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Collie: dog food and breed portrait

Collie: Hundefutter und Rasseportrait

The Collie, or longhaired Collie, is a large breed of dog originating in Great Britain. The FCI leads the Collie among the herding and driving dogs in group 1, section 1 (shepherd dogs). 

Although the Collie was originally a classic working dog, it has long since developed into a popular social and companion dog, not least because of the TV series Lassie and its gentle character.

History of the Collie

The origins of today's Collies probably go back to the 13th century. At that time its ancestors in Scotland were used to herd sheep. The Collie owes its name to the Anglo-Saxon word "col" for sheep.

Outside of Scotland, however, the Collie only became known in the 19th century, after Queen Victoria became fond of the breed and began to give the animals as gifts to foreign diplomats and nobles. 

The first breed standard for the Collie was set in 1881, and the first four-legged animals presented to a wider public were even more stocky than today's longhaired collies. Meanwhile the Collie is a popular companion dog, which has made a name for itself with dog lovers in many countries.

Features of the Collie

Male collies reach a size of 56 to 61 centimetres and a weight of 20 to 30 kilograms. Females are slightly smaller and grow to about 51 to 56 centimetres in size and 18 to 25 kilograms in weight.

The muzzle of the long-haired collies is strikingly narrow and long and its skull is moderately broad. The medium sized almond-shaped eyes are set at an angle and should be dark brown in colour. The standing ears of the Collie are rather small and have a tip tilted forward.

The Longhair Collie has a dense coat with a soft undercoat, which gives a plush look. The coat of the animals, which have an average life expectancy of 12 to 14 years, can show the colours tricolour, blue-merle or sable-white.

Further variations of the Collies

As a rule, the term Collie refers to the classic longhair collie according to the breed standard of the FCI. Beyond that there are, however, other variants such as the Shorthair Collie and the American version of the Longhair Collie.

According to the AKC breed standard, the American version of the Longhair Collie is somewhat larger, stronger and heavier than the British Collie, while the Shorthair Collie differs from its long-haired conspecific mainly with regard to the length of the coat.

Collie nature and character

The Collie is an attentive dog, which is characterized by a friendly and gentle nature. However, his quite strong protective instinct should not be underestimated. In addition, the longhaired Collie is used to working independently by nature, which is why he can sometimes be a little stubborn.

A certain degree of consistency is essential for the upbringing. Nevertheless, a gentle approach in dealing with the sensitive four-legged friend is much more promising than a hard hand and excessive severity.

If you take this into account in everyday life with your longhair collie, you can look forward to a loyal and reliable companion. Strangers, however, are usually rather suspicious of the Collie. 

Activities with the Collie

Activities with the Collie

The Collie is a herding dog with a long tradition, which is still reflected in the needs of the animals today. Apart from being used as an assistance dog, the Longhaired Collie is also very well suited to demonstrate its abilities in dog sports.

Because the four-legged friends are very active and want to be challenged both mentally and physically. Prospective owners should be aware of this fact and bring enough time for the occupation of their Collie. 

In order to use a longhair collie optimally, the following dog sports are very suitable among other things:

Collie diseases

Like most pedigree dogs, the Collie also tends to some typical diseases. Due to its body size, there is an increased risk of suffering from hip dysplasia as well as a stomach twist, which is life-threatening for affected dogs. 

In addition, Collie's are affected more often than average by the following health problems:

  • Collies are among the breeds that suffer particularly frequently from epilepsy and the associated seizures.
  • The Collie Eye Anomaly was even named after the Collie and leads to a congenital visual impairment up to complete blindness.
  • The MDR1 defect is a common genetic defect in Collie's, which results in massive hypersensitivity to some medications.
  • Dermatomyositis is a skin and muscle disease that mainly affects collies and causes severe skin problems as well as muscle atrophy (mostly in the jaw muscles).

The right diet for the collies

A species-appropriate diet plays a decisive role in ensuring that your collie will have a long and healthy life. In this context, it is important to ensure, among other things, that your long-haired collie is supplied with just the right amount of energy and nutrients.

The individual requirements depend on a number of factors. These include the age and weight of your longhair Collie, as well as the amount of physical activity you do with your four-legged friend.

In order to reduce the risk of your dog's stomach turning, we recommend using our wholesome cold-pressed dry food. However, if your collie is more active in dog sports, feeding him Bellfor Premium PUR Aktiv instead may be a good idea.

In addition, we recommend supplementing your collie with the following Bellfor products:

  • Bellfor Skin & Coat provides your long-haired collie with numerous valuable nutrients that can help to improve skin and coat health.
  • Bellfor Joints & Bones provides your collie with exactly the nutrients it needs for a functioning locomotor system with the innovative active ingredient complex Ovopet.
  • Bellfor Fitness Powder ensures an optimal protein supply and is the right choice for all collies that regularly exercise when playing dog sports.

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