Farm collie

Two contemporary farm collies. Note the variation in color and build. The dog on the right is two months old.

Farm collie or farmcollie is an informal term for a class of herding dog, of the broader collie type. Farm collies are bred for more than looks; working dog traits, including cleverness, loyalty, and hardiness, are sought. Farm collies are also common household pets, and sometimes trained as guide dogs for the visually impaired. The term farm collie can have various meanings,[1] including:

There are different standardised breeds of collie, each often called simply collie in their native regions, including:

A farm collie may be descended from any of these. The diversity of foundation stock breeds means that a farm collie's looks can vary greatly, ranging from those of a Border Collie to those of a Rough Collie.[3] There are no current registries that include Farm Collies for show purposes, the American Working Farmcollie Association registers farm collies based on working ability and merit.

History

In the 1860s, Queen Victoria fell in love with the breed when she visited the Scottish Highlands, and collies became very fashionable. In the 1960s, the collie was much taller and bigger than it is today. Decades ago, collies were used for herding but they were replaced by Border Collies, it caused some collies to lose their herding instinct.[2]

Temperament

While often used as a working, herding dog, many are kept as family pets, as they are friendly and good with children. This type of dog is also friendly with other dogs and even non-canine pets.[4]

Height, weight

Height: males 53–61 cm (21–24 in); females 48–56 cm (19–22 in)

Weight: males 21–32 kg (46–71 lb); females 18–27 kg (40–60 lb)[4]

Health

Collies are a generally healthy variety of dog, but are energetic, and need both exercise and mental stimulation, such as games and training.[5]

See also

References

  1. "What is a Farm Collie?". Gina Bisco. Retrieved 2010-10-27.
  2. 1 2 "Collie Club of Long Island". Retrieved 12 August 2013.
  3. "American Working Farmcollie Registered Dogs". American Working Farmcollie Association. Retrieved 2010-10-27.
  4. 1 2 "Scotch Collie". Dog Breed Info Center. [self-published]. Retrieved 12 August 2013.
  5. "Rough Collie Dog Breed Profile". Petplanet. Retrieved 12 August 2013.

External links

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