Rough Collie

Yes. Lassie was played by Rough Collies, starting with a male named Pal in the 1943 film, and his descendants took the role for several generations. Males were used because they hold a fuller coat through summer and look bigger on screen. The classic sable coat with a white blaze and collar is why so many people picture exactly this dog when they hear the word collie.

They look similar but are separate breeds. The Sheltie developed on the Shetland Islands and stands only about 33 to 41 cm (13 to 16 in), around a third of a collie's weight. Shelties tend to be busier and more vocal, while Rough Collies are usually calmer indoors. A Sheltie is not a miniature collie, although collie blood was used in its development.

Herding dogs used their voices to move stock and to warn of intruders, and collies have kept that alertness. A collie barks to tell you something has changed: a car door, a delivery, a bird on the fence. Reward quiet, avoid shouting (which sounds like joining in), and provide enough exercise and brain work. Many collies become much quieter by their third year.

They can, with care. The double coat gives some insulation, but collies overheat faster than short-coated breeds. In hot regions they need a cool indoor resting place, walks at dawn and dusk, constant water and shade, and regular brushing so dead undercoat does not trap heat. Clipping is not recommended. Owners in Australia and southern Europe keep collies well with these routines.

A cheek-swab DNA test, arranged through your vet or a veterinary genetics laboratory, shows whether your dog is clear, a carrier with one copy, or affected with two copies. Results usually take one to three weeks. Ask your breeder first, since the parents or the whole litter may already have been tested. Keep a copy of the result with your dog's vet records.