Collie
Dog Breed Information.
Many theories have been put forward about the origins
of the Collie as a breed. But, it will remain a mystery whether
the typical sheepdog from the early 1800s, after cross breeding
with Greyhounds, as well as Gordon- and Irish Setters, led to the
Collie.
Even the origin of the name of the breed is based
on supposition. The original name Colley could derive from the Anglo-Saxon
word col, meaning black, which was possibly the original colour
of the breed. It is also likely that the name derives from the black-faced
sheep, called colleys, that the Collie used to herd.
The Collie herded sheep in the Scottish Highlands,
sometimes without the shepherd's guidance. In order to cope with
this task, the dog needed to be able to act on his own initiative,
a fact which causes the Collie to differ in mentality from other
breeds. The Collie does not serve blindly - he loves his family,
but there are moments when, due to his personality, his own initiative
shines through.
In 1871, Old Mec, a black and tan dog and Old Cockie,
a sable and white dog, made their appearance during the Birmingham
show. All show collies can be traced back to their ancestor Old
Cockie.
Already after 4 generations, Metchley Wonder resembled
more the type we know today, staying practically unchanged over
the decades.
Towards the beginning of the 1900s, the Collie was
bred as a working dog and a show dog. As shepherds continued contributing
towards the breeding of Collies, these two elements were fortunately
not separated.
Queen Victoria was so struck by the working Collie's
capabilities when she watched the royal shepherds and their dogs
doing their work, that she decided to keep Collies herself. From
then on the Collie grew in popularity. Breeders decided to buy up
the best species from the farmers and created a breed that started
its triumph around the world.
It is well known that Scottish sheepdogs were used
as war- and rescue dogs. The Collie was very popular as a military
rescue dog and messenger. During the war, the British used Collies
world-wide in military service, which triggered off the strong competition
with the German Shepherd dog. For patriotic reasons, only dogs of
German origin were used for military and police-force purposes in
Germany, resulting in the fact that the GS took over the Collie's
place as the working dog. At this period it became the aim of Collie
breeders and Breed clubs, to focus more on appearance and beauty
in order to create show dogs, which made the Collie gain enormously
in popularity again. Those who know the breed will understand why
the rough Collie, especially, became a fashionable dog in the following
years. Its appearance has changed considerably over the last years.
It is almost unthinkable that today's Collies, with their abundant
coats, would be able to herd sheep.
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