"Would you like to own a Collie just like Lassie?" Of course, all of us want a dog just like Lassie - who wouldn't? But, here is where real life comes in.....Lassies are made - not born. Lassie is bred and trained and continually worked with and cared for to bring out all the wonderful qualities that Collies do have. So, if you are very serious about owning a Collie, please consider what really goes into owning this truly magnificent and intelligent breed. Collies are not the dogs that thrive in your backyard. Collies are people-dogs, and they prefer to be a major part of your family life, they prefer to live inside with you, to go with you at every opportunity. They are extremely intelligent, and very intuitive, they are protective and loving. They are all the things that the Lassies have always been. But, all the wonderful Collies in the world are not just born, they are trained, loved, worked with, allowed to be an intricate part of their families' lives. Collies will become depressed and bored if they are denied the love, attention and care of their families. Collies thrive on human companionship. They will give you in return much more than you ever give to them. When you buy a puppy, Collie or any other breed, you are getting an untrained, not housebroken, knows not much of anything blank canvas. A well raised puppy will be confident and happy. He will be ready for love and training. Training can begin at eight weeks old!! A reputable breeder will have already given your puppy a great start with lots of time and attention, love and devotion. Each puppy gets this kind of care because the breeder knows that these puppies will be going into pet homes and into show rings, and both need a solid start in life. The amount of time, effort, work and training that you are willing to devote to this adorable, bundle of fur determines exactly what you will get in an adult dog. This involves grooming, training, time and effort to housebreak, health care and possible unexpected veterinary care. Most of all it takes patience and love to make a dog like Lassie. Lassie lives with her trainer 24/7 and is taught one command, and another, then another until the commands are learned and can be developed to make a sequence that will give you the desired action. Collies do not and will not respond to harsh handling or harsh training methods. Many trainers do not realize that training a Collie is the easiest of all breeds to train, or if you are rough with them...the most difficult. A Collie left alone in the backyard may become a barker. Even though all Collies don't do this, some will if left to their own devices too often and too long. I guess what I am trying to say is, "Don't buy a Collie because you love Lassie." Everyone loves Lassie. Though Collies don't take any more care or training than most breeds, you must consider that the brushing is a consideration and you should be willing to do an all-body brushing at least once a week. Though Collies can have any number of health care issues, generally they have no more or less than other breeds. Those of us who own Collies know how easy they are to train. To have a glowing coat like Lassie does, a brushing every day is the best way to keep it looking like that. By the way....Collies come in colors!! There is sable and white - like Lassie. Even sable and white has variations, pale gold, reddish, a deep brown we call mahogany, and many variations of these. There is also a tricolor. This is a mostly black body coat, black head and white at the neck, chest, legs & feet, tail tip, and maybe on the face. The tan markings are in the same area for all the different colors - on the cheeks, insides of ears, stifles, shoulder points and underside of the tail. There is also a blue merle. This color is a pale silver to steel blue-gray color on the body and head, with black spots and patches throughout the gray coat. Tan and white coloring is in the same place as the tricolor coat. There is also a white Collie. The white Collie is mostly white on the body, with or without patches of sable, or blue merle or tricolor on the body and head. The head of the white Collie will always be colored the same as the color on the body - sable, tricolor, or blue merle. The head will look the same as a fully colored Collie. Sometimes, a Collie will be a mix of color and white on the body. There is actually a sable merle, too. A sable merle Collie is sable in color and may or may not show darker patches of sable coloring throughout its coat and head color. The sable merle is a sable Collie with the addition of the merling gene, which shows the darker patches. As adults, most sable merles are hard to distinguish from a sable dog without the merle gene. (Blue merles are tricolors with the merle gene - this gene dilutes the tricolor coat to blue merle, and the sable coat to sable merle.) Blue merle and sable merle Collies may or may not have one or both eyes blue in color. The eyes may also be brown with flecks of blue in them. The sable merle does not have an AKC conformation class at dog shows, so this color is shown in the sable class. Blues eyes in the blue merle are not penalized, but sable merles may be, since they are shown in the sable class in which our standard states that 'the eye should be dark in color, except for blue merles". Eye color is unimportant when considering a companion Collie. Eye color has no effect on the eye check of a Collie. Collies come in blue merle & sable merle, there is no such thing as a 'red merle', in this breed. Some Collies may have white stripes or blazes on their faces. Many breeders prefer a 'plain-faced' dog, but white is not penalized in the show ring, and certainly not as a companion, since white on the face can add a lot of character. A big white collar on a show dog is not required. Many champions will not have a full white collar, and I am seeing more show dogs in the ring with white on the face. Color is unimportant on a Collie that is being shown, though a big white collar is attractive, the over all look, balance, movement, coat and head qualities of the dog are much more important than the dog's color is to the judge. White-factored Collies may also have patches of white on their bodies, too. These patches may be just a few hairs or large patches in the usually colored part of the body. These Collies are carrying two genes for white-factoring, which means they may have coats with a normal Collie pattern, or one with patches of white