Collie.

Collie. Collie, breed of large herding dog, developed in Scotland and the north of England to herd sheep and cattle. Two varieties are known. The rough-coated collie has an abundant outercoat of straight, harsh hair, especially on its mane, chest, and tail. The undercoat is dense and soft. The smooth-coated variety has a short, dense outercoat and an abundant undercoat. In both varieties, the flat skull tapers gradually from ears to tip of nose; the eyes are almond-shaped; the small ears tip forward at the ends; the neck is long and muscular; and the tail is moderately long, usually carried low. Males are between 61 and 66 cm (24 and 26 in) high at the shoulder and weigh from 27 to 34 kg (60 to 75 lb). The females stand from 51 to 56 cm (20 to 22 in) high and weigh between 23 and 29 kg (50 and 65 lb). Four colors are recognized: sable and white, tricolor (black, white, and tan), blue-merle (blue-gray and black, with white markings and tan shadings), and white (with sable, tricolor, or blue-merle markings). Elegant, strong, and agile, the collie has been one of the most popular dogs since the 1860s, when Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland became an enthusiastic sponsor of the breed. Collies were first shown in the United States in 1877, although the history of the breed in America goes back to colonial times; early settlers are believed to have brought collies with them. The breed today is noted as a devoted family pet. The border collie is a purebred, medium-sized herding dog. It has been used since the 1600s to herd cattle and sheep on the English-Scottish border. Usually black with white markings, its outercoat is dense and harsh and of varying lengths. The dog stands 46 to 51 cm (18 to 20 in) and weighs 14 to 23 kg (30 to 50 lb). Microsoft ® Encarta ® 2009. © 1993-2008 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.