Collie Dog

Collie is a term that is used to define a dog breed. This breed is domesticated and is considered to be a very popular pet. The breeding history of these dogs dates back to the 18th century, this breed of dog was produced by selective breeding techniques in Britain. Collie dogs were initially bred as guard dogs. There are many varieties of the collie dog breed, the most popular among these breeds are border collie and rough collie. Among the other varieties of the breed, the Australian Kelpie, the bearded collie, the golden collie, the red border collie, and the white border collie are generally considered popular breeds.Although these breeds are considered as the varieties of the existing collie breeds, they are not necessarily bred in England. It is important to note that many ancestral breeds of the collie breeds were originally found in different countries. The countries from where the ancestral breeds belonged include, Scotland, Australia, Germany, New Zealand and Welsh. 

This article focuses on the general description of the collie breeds of dogs. The general food habits, health issues, life span and classification are also discussed within the article. The article also discusses important varieties of the breed like a border collie and bearded collie. An important point to notice here is the fact that these collie breeds can also be classified based on the types of coat, this article focuses on this distinction between a rough collie and a smooth collie. 

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Figure illustrating a collie dog

General Description of Collie Breeds

The collie dogs are native to the country of Scotland, they were originally found in the Scottish highlands but they are also very popular among the lowlands of Scotland. They are also popular in Northern England. The bred was originally bred as herding dogs, they were used to guard cattle and sheep, till this day the rough collie breed is used as a training dog and can train other breeds of dogs. 

The general difference based on which the breed is classified is the nature of the coat, the dogs with the smooth texture of fur are known as smooth collie whereas the dogs that have a rather coarse fur on the body are classified as the rough collie. The rough collie breed is the original guarding dog. The collie breed is known for its emotional intelligence, they are considered among the highly intelligent breed of dogs like a golden retriever and chow chow. Apart from their high level of intelligence, they are also very friendly in nature, the main reason for their popularity as pets. 

Morphological Description of the Collie Breed

The collie dogs are considered medium body size dogs. The body structure of these dogs is defined as lightly built dogs. A unique morphological feature is that these dogs have white patches on the shoulder. These white patches are commonly found in all the different varieties of the collie breed. The body of a collie dog is largely covered with fur, due to this they are particularly known for their high shedding. Apart from their fur, another unique feature present in these dogs is the pointed snouts. 

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Figure illustrating pointed snout of a border collie

The bodyweight of the dog breed ranges from 14 to 20 kgs for adult males, while the weight of the body for female members is slightly lower. The female collie dog can weigh about 12 to 19 kgs. The mentioned body weight is of adults. The average height of the male collie dogs ranges from 48 to 56 cm, which when converted into inches is approximately equal to 19 to 22 inches. On the other hand, the body length of a female collie is also smaller compared to the males, the 46 to 53 cm which when converted into inches is about 18 to 21 inches. It is clear from the description above that the collie dog breed is a sexually dimorphic breed. Sexual dimorphism is more apparent when the male and female genitals are taken into consideration. 

Another important morphological feature is the presence of the tapering heads. The eyes of these dogs are described as almond-shaped eyes, they are also known for their erect ears that tip forward at the ends. The common colours of the collie dogs are brown and white. They are found in black colour with tan and white, blue-grey with black mottling and white markings. Another commonly found colour among the collie dogs is white, the white coloured dogs are generally seen to have darker patches. 

The fur of a dog is a very important feature when describing the morphological characteristics of the dog. The collie dog is known to have a double coat. The main purpose of a double coat or fur is to provide protection to the epidermal layers. The fur of collie dogs may vary according to the varieties of the breed, the fur may be short, or long, and the tail may be smooth, feathered, or bushy. Based on the texture of the fur the rough collie and smooth collies are categorized as different varieties. The rough collie undergoes maximum shedding due to which they require constant grooming and protection. Shedding is a process that is used to define the loss of fur hair on a daily basis. 

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Figure: illustrating rough collie       Figure: illustrating smooth collie.

The colour of the eyes of the collie dog is an important characteristic that represents the purity of the breed. Many associations certify brown coloured eyes as the standard eye colour. There are different eye colours of a breed, like blue and black. The border collie is registered under various organisations as the border collie is considered as a benchmark for the morphological appearance of collie dogs. They are associated with the Kennel Club (KC), American Border Collie Association (ABCA) and the National Border Collie Association (NBCA), all of which are dedicated to the preservation of the traditional working dog.

The colour of the body is one of the important factors that is monitored during the selective breeding of the population, as mentioned earlier the common colours are black and brown. But there are some rare coloured breeds like a golden collie, red border collie and the completely white border collie.

Anatomical Features

All the dogs irrespective of the breeds have a similar skeletal structure. The only major difference in the skeletal system of different dogs is the number of bones that are present in the tail region of the body.  The different breeds of collie including, border collie and bearded collie have 26 bones in their tails. The skeletal system and the bone arrangement especially renders lightweight features of the different varieties of collie like a golden collie, border collie, bearded collie. The skeletal system is evolved in such a manner to assist the dog in running at high speed. The vertebrae of the neck have extensions that allow association with the strong back muscles.  These vertebral extensions are connected with the ribs, and anatomical modification allows the border collie and other collie breeds to have enough space to encapsulate the heart and lungs within the rib cage. Another very important anatomical modification is that the shoulder bones are not attached to the skeleton, this provides the ability to run faster (they can take long strides from their forelegs).

