THE COLLIE
Originating in Scotland, the collie was bred as a herding dog. Bred as a working dog in it's beginnings, the collies of today have all the refinement and beauty of before, but have become more a pet than a working animal.
There are 2 types of collies; by far the most recognizable is the Rough Collie, which is the dog of film fame (anyone NOT heard of Lassie?!?). The rough collie has a very abundant coat, a long, aristcratic muzzle, raised ears that fold at the top and kind eyes that could melt anyone's heart. There are 3 basic coat colours for the rough collie; sable (a combination of cream and gold), tricolor (black, gold and white) or blue merle (a white base coat with black and blue-ish spots all over). The rough collie makes an ideal family pet (for those who are not daunted by the grooming aspect...)
"Ricoh" from Tallywood Collies
The other is the Smooth Collie, which is like a shaved version of the rough. He comes in the same shapes and sizes, but with a much less "puffy" coat. The smooth collie comes in the same 3 varieties of colours (although the blue merle is much more obvious in the smooth) and makes a wonderful family pet, without the time-consuming grooming tasks of the rough version.
"Tryst" from Tallywood Collies
Standing at an average of 61 cm (24 in), both the rough and smooth collies require a medium amount of exercise and food. They are wonderful dogs for a single person or family house, and are trustworthy dogs if there are children present. As can be imagined, the rough collie requires a lot of careful grooming to avoid knots and tangles in his fur. The smooth collie, on the other hand, has simple grooming.