It is a pity that the hard-working dog of the shepherd does not receive the attention in the way of feeding and grooming that is bestowed on the ornamental show dog.  He is too often neglected in these particulars.  Notwithstanding this neglect, however, the average life of the working dog is longer by a year or two than that of his more beautiful cousin.  Pampering and artificial living are not to be encouraged; but, on the other hand, neglect has the same effect of shortening the span of life, and bad feeding and inattention to cleanliness provoke the skin diseases which are far too prevalent.

There is not a more graceful and physically beautiful dog to be seen than the show Collie of the present period.  Produced from the old working type, he is now practically a distinct breed.  His qualities in the field are not often tested, but he is a much more handsome and attractive animal, and his comeliness will always win for him many admiring friends.  The improvements in his style and appearance have been alleged to be due to an admixture with Gordon Setter blood.  In the early years of exhibitions he showed the shorter head, heavy ears, and much of the black and tan colouring which might seem to justify such a supposition; but there is no evidence that the cross was ever purposely sought.  Gradually the colour was lightened to sable and a mingling of black, white, and tan came into favour.  The shape of the head was also improved.  These improvements in beauty of form and colour have been largely induced by the many Collie clubs now in existence not only in the United Kingdom and America, but also in South Africa and Germany, by whom the standards of points have been perfected.  Type has been enhanced, the head with the small ornamental ears that now prevail is more classical; and scientific cultivation and careful selection of typical breeding stock have achieved what may be considered the superlative degree of quality, without appreciable loss of stamina, size, or substance.

Twenty years or so ago, when Collies were becoming fashionable, the rich sable coat with long white mane was in highest request.  In 1888 Ch.  Metchley Wonder captivated his admirers by these rich qualities.  He was the first Collie for which a very high purchase price was paid, Mr. Sam Boddington having sold him to Mr. A. H. Megson, of Manchester, for P530.  High prices then became frequent.  Mr. Megson paid as much as P1,600 to Mr. Tom Stretch for Ormskirk Emerald.  No Collie has had a longer or more brilliant career than Emerald, and although he was not esteemed as a successful sire, yet he was certainly the greatest favourite among our show dogs of recent years.

Mr. Megson has owned many other good specimens of the breed, both rough and smooth.  In the same year that he bought Metchley Wonder, he gave P350 for a ten-months’ puppy, Caractacus.  Sable and white is his favourite combination of colour, a fancy which was shared some years ago by the American buyers, who would have nothing else.  Black, tan, and white became more popular in England, and while there is now a good market for these in the United States the sable and white remains the favourite of the American buyers and breeders.