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Figure: illustrating a lateral view of skeleton

Apart from the anatomical features of the skeleton, the skull of dogs is similar in every breed. The similarities are found in terms of the component and bones of the skull, while there are many divergences in the skull structure depending upon the breed of the dog. The skulls can be of three types, elongated dolichocephalic, mesocephalic or mesaticephalic type and broad brachycephalic type. The collie breeds have a dolichocephalic skull. The main characteristic feature of this skull is its elongated shape. The breadth is relatively small and the cephalic index for these skull types is 75.

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Figure: illustrating different types of skull shapes.

Although the coat or fur of an animal is considered an important part of morphology it has various important anatomical features, the collie breeds are specifically known to have a double coat. This leads to an increase in their net body mass. This double coat nature is anatomical evolution common in the breeds that have originally evolved in colder climates like collie breeds. The primary role of the fur is to provide protection against the very cold climate. 

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Diet

Dogs are considered to be omnivorous species. In a wild habitat, dogs are seen hunting their prey. During the course of evolution, these species have been heavily domesticated due to this they have evolved to adjust to the modern diet available. The collie puppies require a high carbohydrate-based diet for growth during the early developmental times. It is important to note that the diet of collie puppies must contain a large number of calories. 

The adult members of these breeds require a significantly low number of calories, the carbohydrate intake is significantly lowered during the adult life span. The important nutrients that must be present in the diet of the collie breeds are as follows:

• Glucosamine

• Methylsulfonylmethane

• Chondroitin

• Omega-3 from Fish Oil

• Green Mussel

• Taurine

• Turmeric

• Vitamin E

• Antioxidants

Health and Disease

Collie breeds are considered independent bred, they are generally considered to be a strong breed that does not fall ill easily.  A healthy collie has a life span of 10 to 17 years. The average lifespan of a collie dog is about 12 years. The most common problem that is found in one of the collie breeds (rough border collie) is the infestation of ectoparasites on the fur. The rough collie has this problem due to the high density of the hair, they are treated by a commonly found drug called ivermectin.

The collie dogs are prone to certain health conditions, some of the common health conditions are as follows,

• Dermatomyositis- It is an autoimmune hereditary disorder. In this condition, the animal develops lesions on the skin. Collie breeds both rough collie and smooth collie are potential carriers of the disease.

• Collie Nose- It is a very common form of nasal dermatitis, the important clinical symptoms are nose peels, oozes, and discolouration of the nose. Although it is a common condition if left untreated it may develop into cancer.

• Collie Eye Anomaly- This is an inherited disease that can result in permanent blindness in collie puppies. This is an untreatable condition, the clinical symptoms of this are choroidal hypoplasia, abnormal development of the choroid (an inner coat of the eyeball); coloboma, a defect in the optic disc; staphyloma, a thinning of the sclera (the white outer coat of the eyeball); and retinal detachment.

• Progressive Retinal atrophy (PRA)- This is the most common eye disorder that is found in collie dogs, border collie when carelessly bred are highly susceptible to it. The disease starts with loss of night vision and slowly progresses into a complete loss of eyesight. 

Some other commonly found diseases are, Nodular Granulomatous Episclerokeratitis (NGE), Hip Dysplasia, Allergies, and Drug Sensitivity. Drug Sensitivity is not very common and is seen in the case of ivermectin administration as a result of which the rough collie breeds become more susceptible to the ectoparasite.

Taxonomical Classification

Taxonomical classification is the process of categorizing different animals based on their similarities. The taxonomic classification of the collie dog is similar to the general classification of dogs. It is important to understand that although there are different breeds of dogs and these breeds are further differentiated in different varieties like the golden collie, red border collie, bearded collie, they essentially fall under the same species. The taxonomic classification of the collie breeds is mentioned below.

• Kingdom - Animalia

• Phylum - Chordata

• Class - Mammalia

• Order - Carnivora

• Family - Canidae

• Subfamily - Caninae

• Tribe - Canini

• Subtribe - Canina

• Genus: - Canis

• Species - Canis familiaris

The different breeds of dogs including collie dogs and different varieties of the collie breed are classified in this taxonomic hierarchy.  The scientific name according to the binomial nomenclature is Canis lupus familiaris.

Summary: At a Glance

• The scientific name of collie dogs Canis lupus familiaris

• They are originally found in Scotland and England

• It is a domesticated breed.

• The average life span is 12 years.

• The mode of reproduction is sexual reproduction, internal fertilization since they are classified as mammals and provides parental care by lactation.

• Common varieties of the breed include bearded collie, black border collie and white border collie

• Differentiated on the basis of fur texture as rough collie and smooth collie.

• They were originally bred for herding cattle and sheep.

• Unique morphological features include snout nose, light build, 14 to 20 kgs body weight.

• They are sexually dimorphic animals with females smaller than males.

• A unique anatomical feature is the dolichocephalic skull.