COLLIE 



rather the reverse. This is because the object of breeders 

 has been directed towards increasing the beauty of their 

 dogs at the risk of lessening their working capacity, and 

 hence when there arose a demand some years ago for 

 deep-coloured *^ mahogany " tan markings a Gordon setter 

 cross was introduced ; whilst in more recent times the 

 borzoi has been crossed with the collie in order to increase 

 the length of the latter's head. It is perhaps needless to 

 add that both these crosses were prejudicial to the interests 

 of the true collie, as the introduction of setter blood spoiled 

 the carriage and shape of the ear, besides injuring the 

 character of the coat and feather, whilst the association 

 with the borzoi most seriously reduced the intelligence of 

 the collie. 



On the other hand, there can be no gainsaying the 

 fact that its connection with the exhibiting community has 

 accomplished much towards popularising the collie, which 

 thirty or forty years ago was almost exclusively utilised 

 by shepherds and drovers. There can be no doubt, too, 

 that the variety is a very ancient one, and that the collie 

 is a Scottish breed, its intelligence and alertness having 

 been highly prized by sheep-minders on the hills of North 

 Britain for generations before such institutions as dog 

 shows were even thought of. 



The head of a collie is long, flat on the top, fairly 

 wide at the back, and gradually tapering towards the 

 nose, but well filled up under the eyes. The jaws should 

 be quite level, an undershot mouth being regarded as a 

 serious fault, as it is suggestive of a bulldog cross, which 

 if present would be liable to make the dog unnecessarily 

 rough when holding on to a sheep. The nose should be 

 of a good size and black in colour ; whilst the eyes are 

 close and obliquely set, rather almond in shape and brown 

 in colour, excepting in the case of the blue mirles, in which 

 one or both of the eyes is ^* china" or *'wall." The ears 

 must be small, and should be set on at the top of the 

 head near enough together to make the skull appear to 



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