The Collie is a good-natured, intelligent and loyal family member. He can bond with all members of the family and can also enjoy living with children and other pets.
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The Collie comes in two coat types: Rough and Smooth. Both are herding, or sheepdog, breeds that originated in Scotland and the wider UK.
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Whatever activities you are looking to do with your new pet, your Collie will love to get involved. Collies can make great sports dogs and they enjoy outdoors activities and adventures, but in the evening love nothing more than spending time with their family on the sofa.
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Rough Collie
A Rough Collie sports a beautiful long coat which many believe to be the most glamorous in the canine world. Their coat can require maintenance brushing every few days, mostly to ensure they don't get knots or mats in areas such as behind their ears. However a Collie with the true sheepdog weatherproof coat is not as high maintenance as you might think - mud dries and brushes straight off, and they only require very infrequent baths, every few months at most! Collies are very clean, and do not have the 'dog odour' that some breeds have.
Smooth Collie
The Smooth Collie wears a short, smooth coat but is otherwise the same as the Rough variety. Smooth Collies still shed, however they can be easier on coat maintenance. This is just one of their many virtues. There are many Smooth Collie breeders who compete in agility and other competitions with their Collies, and the Smooth Collie is often said to be slightly higher in energy than the Rough.
A well bred Collie is a healthy dog, who enjoys his exercise but also has an 'off-switch', and is sound of mind. He should also be built well, designed for endurance and agility, allowing him to run for hours along the British hillsides, just like his ancestors did.
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There are a few health problems that can be found in the breed, but luckily there are genetic tests available to breeders in order to reduce the frequencies these appear. All breeders on the site will be happy to talk to you about these diseases, and explain whether their puppies are affected by, carry, or are clear for each of the Collie specific diseases. As well as this, all puppies advertised on iCollie are shown with their genetic scores.
When you are looking to buy a Collie puppy or adult dog, there are some things you will want to make sure you can do, before you pay for your puppy:
1. You should always be able to see the puppies with their mother. The mother should be clean, and appear healthy and well maintained. You will not always be able to meet the father of the puppies, as many breeders choose to use outside studs.
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2. Your puppy should come with Kennel Club registration and you should be provided with your puppy's pedigree. The pedigree is your puppy's family tree, and it is important that you are given this information. On his pedigree you will find his registered name - this is the 'official' Kennel Club name for your puppy. Your puppy's registration will allow you to take part in shows and activities licenced by the Kennel Club.
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3. From 6 April 2020, all puppies must be bought directly from their breeder. This is called 'Lucy's Law' and is designed to tackle low-welfare puppy resellers. All litters advertised on iCollie are owned and sold by their breeders.
So, you've decided you would like to add a Collie to your family? Your Collie will grow into a faithful companion that will stand by your side for many years. To ensure he shares a long and happy life with you, it is important to find a good breeder.
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The right breeder will have experience raising the breed, which will give the puppies the best start in life, and they will be available for help for the length of your Collie's life - and even longer! The right breeder will also practice the genetic testing of their dogs, to ensure they are producing the happy, healthy Collies we know and love.
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On the Breeder Pages, you will be able to find many Collie breeders, and you can read about their dogs and their kennel history. Once you have found a breeder you like the look of, you may contact them to ask them more questions about them and their dogs. Breeders are happy to talk to prospective puppy owners and answer your questions, and they may also have some questions for you too! Just as much as you want the right puppy for you, a breeder wants the right homes for their puppies.
You might like to ask the breeder what their breeding goals are, what their dogs excel at, what their temperaments are like, and what the ideal family for them is like. You will get a better feel for their dogs, and you will also know whether they are a breeder you can get along well with.
Breeders all have different ambitions - some breeders exhibit dogs at dog shows, some do sports with their dogs, some have dogs that work with them on the farm. The things they do with their dogs can give you an insight into the kinds of puppies they produce. However it is important to note, all good Collie breeders will share some common priorities, regardless of what they do with their dogs: producing stable temperaments, and healthy dogs, all wrapped up inside a body that is sound and undeniably Collie.
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​Once you have decided on a breeder, you might like to ask them if they have any litter plans. With the current demand for Collies, it is a good idea to be placed on the waiting list for your chosen breeder. You may also find that, when you are ready for a puppy, there is a litter already advertised on the iCollie Litters page.
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When the puppies are nearing the age where they are ready to come home, you may be allowed to pick your puppy, or your breeder may select puppies for each home. If your breeder hand selects the puppies for each family, you know you are getting a puppy that is compatible with your lifestyle and experience, and any requirements you outlined when you first communicated with your breeder. Sometimes you may be allowed to pick your puppy, if you can, remember that your breeder was there as they took their first breaths, opened their eyes for the first time, and has watched their personalities grow! They will be happy to answer any questions you may have about each puppy.
The time has come to bring your puppy home - bonding can begin from day one! If you have other dogs at home, introducing them to the new puppy on neutral ground can be beneficial to the transition. Once inside your home, give your puppy some peaceful time where he can explore his new surroundings at his own pace.
There are many great resources to help you through this period and beyond. Some great ones are linked below!