A Bit of Ancient History

Ever since man has kept domestic animals in numbers, he has selected and trained dogs to manage his herds and flocks. It is believed that the early collie came from mainland of Europe along with the early religious orders about 500 BC. The early Celtic groups called their dogs "collie" meaning "useful". These dogs have been described by historians as follows: Ears, erect or nearly so; Nose pointed; Hair, long and often woolly; Form, robust and muscular; Aspect, more or less wolfish. Historians and genealogists tell us that the ancestry of some of today's inhabitants and animals, including the dogs, of the wild west coastal district of Ireland can be traced back to these ancient Celts.

Centuries later the monks made their way to the western isles of Scotland and took their dogs and livestock with them. Their versatile, or useful, collies were trained to protect the new communities, carry messages, guard the livestock from wild and human predators, circle the herds and flocks to keep them away from the cliffs and shoreline, and perform many other tasks. Here in a nutshell is the history of early Irish Collies, the ancient line from which Trefoil, the head of the modern family of Rough Collies is descended.

Descendants of those ancient Celtic Collies, like Trefoil and Shamrock, Twig, and Bess, had been bred pure for centuries on remote farms, especially in the west of Ireland. The heads were longer and finer and the expression softer than in the working sheepdogs or Border Collies that have become fashionable today on Irish and Scottish farms. Most were black and tan, brindle or a rich sable color with white markings.

Collies come in two coat varieties. The rough collie is the collie that most people are familiar with. They carry a long thick double coat. Smooth collies carry a short dense double coat. It is important to know that the rough collie requires regular grooming to keep the coat in good condition and free from tangles and mats. The smooth collie does need to be groomed, but does not consume as much time as the rough. Both varieties, as with all dogs, need to be kept clean and brushed to keep the skin and coat healthy. The breed is the same in every other way. There are 4 recognized colors in collies: Sable and White, Black, White and Tan (Tri Color), Blue Merle, and White. The white collie must contain color on the head of either sable, tri, or blue.

Important Information For All Collie Fanciers:

Collies are herding dogs. They were originally bred in Europe to herd and protect their flocks. Many collies have retained that instinct today. Collies need a large enough area to run and play so they can stay in good physical condition. If the collie is kept indoors primarily, it is important to take him/her for daily walks to allow for adequate exercise. Collies also like to bark, to alert their master of "impending danger". Prospective collie owners need to be aware that it is not uncommon for collies to be noisy, and therefore may not be a good choice for living in a neighborhood where homes are close together.

All breeds of dogs have problems. This is one of the main reasons it is important for potential puppy buyers to purchase their collie from a reputable, knowledgeable breeder.

One of the things that prospective buyers should look for when shopping for a collie is to find someone who offers a health guarantee on the dogs he/she sells. While the health guarantee may differ from breeder to breeder, the guarantee should always state the dog will be replaced if genetic problems arise.

It is also important to buy from someone who does eye checks on each puppy, and these eye checks are done by a certified veterinary ophthalmologist. There are two known diseases of the eyes that can affect collies. One is Collie Eye Anomaly, also known as CEA. This is what we check puppies for when they are between 5-7 weeks old. The other problem is Progressive Retinal Atrophy, or PRA. This disease may not show up in collies until they are 1-2 years old. Like the name implies, collies with this disease eventually will go blind. With CEA, what the eye checks show as a puppy is what you get as an adult. This disease is not a progressive one. While there are now many normal eyed collies (CEA), collies that are mildly to moderately affected by CEA can see normally and will live a completely normal life, and therefore, the puppy buyer should not be worried too much about a mild/moderate eye rating. However, the breeder should be knowledgeable of this disease and be able to explain this to you in better detail than we will try to do in this website.

It is important that you talk to the breeder in depth about health issues in collies. It is also important to find a vet that you trust and establish a good working relationship with him/her and to check with your vet regarding vaccinations, heartworm preventive recommendations, and requirements that may pertain to your area. If you have any questions that you would like to ask us, please feel free to email us.