Dogs are faithful companions of man, so they have a long history of friendship with people. Among the oldest breeds of such animals, it is necessary to distinguish the Scottish Sheepdog, which is of interest to dog handlers, as well as dog breeders to this day.
Characteristic
This breed has several names - the Shorthair or Welsh Collie, as well as the Scottish Sheepdog. The breed was bred for a long time, so it is often referred to as aboriginal. The birthplace of animals is considered to be Britain, where four-legged pets were used by humans as herding dogs. Another version of the origin of the breed is the variant of the Roman roots, where these dogs performed similar tasks of grazing and guarding livestock, and later were brought to Britain.
The breed reached its peak in the 18th century, during the same period the separation of short-haired and long-haired animals into two types occurred.
Today, the shepherd's functions of the collie are relegated to the background, so the dogs have become pets.which coexist perfectly in the same dwelling with man. The breed due to the characteristics of its wool will be an excellent alternative for breeders who dream of such a dog, but who are not able to contain a long-haired pet and care for him.
Not all countries today recognized the isolation of collies and their division into different breeds based on the type of wool. The standard for the Scottish Shepherd Dog was adopted in 1974.
Smooth-haired collie are dogs that are distinguished by an excellent physique, the pets look muscular and dry, and they have a pronounced muscular corset. The body itself is slightly stretched, has an even back and a broad chest. The loin is not short, straight. The stomach is tucked up, not hanging down, fatty tissue is present at a minimum.
The neck is of medium size, well developed, there is a slight bend. A wedge-shaped skull with a muzzle extended forward. There are some similarities between the Scottish Sheepdogs and Greyhounds. The eyes are almond-shaped, mostly colored brown, although sometimes there are dogs with blue eyes.
The bite of the teeth is scissor-like, the canines are even, they are not distinguished by their large size, the lips are tightly compressed. Nose and lips are pigmented, dark-colored. The tail of the short-haired collie is quite long, the position is straight, but can bend slightly toward the back, this position demonstrates the extreme excitement of the animal.
The paws of the collie are straight, visually appear thin, but have well-developed muscles, the hind limbs are larger than the front. Hips are wide, fingers are gathered into a tight lump, each has strong nails.
According to the descriptions in the standards, the size of animals will vary depending on gender. So, for males, an acceptable height at the withers is a figure of 57-62 centimeters, the weight can be from 20 to 30 kilograms. In this case, bitches grow to 50-56 centimeters, having a mass of from 19 to 25 kilograms.
Smooth collie wool can be the following color options:
- marble;
- tricolor;
- sable.
The white tinge blotches are always considered secondary to dogs. Wool should be straight, with undercoat. The color of healthy dogs is glossy, without muted tones.
Dogs today are positioned as athletic and strong, but they are prone to some genetic ailments.Among them are hip dysplasia, subluxation and lameness. There may also be abnormalities in the development of organs of vision. Congenital abnormalities can be detected at an early stage by carrying out a genetic test.
Breeders should also pay attention to the susceptibility of the breed to certain medications. In general, collies get sick quite rarely, the average life expectancy of Scottish shepherds is 12-15 years.
Advantages and disadvantages
The breed has positive and negative features that any short-haired collie needs to know. The advantages of animals should include:
- good-natured disposition without pronounced signs of aggression;
- animal contact with other pets;
- focus on your breeder;
- favorable attitude towards children;
- the ability to keep a pet in the home;
- good health.
As for the shortcomings, then such traits of the breed include:
- loud barking;
- the sensibility of animals;
- the need for an active pastime, which in terms of an apartment can be a serious problem.
Character traits
Collies require communication and close contact from their breeder and all family members. It is very important for animals to take a certain position in the social hierarchy of their “pack”. If you deprive your pet of attention and affection, the dog may experience various behavioral disorders.
In general, the short-haired collie is distinguished by the excellent qualities of a companion, he is not inclined to obsessive behavior, but he will run ahead of everyone for a walk. For a child, a dog will become an interesting and loyal friend.
Many breeders characterize the Scottish Sheepdog as the best nanny, especially for bitches. When a new family member or pet appears, the collie reacts calmly.
The dog prefers to show his emotions (both positive and negative) by barking, but the mindless manifestations of the pet’s voice should not be encouraged, otherwise it can turn into a real problem. To strangers the dog is not aggressive, strangers are rather uninteresting to it, however, in some animals, in particular in males, the ancient instincts can wake up, then they will jealously guard their family and territory.