in the coat or an all white body coat with some or no patches of color. "A Collie with no hair?" Collies come in two coat varieties, short and long. We call the long coat, like Lassie has, a rough coat. We call the short coat a smooth coat, since it is very short and dense and slick. This would be the perfect Collie for those who are not interested in the brushing that a rough Collie needs. The smooth variety is the same Collie as the rough with a shorter coat. "Okay, now where do you get your Collie?" The safest place for you to buy your puppy from will be reputable breeder and exhibitor of show or working Collies. Someone who has been involved in the breed long enough to know what diseases affect the breed and is working to improve these things. There is a great deal more involved in breeding quality and healthy dogs than having a male and a female. Anyone can do that, but someone breeding for the show ring is more likely to be aware of and concerned with the genetic issues involved with breeding good dogs today. This type of breeder has a big investment in the breed itself, as well as their time, effort, money and reputation among their peers. Showing dogs takes a lot of effort and thought, with each breeding having an aim to produce puppies better than both parents to carry on the bloodline and betterment of the Collie breed. Collie breeders are also a forever source of help and information for you. You might also consider a 'used' Collie. Certainly any homeless dog is in great need of a good and loving home that can provide care and understanding. Collies adapt very well to new situations, and will usually be settled into your home by the end of the week. They will need the same amount of care and love as a puppy or young Collie will, and in some cases a little more understanding, if he is unsure of himself. You may find a Collie in a pound, a Collie re-homing service, rescue or from a Collie breeder. Just because the dog is in this situation does not mean he is should not be given consideration. Many owners turn their Collies in because they are moving, or they haven't taken the time to train the dog, or he is just lost. One benefit to re-homing a Collie is the cost, since the adoption fee is generally less the purchase price of a quality puppy, and includes neutering and health care. Collie breeders and Collie rescue groups may also have something available at a reduced fee. Many Collie breeders rescue Collies so they can prevent Collies going into shelters - check with one. We are very protective of our breed and take its care very seriously. "Male or Female" The Collie breed is one where the differences between the male and the female temperament are very minor. I personally find that the male is a bit more laid back, and the female a little more independent. But, of course, as with everything, there are exceptions to this, but the Collie temperament is so ingrained that you shouldn't have any problems choosing either sex, since they are so much alike. Both are very sweet and loving, excellent with children and other pets, and very trainable. "What should I expect of my Collie's breeder?" Life-long advice and assistance for you and your dog AKC Registration Application or Certificate Pedigree of your dog Vaccination & health record Health care & feeding information Health guarantee C.E.R.F. Form (this is the eye check - do not buy your dog without it unless it is written in your buyer's agreement that your puppy can be returned if the CERF eye check is unacceptable)** The eye check will tell you to what degree your dog is affected with CEA, and many other things that a trained canine ophthalmologist can find. A dog with CEA is NOT unacceptable as a pet or as a show dog. Having CEA is not a reason to turn a dog down, it is the degree that the dog is affected that is important. CEA, generally, does not affect the life of your dog. That is why eye checks are important. ** Most breeders of dogs will provide you with AKC &/or UKC papers. Puppy mills and the chain pet shops or anyone else who is just producing puppies for profit only may even give you a guarantee, but they cannot give you the knowledge and skills that the true Collie fancier has under his or her belt from many years, and often decades of showing and raising Collies. The prices I've seen people pay from pet stores often exceeds the price of a high-quality puppy from a breeder. You would also be doing a big part in ending puppy mill production if you choose to buy a puppy from a collie fancier vs. a puppy mill, chain-store or mall pet shop. Puppies from these places come from puppy suppliers who are NOT involved with true concern for the welfare of the breed and its health and overall quality. I am a big proponent of owning the best dog you can find. "How do I locate a breeder or rescue group?" The Collie Club of America will have a list of breeders. A local Collie club, or all breed club will have a list of local breeders. These are the easiest sources to locate a responsible breeder. Many breeders will have information about rescue dogs available or other Collies in need of a good home. You may want to attend a local dog show and check out the Collies and their breeders. This is a very good way to see the different colors and types of Collies. You will meet Collie breeders there who you know are involved and there is no reason you shouldn't own a high quality Collie that you will always be proud of owning. So, if you think you are up to owning a Collie, do your research, meet others who own Collies, meet some breeders and choose the puppy that will be the best dog you have ever owned. "Just like Lassie." All the Lassies have always been male dogs, because they have the full and long coat that makes such a wonderful impression on screen. The first Lassie, who was really named Pal, was a dog unwanted by his owners. Rudd Weatherwax was hired to train him and the owners decided they no longer wanted him...and see how far he went! Even though, good breeding will help you have a healthy, quality dog, any Collie can be trained to do anything you are willing to take the time to teach him. Age is not important in training a dog, unless the dog is too old to move around. |
| "Dutch" Belfair Legend of Silverado |
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| Blue Merle White-factored |
| Sable & White White-factored |
| White Collie with Sable Markings |
| Sable & White White-factored |
| Tricolor |
Photos coming.