience, and his ability to listen and obey. Nothing is known of these early herding dogs. Unlike the nobleman's hound or guard dog, the humble field dog performed his work unheralded and unsung. There is no doubt that the Collie's gentle tractable nature developed from the work he was selected to do. No other breed works in such willing partnership with man. The Collie's eye is always on his master, alert for some signal, his ears semi-pricked to catch some command. His long plumy tail is used to balance him on the quick turns and change of direction his work requires. His thick coat is essential to protect him from the harsh environment. The sweet expression (so prized in the exhibition Collie ) was indicative of a kind and patient nature, in dealing with stock. Nowhere was this type of dog developed more successfully than in Scotland and the Border Counties.

One man and his dog

The miles that the working sheepdog covers in the course of a day are quite astonishing. In that admirable television programme, " One Man and his Dog", Phil Drabble once asked a shepherd how many miles his dog covered in a day and was told that the shepherd walked thirty miles, and his dog at least three times as much. In Victorian days, the dogs were considered so sagacious, that if a shepherd ordered his dog to go home from Smithfield Market, it would instantly return to Scotland. This is not such a remarkable feat as it first seems when you consider that Smithfield was then on the outskirts of London, and generations of drovers and their dogs had followed the same trail from Scotland, driving their animals and living off the land as they went. There must have been more than one Collie, tired of hanging around the taverns of Smithfield and knowing that there was work to be done at home, who retraced his steps without any order from his master! He travels fastest who travels alone, and without the slow moving livestock to hamper him, the dog could be back in Scotland within a fortnight.

"Lassie Come Home"

There is no doubt that apart from his keen sight and hearing, the Collie has a very highly developed homing instinct. "Lassie Come Home" is largely based on fact. It is absolutely essential for anyone buying an adult Collie to keep it securely confined until it adjusts to its new home, rather as in the case of homing pigeons. In present day traffic conditions there is very little chance of the dog reaching home.

The Collie might have remained forever a humble herding dog had it not been for the advent of dog shows. In 1860, the Birmingham National Dog Show Society put on a class for " Herding Dogs. " From then on, interest grew rapidly. When Queen Victoria brought back several Collies from Balmoral they quickly became fashionable. Two black and tan Collies from the Queen's kennels were exported to America and aroused tremendous interest there. Tricolour or blue merle were the usual colours and all our present day Collies can trace their ancestry back to the tricolour, "Trefoil ", born in 1873. The sable colouring was introduced by a dog- called "Old Cockie" and this colour was as rare then as it is in Border Collies today.

High prices began to be paid for the best specimens, both in this country and in America where the rival fanciers J.Pierpoint Morgan and Sam Untermeyer vied with each other to buy the best English Collies. In England, Mr. Megson paid £500 for Ch. Metchley Wonder who five times won for him the Collie Club Challenge Trophy between 1887 and 1892. He proved to be a great sire and probably his best son was Ch. Christopher, sold to America for £1000. Mr. Megson purchased Ch. Southport Perfection for £1,005 and Ch. Ormskirk Emerald for £1.300. Meanwhile, in America, the imported English dogs continued to beat the American home-breds. $5.000 was paid for Ch. Sefton Hero and an incredible $10.000 for Ch. Wishaw Clinker. These are high prices at today's value; in those days when the annual wage was approximately £50, such prices were astronomical. The highest price ever obtained was the amount reputed to have been paid for Ch. Parbold Piccolo, who had already sired six Champions in England. including the incomparable

[edit] Appearance

The Rough Collie is the same as the Smooth Collie with the exception of coat length. The breed is thought to have evolved from dogs brought originally to Scotland by the Romans as far back as 50 BC which then mated with native types. Purists may point to subtle differences which have appeared as individual breeders selected stock for future breeding, but the fact remains that the two breeds derived very recently from the same stock and, in truth, share lines which can be found in common to this day. The Rough Collie is, of course, the somewhat refined version of the original working collie of the Scottish shepherd, fro, which it has been selected over at least a hundred years. As a result we now see a glamorous show dog which draws applause because of his aesthetic appearance, in the same way that his working cousin thrills audiences in the competitive obedience ring. This is not to suggest that the work of the pedigree breeder has made the Rough Collie the equivalent of the human “dumb blonde”. Far from it: many of the breed can perform satisfactorily, offered the chance, and it is as well for owners to remember the “origin of the species” when taking their companions across farmland and hillside; all too easily the quiet pet can prick up his ears at the sight of a grazing flock with disastrous results as the old instincts take charge. The basic message is that for all his beauty, the Collie is a worker and must never be dismissed as “just a pretty face”. The coat does not look glamorous as a result of negligence; grooming is hard work, but that work is very rewarding. Surprisingly enough the Rough Collie does not seem to demand vast amounts of exercise, but care must be taken to stop him from putting on too much weight. The working Rough Collie needs a working award before he can be crowned Champion rather than Show Champion.

