Collies: a special appeal
It’s shocking that so many Collies, one of our nation’s most loved dogs, are being abandoned in increasingly large numbers. They now make up an incredible 10% of the 16,000 stray and abandoned dogs that we care for every year.
Collies are clever, loving and loyal.
Collies are often very bright dogs, in fact studies* reveal that trained Collies can understand up to an astonishing 250 words, which is far more than the average dog. However, their cleverness may also sadly explain why so many of them are abandoned.
People often underestimate the amount of interaction that Collies need. Owners find themselves unable to give the dogs the attention they deserve and, as a result, the dogs become bored and unsettled which can lead to bad habits and stress. It seems these wonderful dogs, through no fault of their own, have become a victim of their own intelligence. It’s a dreadful situation that’s so heartbreaking because it’s happening more and more.
Your gift will help us give them the love they deserve.
At Dogs Trust we give all of our dogs constant love and care. But with highly intelligent Collies it’s especially important to interact with them both in the kennels and outside when they’re on walks. Collies are usually playful, affectionate dogs so lots of cuddles throughout the day and regular attention keeps them feeling loved. But as you can see with Otis, Ella, Travis and Lily it’s not just love and care that Collies need.
| Your £10 helps pay
for the toys dogs like
Otis use when exercising. | Active Collies like Otis can need extra long walks to keep them occupied. So by taking him to different environments to run around in, we’re making sure he’s doing what he enjoys the most. Playing fetch and hiding toys in exercise enclosures not only burns off loads of energy but it’s also a great way to stimulate inquisitive minds. |
| Your £15 helps pay for
the extra personal time
we give to dogs like Ella. | Intelligent dogs like Ella can sometimes get stressed in kennels, so when she first arrived we sat with her to keep her calm. Since then she’s responded well to our “confidence triangle” which involves three people Ella knows, standing in a triangle and calling her over in return for a treat. As she’s grown more comfortable with this, we’ve substituted one person for someone new so she can build up her trust in people again. To help her make four-legged friends too, we often buddy her with another dog when she’s on her walks. |
| Your £25 helps to train
Collies like Travis. | Quick-minded Collies like Travis adore learning new things. During training, he’s always been eager to please and soon progressed beyond ‘sit’ and ‘stay’. We work closely with all of our dogs who need training, whatever their level, to give them the best possible start in their new homes. |
| Your £50 helps pay for
agility equipment for
dogs like Lily. | Collies like Lily love our agility equipment as it keeps their bodies and minds stimulated. Whether she’s jumping over hurdles, diving through tunnels or running up and down see-saws, Lily is quick on her paws. Many Collies even progress to fly ball, a tennis-ball relay that’s ideal for quick-witted minds. |
Thanks to you, the dogs in our care will always be safe, loved and happy. We promise never to put down a healthy dog and we will never, ever give up on finding them a loving, new home. But until then we really need your help to continue giving these dogs the love and care they need.
Collies are such a loveable, intelligent breed who deserve so much more. So please give what you can.
*Coren, Stanley, The Intelligence of Dogs: A Guide to the Thoughts, Emotions and Inner Lives of Our Canine Companions. New York, Free Press. 1994.