Coat Colours
Both Rough and Smooth varieties are available in four distinct colours:
- Sable collies are generally the most recognizable, the choice of the Lassie television and movie producers. The sable colour on these dogs can range from a light blonde colour to a deep reddish-brown, with or without mahogany, and with any hue in between possible.
- Tricolour dogs are mostly black and white with rich tan markings.
- Blue merle collies are best described as tricolour or black-and-white dogs whose black has been diluted to a mottled gray-blue colour.
- White collies are usually mostly white on the body with a head colouration of any of the three previous. They may also have some colored body patches.
As modern-day "Lassies", both Rough and Smooth Collies have become successful assistance, and therapy dogs. At least one guide dog school (Southeastern Guide Dogs in Florida) currently trains Smooth Collies as guide dogs, and a number of Scottish Collies are currently partnered with disabled individuals around the United States.
Read more about this topic: Scotch Collie
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