Collie endures loneliness for a long time, and therefore, absent all day, the breeder will need to compensate for the lack of communication when he returns home. In general, the nature of the short-haired collie is characterized on the positive side, the dogs are balanced, they do not suffer from excessive suspicion and aggression.
Conditions for content
In order for the dog to feel well in the home, it is necessary for her to take a place in the house from the first day, preferably in a quiet and secluded corner. It is important that this territory is inviolable for all family members, including children. So it will be possible to balance the psyche of a still small animal, giving him the opportunity, if necessary, to take refuge in his "shelter".
A collie should have a soft bed, which will be warm and cozy. You can pick up a place from which the dog can have a good overview of the whole house.
Also, the breed can be kept in a private yard in the aviary, you can not put a dog on a chain, but the equipment of the booth in the yard will be a prerequisite. The rest of the content is not much different from the conditions that are usually offered to other breeds. The only need for dogs is physical activity.b, in a private yard, the animal will be able to move, in the apartment the breeder will need a daily and long walk with a collie. Moreover, walks should be as active as possible.
Very often, in order for a dog to feel fit, owners of Collies take part in various sports competitions.
What to feed?
For dogs of this breed, it is recommended to choose a menu based on industrial feed. Products must not be lower than the premium class recommended for active four-legged pets. The drinking regime is also important for the animal, so the collie should always have free access to water.
Breeders do not advise to feed dogs with natural food, as it will be quite difficult to find a balanced diet for your pet. Under the ban are treats from the human table, as well as bones, fatty meats. Shorthair Collie puppies need to be fed 4 to 5 times a day. An adult dog should be transferred to two meals - in the morning and in the evening.
How to care?
If the dog feeds properly and regularly moves actively, there will be no problems with the animal at the breeder. In terms of maintenance and care special attention will require the dog's coat during the molting period. During this period, the pet is recommended to comb at least once a day. Due to the need for such a rather rich undercoat.
It is necessary to bathe the dog only when absolutely necessary, for aquatic hygienic procedures it is necessary to use only specialized means for animals that will not cause an allergic reaction and will not dry out the epidermis.
Collies favor water, so they can swim in open water with pleasure. After such events, the pet is recommended to additionally rinse with running water.
The remaining mandatory points of care for the four-legged friend will concern the hygiene of the organs of vision and hearing, cleaning the oral cavity. Ears can be cleaned 1-2 times a week with a specialized solution, which can be purchased at a vet pharmacy. An alternative to the composition will be self-made decoction based on herbs with an antiseptic effect. Eyes should be cleaned as the accumulation of secretions in the corners. For these purposes it is allowed to use the same herbal decoctions.
The teeth should be regularly inspected, ideally in a healthy dog, they should be white, without bloom, and there should also be no unpleasant smell from the mouth. For cleaning, you can use a special brush and paste. As a supplement are special treats that are well removed plaque. Claws are usually combed on their own, but in some cases they can’t do without a claw cutter; it is used as sharp ends grow.
Upbringing and training
For the short-haired Collie breeders, finding an activity for themselves and their dog is easy. Representatives of the breed can take part in obedience, agility, sports herding. Such exercises will have a positive effect on the psychological health of the animal, as well as provide regular physical exertion, which will have a positive impact on health.
In the process of raising a collie, it is necessary to take into account that it will not be enough for them to be alone in their yard.The dog needs intellectual development from early childhood. Therefore, the pastime of the breeder with a pet should include various classes on the development of mental abilities. According to most dog handlers and breeders, short-haired collies are people-oriented, so there should be no problems in terms of taming.
Dogs memorize simple and complex commands well, they are able to perform various tricks while enjoying the pleasure of contact and training.
However, all work on education and training should be carried out on the condition that the pet once and for all assimilate the existing hierarchy in which the person will be the permanent leader, and the collie - a subordinate. To raise a smart and obedient Scottish shepherd will succeed only on condition that the breeder will have absolute authority.
Training should be conducted since childhood, the owner must train the dog regularly, consistently mastering the team with his four-legged friend. Banned demonstration of aggression, physical punishment and nervousness. By virtue of their innate mental abilities, the Scottish Sheepdogs, with good training, are capable of catching every gesture and sound of the host, carrying out the command with lightning speed.
An overview of the breed awaits you in the video below.
