Collies are beautiful, versatile and make wonderful companions. They are great with children, so they make excellent family dogs. They are also ready for any activity involving their person, from hiking to binge watching a favorite TV series, your collie will be right by your side.
The collie breed was developed in Scotland and was originally bred to assist with livestock. In the 1860s Queen Victoria fell in love with the breed and added them to her own private kennels. With the Queen’s interest in the collie, the breed soon gained in popularity. It wasn’t long before Americans began importing the collie to our country. In 1877 the collie debuted at Westminster, one of the top dog shows in our country. With more and more collies being imported and bred in America, the Collie Club of America was formed in 1886, and created the written collie standard. The CCA’s collie standard outlines the structure, intelligence and temperament that every collie should possess.
Collies gained in popularity through the stories written by Albert Payson Terhune. Terhune was an American writer and collie breeder, and helped to elevate the breed’s popularity by writing about the collie breed’s endearing and admirable qualities. He initially wrote short stories about his collie, Lad, that were published in a variety of magazines. The public loved the stories so much, he ended up publishing the collection as a novel, Lad: A Dog, in 1919. The book became a best seller, and led to Terhune writing numerous other books about his Sunnybank collies throughout the 1920s and 1930s. Terhune’s books engendered in the public a love and admiration for the breed and ensured that the collie became one of the most beloved dog breeds of that time.
In 1940, Eric Knight published his book, Lassie Come Home, which was then made into a film in 1943. With the debut of Lassie, our obsession with the collie breed was renewed. The popularity of Lassie Come Home led to the creation of numerous other Lassie movies and eventually multiple, long running, television series. The collie breed was now the star of books, films and television, and people dreamed of bringing home a collie of their very own. While the collie is no longer one of the most popular breeds, it is currently ranked #39 in popularity by the AKC. This ranking includes both rough and smooth collies, which are considered to be two varieties of the same breed. In the UK they are considered separate breeds, and are not bred together.
Unfortunately, when a dog breed is extremely popular, we see an increased demand for puppies, which can lead to some poor breeding practices by those individuals looking to make a quick profit. With indiscriminate breeding, any dog breed can end up developing health problems. But through the hard work of ethical, preservation breeders, the efforts of the Collie Health Foundation and the Collie Club of America, and with the advent of genetic testing, today’s collie is considered to be a relatively healthy breed. So what type of tests should people look for?
- MDR1 - Collies should be tested for MDR1, which is a gene mutation common in collies that makes them sensitive to certain medications. Collies should not be given certain medications, heartworm preventatives and anethestics, as the MDR1 gene mutation prevents their bodies from removing certain drugs and toxins from the brain and spinal cord. This can lead to seizures and respiratory distress, along with a few other symptoms.
- CEA - Around 80% of all collies will have some form of CEA, so collies should not only have the genetic test that identifies if they are a carrier, clear or affected, but also be examined by a certified canine ophthalmologist. Most collies will have mild CEA, which should not impair their vision at all. The least harmful form of CEA is called choroidal hypoplasia. The more concerning forms of CEA would be colobomas or retinal detachments, but fortunately those are less common.
- PRA - PRA stands for progressive retinal atrophy. It can lead to blindness, but the genetic test for this disease is included in the Collie Health Panel and breeders can now exclude these collies from their breeding programs.
- DMS - dermatomyositis. This is another genetic disorder that can affect collies. It is progressive, and can cause lesions, hair loss, and muscle weakness. It is included the collie genetic health panel, and can identify which collies are at low risk for developing this disease.
These health issues while concerning, should not dissuade families from adding a collie to their family, as reputable breeders will test the parents before breeding them. They will be able to disclose the possible risk your collie has of developing any issues in the future. With the collie’s sweetness, versatility, intelligence and beauty, the rewards far outweigh any potential risks. And with the testing now available, owners will know the family history and if their collie is a carrier or at risk, before bringing that collie home. The collie has remained a beloved companion for generations and will continue to bring love and joy into the hearts of their families. As with any breed, everyone should do their research and find the dog that fits best into their lifestyles. But for us, the collie will always be our personal favorite.
