Herding Dogs: Collie and German Shepherd

Two popular herd dogs: the Collie was popularly written about and the German Shepherd was renowned for its bravery and intelligence.

Collie

Probably named from the "colley," or black-faced sheep he warded in the Scottish Highlands, the Collie comes in two kinds, rough and smooth, both of which are quite old. He undoubtedly comes out more often in literature than any other breed. With his long, heavy coat, mane, and frill, his gallant carriage and slender gait, the rough Collie is the perfect picture of grace. His head is long and slim, with slanting almond-shaped eyes. His ears are half-raised, turning over to the front. His long tail is carried low with a slight upward twist or swirl. His body is just a bit longer than it is high, and his legs are straight and powerful. The smooth Collie is exactly like the rough variety excluding the coat, which is short, compact, and flat, having an abundant undercoat.

WEIGHT: males 60-75 pounds; females 50-65 pounds
HEIGHT: males 24-26 inches; females 22-24 inches
COLOR: sable and white, tricolor, blue merle, and white.

German Shepherd Dog

Descending from Old World sheepherding types, the German Shepherd was developed as a breed in Germany late in the 19th century, and has been in America during the early part of the twentieth. Bred as a worker, he is a rugged animal of great bravery and intelligence, a great herder, guard dog, police and army dog, guide dog for the blind, as well as a companion. He is graciously rounded, his body a trifle longer than it is tall, the chest deep, the forelegs straight with strong and springy pasterns, the hindquarters well-muscled and deeply angulated. The head is clean-cut, the muzzle wedge-shaped, the jaws strong. The huge pointed ears stand upright, the eyes are almond-shaped and dark, while the coat is harsh and close-lying.

WEIGHT: 60-85 pounds
HEIGHT: males 24-26 inches; females 22-24 inches
COLOR: most colors permissible except white.