Collie

Guides for your Collie

The story behind the Collie

The Collie developed in Scotland and northern England, where farm dogs of varied type worked sheep in hill country, the name itself an old regional word for a sheepdog. The modern show Collie diverged from the general working population during the nineteenth century, when Victorian fanciers, encouraged by royal interest after Queen Victoria acquired dogs of the type, selected for a longer and more refined head, greater size, and an abundant coat. Rough and smooth varieties were bred together and are treated as varieties of one breed by some registries and as separate breeds by others. Kennel club recognition and written standards followed late in that century, and twentieth-century fiction and film made the dog internationally famous. Today it is chiefly a companion, show, and performance breed, with practical sheepdog duties handled largely by other types.

Originally bred for: Sheep herding dog, Farm drover, Show and companion dog. You can trace how working roles shaped today’s breeds across our dog guides.

Feeding a Collie

A tall, lightly built breed that should stay lean, with a profuse coat concealing condition, so assess by feel instead of outline. Moderate-fat complete food supports coat quality; raise puppies on a large-breed diet and offer two daily meals to a deep-chested adult.

Watch for: No specific ingredient allergy is characteristic of the breed. Collies and related herding dogs are, however, known as a group for an inherited drug sensitivity, a medication matter rather than a dietary one but worth raising with the veterinarian who guides any diet change.

Not sure what to put in the bowl? See our picks for the best dog food for large breeds.

Mealtime extras: training treats worth keeping in your pocket, and a slow feeder bowl if your dog inhales dinner. Everything else lives in our dog nutrition and feeding hub.

Living with a Collie

Day to day, the basics matter most: how much exercise your dog needs, how often to get out for a walk, and how much sleep is normal.

For play and enrichment, browse chew toys built for strong jaws and interactive toys for rainy days.

Gear that fits the breed makes life easier: a well-sized dog bed, a properly sized crate.

Raising a puppy? Work through crate training and the teething timeline — or see how old your dog is in human years with our dog age calculator.