Collie

History

Although the beautiful collie rose to fame in late 1800s English dog shows, its history has far deeper roots in the hills of Scotland, where the dogs were initially bred as herders, easily trained and loyal. All of these traits contributed to deep love between owners and collies and contributed to the breed’s eventual fame. Collies were used as messengers during World War One, braving dangerous battlefield conditions to pass orders to the front lines, proving their loyalty and bravery. Presidents Coolidge, Kennedy, and Johnson all had collies in their family, further enhancing the breeds notoriety. But it was Lassie, of course, one of the world’s most famous dogs, that cemented the breed’s fame. Lassie was originally a novel character, but she was brought to life in the 1943 film Lassie Come Home. Her time on screen would be long lived, as the beloved Lassie television program ran 20 years from 1954 to 1973. Several remakes later, Lassie the collie is still beloved.