Smooth Collie

The smooth collie, also known as the short-haired collie, is an excellent choice for lovers of this Scottish breed who, for various reasons, are not comfortable with a long-haired dog. It's important to note that the smooth-haired collie differs from its long-haired counterpart not only in coat type but also in certain personality traits.

Content

1 History of origin
- 1.1 Video review of the smooth-haired collie dog breed
2 What does a Smooth Collie look like according to the standard?
3 Character and intelligence
4 Education and training
5 Content Features
6 Conditions of detention
7 Health and life expectancy
8 Choosing a puppy
- 8.1 Price
9 Photos

History of origin

Smooth-haired collies have always been overshadowed by their long-haired counterparts. There's no denying that they're truly not as impressive-looking, even though both varieties remained members of the same breed for a long time and developed along the same lines. This situation persists in America to this day, but in other countries, mating between smooth-haired and long-haired dogs has been prohibited since the mid-1990s. The breed was officially recognized in 1914, and active selective breeding began at that time, aimed at improving the exterior while maintaining working qualities.

The Smooth Collie has outstanding intelligence, excellent working qualities and a wonderful character, but the breed has never been particularly popular.

Video review of the smooth-haired collie dog breed

What does a Smooth Collie look like according to the standard?

The Smooth Collie is an intelligent and active dog. It exudes dignity and elegance, highlighted by its body structure, free from coarseness or clumsiness. At the same time, all details are harmonious and proportionate. Its height ranges from 51 to 61 cm, and its weight ranges from 18 to 29 kg. Gender is clearly defined.

The head's size is proportionate to the dog's height. Viewed from the front or side, the head resembles a blunt wedge with smooth outer edges. The skull tapers laterally from the ears to the black nose. In profile, the lines of the muzzle and skull run parallel, are of equal length, and are separated by a smooth but noticeable transition. The eyes are medium-sized, almond-shaped, and set slightly obliquely. They are usually dark brown, only in dogs. blue merle color They can be blue, spotted, or heterochromic. The ears are large and wide at the base, laid back when at rest, and carried forward and raised when excited. The teeth are normal in size, complete, and have a good scissor bite.

The neck is medium in length and well arched. The body is slightly elongated. The back is strong and straight. The loin is slightly arched. The chest is deep and fairly broad, with well-sprung ribs. The limbs are lean and sinewy. The paws are oval, with the hind toes slightly less pointed than the front. The pads are firm. The tail is long, reaching to the hocks, and carried in a moderately curved ring.

The coat is straight, wiry, and has a dense undercoat. Three colors are recognized:

sable and white;
tricolor (black with white and red markings on the head and limbs);
Blue Merle (silver-blue with black spots or marbled markings. A small amount of red markings is allowed).

Character and intelligence

The smooth-coated collie is a friendly, non-aggressive, and non-nervous dog. They are moderately proud and calm, becoming very attached to their owners and suspicious or indifferent to strangers. Due to their easygoing nature, collies are increasingly becoming popular pets for apartment dwellers, as they are so friendly, obedient, and positive.

One of the distinctive qualities of these dogs is their ability to adapt to any lifestyle, whether active or sedentary, without harming their psyche. These dogs are very gentle and unobtrusive, hardy and self-assured.

Smooth Collies are more energetic than their long-haired relatives. They are cheerful, inquisitive, and active dogs who always try to be the center of attention and love affection and attention. They get along very well with all other pets, including dogs. They are not typically aggressive, but in critical situations they can show signs of aggression and defend their owners. Their work requires them to use their voices, so many Collies are very talkative.

Collies have an intelligence level well above average, which is why they rarely have problems, are easy to train, obedient, and excel in various sports.

Education and training

For an inexperienced owner or a teenager, training a collie won't be a problem. This is one of the easiest breeds to train and is always eager to please its owner.

The smooth-haired collie is not only an excellent herder, for which he was actually bred, he can also be a rescuer and a guide dog.

A collie puppy doesn't respond well to rough handling. The best training methods are based on praise, treats, and fairness. The owner should be a role model for the dog—a calm and confident person. Avoid being overly friendly during training; it's better to be firm. If your pet misbehaves, make it clear that it's wrong to do so, but without using physical force, only your voice and intonation. However, sometimes unwanted behavior can be stopped by a pinch. In the future, the dog will avoid behaviors associated with unpleasant sensations.

Content Features

A smooth-haired collie can be kept in an apartment, provided it is walked regularly, but the dog will do much better in a private home or on a farm where it has a job to do. Daily human contact and freedom are essential for this breed. Collies should not be kept in a kennel or on a leash.

Physical activity

Collies are very active and energetic, requiring both physical and mental stimulation. It's best if the dog is kept busy with work. This is possible if the dog is kept on a farm for herding animals or by people willing to devote a lot of time to dog sports (agility, frisbee, freestyle). A dog living in an apartment should be walked 2-3 times a day, with the total duration of walks being 2-3 hours. Ideally, a collie should have the opportunity to run freely, off-leash, of course, but away from traffic. If the dog lives in a private yard, it should still be taken for walks at least 1-2 times a week.

Feeding

There are no special feeding recommendations for smooth-haired collies. Their diet follows the same principles as for any other dog. It should be high-quality and balanced. They can be fed natural foods or commercially prepared foods. Both are acceptable separately; mixing the two types of food is strictly not recommended.

Care

Grooming a short-haired collie is straightforward. Brushing should be done once or twice a week with a special brush or mitten for short-haired dogs. During shedding season, brushing should be done daily. Bathe the dog as needed, but no more than once a month, and only with high-quality grooming products. Ears should be cleaned weekly to prevent wax and dust buildup. Nails should be trimmed as needed with appropriately sized scissors or pruning shears.

Conditions of detention

A standard collie can live comfortably in a city apartment, provided it receives regular and adequate exercise. It should be walked at least 2-3 times a day, with each walk ideally spending at least an hour.

It's important not to limit yourself to quiet walks. Collies need active play, retrieving, and a variety of exercises. You can also engage your pet in agility, freestyle, or Frisbee—this breed excels in sports and competitions.

Health and life expectancy

Overall, the breed is considered relatively healthy. Dogs rarely get sick and have a fairly strong immune system. This does not apply to young puppies, who are more susceptible to various infections than others. Several diseases are more common in the breed due to genetic predisposition:

A mutation in the ABCB1 (MDR1) gene causes a deficiency in a protein that is responsible for removing certain drugs and toxins;
progressive retinal atrophy;
Collie eye anomaly;
myelopathy, degenerative myelopathy;
hip and elbow dysplasia.

Collies have a genetic intolerance to certain medications, as well as flea, tick and helminth remedies (ivermectin, emodepsin, doramectin, solamectin, moxidectin, melbemycin, loperamide, vincristine, acepromazine, erythromycin, butorphanol, acepromazine).

Regular veterinary preventative care, such as deworming, vaccinations, and treatment for external parasites, is essential for good dog care. Their lifespan is typically 12-14 years.

Choosing a puppy

In Russia and the CIS, the Smooth Collie is a rare and unpopular breed. Finding a breeder online isn't difficult, but available puppies often require a reservation and a wait time.

It's important to decide in advance what the dog will be used for, whether it's intended to be a pet, a stud dog, or a show star. It's also advisable to choose the gender. Male dogs appear somewhat stronger and have a firmer character, although overall, the differences between the sexes are minor.

Price

The average price of a smooth-haired collie puppy is 30,000 rubles. Undocumented puppies are significantly cheaper, typically up to 15,000 rubles, but these are very rare on the domestic market. Some promising dogs and puppies from elite breeders cost 40,000 rubles or more.