The History of Collies
This history is taken from the book, The Magnificent Collie, the section was written by Gayle Kaye
Unfortunately, it is a sad but true fact, that the Collie's exact origins are shrouded in obscurity. On several occasions they have been the subject of much research and speculation. A famous 18th Centruy naturalist was of the opinion that the Collie was one of the oldest breeds in the canine family. However, it has never been proven that the Collie was in fact a descendant of the ancient sheepdog. The word "Collie" is as obscure as the breed itself. Over a period of time the name has been spelled many different ways: Coll, Colley, Coally, and Coaly, Generally, the most accepted origin of the word is "Coll," the Anglo-Saxon word for black. The black-faced sheep of Scotland came to be called Colleys and the dogs that guarded them soon became "colleys." Regrettably, unless new information turns up, this part of our breed's heritage will never be known. Whatever the origins, around 1875 the name "Collie" became firmly in place.
In the 18th Century, the Collie's natural home was in the highlands of Scotland, deep in the hills and the mountains, where he had been used for centuries as a sheepdog. The dogs were bred with great care in order to assist their masters in the herding and guarding of their flocks. These people were totally dependent on their pastoral pursuits, so the dogs were bred for strength, endurance, intelligence, devotion, and loyalty. Physical characteristics included a thick coat, an active, graceful outline, alert eyes and keen ears - all important traits for a highly successful guardian of the flock. Most of these early specimens were either tri-color or blue merle. The absence of white markings was a prized characteristic and indicated purity of the stock. By today's standards, they were a smaller dog, with heads on the coarse side, with heavier ears and less coat.
Up until 1860, these dogs were used almost exclusively as working sheepdogs, but this would soon change upon Queen Victoria's trip to Scotland in the early 1860's. She was so impressed with the beauty, intelligence and faithfulness of these sheepdogs that several soon joined her "Royal Kennels." This was a historic epoch in the breed's history. From this point on, Collies' popularity grew rapidly and they soon became very fashionable.
(Continued from The AKC Complete Dog Book ) 17 edition
Shortly thereafter, Queen Victoria visited Balmoral and saw her first Collies. They captivated her and she enthusiastically began to sponsor them. There was a marked surge in the popularity of the breed which found itself not only the indispensable helpmate of the humble shepherd but the treasure and the playmate of the royal and the rich. Collie type was well enough "fixed" by 1886 so that the English breeders have never seen fit to change the height and weight established in their standard at that time. Numerous clarifying changes have taken place in the United States standard over the ensuing years but except for recognizing that the Collie has become slightly larger and heavier on this side of the Atlantic there is no fundamental difference, even today, from that 1886 description of the ideal Collie.
Many of the early settlers in the new world brought dogs with them to herd their sheep and cattle in the Colonies but it was not until May of 1877, 17 years after their show ring debut in England, that they were shown here, at the second show of the Westminster Kennel Club in New York. Classes were offered for "Shepherd Dogs, or Collie Dogs" and a few were entered. The next year, however, was to see great interest and excitement. Two Collies imported from Queen Victoria's Royal Balmoral Kennel had been entered! Soon Collies were to be found as prized possessions of the wealthy and socially elite. Kennels were established by the well-known fancier J.P.Morgan and his financial contemporiaries, and many fashionable estates up the Hudson River and on Long Island had Collie kennels. English dogs were imported for what were then considered to be exorbitant prices. It is interesting to note that about a half century later almost the reverse situation was occurring. The Collie became a highly desired breed in Japan and there was great persuasion to convince some of the American breeders to export some of their top dogs. By this time, the importation of Collies from England had become exceedingly rare.
Being no longer in great demand as a herder, today's Collie has transferred these abilities to serving as a devoted family dog where he shows a particular affinity for small children. For many years his general popularity has placed him among the top twenty of the favorite dogs registered by the American Kennel Club. Elegant and beautiful in appearance, loyal and affectionate in all his actions, self-appointed guardian of everything he can see or hear, the Collie represents, to his many admirers, the ideal family companion.
Last Update: October 31, 2008
