Plate 029 · British Isles
Collie
柯利牧羊犬
“The Scottish sheepdog that became Lassie.”
- Origin
- United Kingdom
- Scotland (especially the Highlands) and northern England
- Region of origin
- The AKC Collie includes both the Rough and Smooth varieties; The Kennel Club and FCI treat them as separate breeds.
- The point marks the region the breed comes from, not an exact birthplace.
- Era
- Working sheepdogs of Scotland and northern England; fashionable from the 1860s
- Today
- Family companion · Herding
Under editorial review — sources listed below.
Then → Now
Then · 1903Panmure Perfection (1903), a show Rough Collie painted by Frances C. Fairman.
Frances C. Fairman · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons
NowHistory
01 · Origin
Scotland (especially the Highlands) and northern England
Developed from the working sheepdogs of Scotland and northern England.
02 · Historical role
What it was bred for
Herded and guarded sheep on Scottish farms and hills.
03 · Breed development
How it changed
Queen Victoria's enthusiasm for collies after visits to Balmoral in the 1860s helped make them fashionable.
04 · Today
Family companion · Herding
A gentle family companion, made world-famous by the 'Lassie' films and television series.
Personality
- Devoted
- Loyal
- Intelligent
- Responsive
- Vocal tendency
General breed tendencies, not guarantees — individual dogs vary with genetics, training and environment. Ratings: this atlas’s editorial summary on a 1–5 scale, for rough comparison between breeds here — not a measurement or a standardised assessment.
- Size
- Large
- Lifespan
- 12–14 years
- Coat
- Rough: long, dense double coat; Smooth: short, dense coat
Field note
The dog that played Lassie in the 1943 film was a Rough Collie named Pal; his descendants played the role for decades.
Recognition & today
- AKC
- Herding Group
- Also recognized by
- FCI (Rough Collie and Smooth Collie), The Kennel Club (UK)
- Popular in
- United States
AKC registers Rough and Smooth Collies as two varieties of one breed.
Iconic worldwide thanks to 'Lassie'; still commonly kept as a family companion.
Also called 苏格兰牧羊犬 (Scottish sheepdog) in Chinese.
Sources2 references
- Collie — breed information — American Kennel Club
https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/collie/
Registry · accessed 2026-10-07 · Registry status and AKC group; AKC recognition 1885 per AKC "Breeds by Year Recognized". Used as a registry reference only.
- Rough Collie (encyclopedia overview) — Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rough_Collie
Encyclopedia · accessed 2026-10-07 · Secondary overview; cross-check claims against primary breed-club sources.
Image credits
Frances C. Fairman · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons
Text is written by World Breeds from the references above; it does not reproduce registry descriptions. Location note: The AKC Collie includes both the Rough and Smooth varieties; The Kennel Club and FCI treat them as separate breeds.