General Appearance. Appears as a dog of great beauty, standing with impassive dignity, with no part out of proportion to the whole.

Characteristics. Physical structure on lines of strength and activity, free from cloddiness and with no trace of coarseness. Expression is most important. In considering relative values it is obtained by perfect balance and combination of skull and foreface, size, shape, colour and placement of eyes, correct position and carriage of ears.

Temperament. Friendly disposition, with no trace of nervousness or aggressiveness.

Head and Skull. Head properties are of great importance, must be considered in proportion to the size of the dog. Viewed from front or side, the head resembles a well-blunted clean wedge, being smooth in outline. Skulls flat. Sides taper gradually and smoothly from ears to end of black nose, without prominent cheek- bones or pinched muzzle. Viewed in profile, top of skull and top of muzzle lie in two parallel straight lines of equal length divided by a slight, but perceptible stop or break. A mid-point between inside corner of the eyes [which is centre of a correctly placed stop] is centre of balance in length of head. End of smooth, well-rounded muzzle blunt, never square. Under-jaw strong, clean cut. Depth of skull from brow to underpart of jaw never excessive [deep through]. Nose always black.

Eyes. Very important feature giving sweet expression. Medium size [never very small], set somewhat obliquely, of almond shape and dark brown colour, except in the case of blue merles when eyes are frequently [one or both or part of one or both] blue or blue flecked. Expression full of intelligence, with quick, alert look when listening.

Ears. Small, not too close together on top of skull, not too far apart. In repose carried thrown back, but on alert brought forward and carried semi-erect, that is, with approximately two-thirds of ear standing erect, top third tipping forward naturally, below horizontal.

MOUTH Teeth of good size. Jaws strong with a perfect, regular and complete scissor bite. Ie upper teeth closely overlapping lower teeth and set square to jaw.

NECK Muscular. Powerful, of fair length, well arched.

FOREQUARTERS Shoulders sloping and well angulated. Forelegs straight and muscular, neither in nor out at the elbows, with moderate amount of round bone.

BODY Slightly long compared with height, back firm with a slight rise over loins; ribs well sprung, chest deep, fairly broad behind shoulders.

HINDQUARTERS Hind legs muscular at thighs, clean and sinewy below, with well bent stifles. Hocks well let down and powerful.

FEET OVAL Soles well padded. Toes arched and close together. Hindfeet slightly less arched.

TAIL Long with bone reaching at least to hock joint. Carried low when quiet but with slight upward swirl at tip. May be gaily carried when excited but never over back.

GAIT/MOVEMENT Distinctly characteristic in this breed. A sound dog is never out at the elbow, yet moves with front feet comparatively close together. Plaiting, crossing or rolling are highly undesirable. Hind legs from hock joint to ground when viewed from rear to be parallel but not too close; when viewed from side, action is smooth. Hind legs powerful with plenty of drive. A reasonably long stride is desirable and should be light and appear effortless.

COAT Fits outline of body, very dense. Outer coat straight and harsh to touch, undercoat soft, furry and very close almost hiding the skin; mane and frill very abundant, mask and face smooth, ears smooth at tips, but carrying more hair towards base, front legs above hocks profusely feathered, but smooth below hock joint. Hair on tail very profuse.

COLOUR Three recognised colours: Sable and White, Tricolour and Blue Merle. SABLE: any shade of light gold to rich mahogany or shaded sable. Light straw or cream coloured highly undesirable. TRICOLOUR: predominantly black with rich tan markings about legs and head. A rusty tinge in top coat highly undesirable. BLUE MERLE: predominantly clear, silvery blue, splashed and marbled with black. Rich tan markings preferred, but absence should not be penalised. Large black markings, slate colour or rusty tinge either on top or undercoat are highly undesirable. All should carry typical white Collie markings to a greater or lesser degree. The following markings are favourable – white collar, full or part, white shirt, legs and feet, white tail tip. A blaze may be carried om muzzle or skull, or both.

SIZE –HEIGHT: dogs 56-61cm [22-24in] at shoulder. bitches 51-56cm [ 20-22in].

FAULTS Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree and its effect upon the health and welfare of the dog.

Note: Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.

[edit] Temperament

Rough Collies have friendly dispositions with no traces of nervousness or aggression. They are happy dogs who bond very closely with their families and will get on well with other dogs and household pets. Collies are superbly loyal companions for children, always willing to play and to give and accept adoration. They are very protective of their home environment but will warmly receive invited friends

[edit] Health

Currently there are four know genetic abnormalities that affect the Rough Collie in the United Kingdom.

Hip Dysplasia

Collie Eye Anomaly

Progressive Retinal Atrophy

Drug Sensitivity

[edit] External Links

[edit] References

http://britishcollie.co.uk/