Collie

This page is educational reference material for preparing questions. A licensed veterinarian examines the animal, makes the diagnosis, and sets the treatment.

The farm collie and the movie collie

Collies stand about 22 to 26 inches and weigh 50 to 75 pounds. Many live 12 to 14 years. Rough coats are the famous ones. Smooth coats are the same dog with less hair on the floor and less romance in the photograph. Both need about an hour of exercise and a person who will train them. They are devoted, and they are not a guard breed that should be asked to be sharp.

They are usually easy with other dogs. Barking at movement outside is the failure mode in a suburb. Give the dog a settle place that is not the front window, or the window becomes the career.

Eyes, drugs, and a skin disease with a long name

Collie eye anomaly is common enough that a puppy eye exam is part of buying the dog. MDR1, the drug-sensitivity mutation, should be tested and handed to the clinic before anyone reaches for ivermectin. Dermatomyositis causes crusting on the face and muscle trouble in some lines. Hips still matter. Merck describes collie eye anomaly. A collie that squints or bumps into furniture needs an eye check, not a rearranged living room.

Collie questions

Rough or smooth?

Same breed, different coat length. Smooth collies shed and need less combing. Rough collies need a weekly session that actually reaches the undercoat, and a daily one when the coat blows.

What happens if two merles are bred?

Puppies can be born deaf, blind, or both. A breeder who breeds merle to merle is producing a known disaster. Ask to see both parents.

Are collies good with kids?

Often yes. They are sensitive and they will herd. A child who is screamed at by a herding dog needs the adult to stop the game, not a speech about how gentle the breed is.