Agile, alert and active – here comes the Smooth Collie!
History
The Smooth Collie breed and its close relative the Rough Collie have a long history of herding sheep in Scotland. This shepherd’s dog originated in the highlands of Scotland. They are one of 18 dogs native to the country.
In the 1860s, Queen Victoria got her first collie. Over time the queen grew her collie collection with Border collies, Rough Collies and at least one Smooth Collie.
From the court of Queen Vic, collies, including the Smooth moved from being mere working farm dogs to popular show dogs.
In 1979, The Kennel Club officially recognised the breed as a separate and distinct breed from the Rough Collie.
Appearance
The Smooth Collie is a medium-large dog with a height of 51 – 61cm at the shoulder. They are slightly longer than they are tall. This breed is renowned for their sweet expression with a long muzzle and semi-erect ears.
They have a double coat with a soft, super-dense undercoat and an outer coat consisting of harsh guard hairs. Longer hair is mainly around the neck and the back of the thighs. Unlike their longer haired collie cousins, they don’t need too much brushing.
Smooth Collies come in several colours – sable, tricolour, blue merle and tan. Each of these colours also includes markings with white on the neck, feet or legs and tip of the tail.
Temperament
The Smooth is sociable, intelligent and eager to please its humans. They can be vocal and are good, alert watchdogs without being aggressive.
Smooth Collies enjoy the company of other pets and people. They are wonderful companions, family members, and working dogs.
Regular exercise is important to maintain a happy well-adjusted dog. They enjoy training and do well with activities such as agility and learning new tricks.
Do you have a Smooth Collie? What do you love most about them?
