There are two varieties of Collie, the rough-coated and the smooth-coated. The Rough Collie of modern times goes back to the rough-coated shepherd's dog which Thomas Bewick depicted in his historic woodcut made prior to 1800, and it is possible that this breed was known in Scotland for more than a century before that time. The dog of olden days lacked today's beauty and majesty, but there has been no serious divergence from the essential type and the outstanding characteristics.

When the Collie first came to the notice of dog fanciers shortly after the start of the nineteenth century, the breed was found principally in northern Scotland. It had a broader, shorter head and measured only fourteen inches at the shoulder. The breed progressed rapidly up to 1859, when the first organized dog show was held in England, and it was one of the first breeds for which classes were provided. This was at the show of the Birmingham Dog Society in 1860.

When Queen Victoria paid her first visit to Balmoral in the early sixties, she saw specimens of the Rough Collie and took an instant liking to the breed.

It is probable that working Collies were imported to the Americas as early as Colonial days, but the dogs were scattered and they received little or no attention. The start of Collie popularity in the United States dates from about 1880.

Over the years, the Rough Collie's popularity has been consistent.

The earliest illustration of a Smooth Collie is the woodcut made by Thomas Bewick about 1800; it shows the dog as having a short tail, which may have been docked. In almost all other respects the dog is similar to specimens of today.

The earliest known specimens of Smooth Collie carried a great deal of black in the coat; likewise the Roughs were either dark or black. Both varieties were known as the "coally dogs," and from this, undoubtedly, has sprung the modern name of "Collie." In 1867, Stonehenge mentions the breed as the "Scotch Colley" or "Highland sheepdog."

There is a striking difference of opinion among older authorities that the smooth variety of Collie owes its origin and development to the North of England, although it was known on both sides of the border. The County of Northumberland was a big center of the Smooth, and the black and white mottled strain was distinctly Northumbrian.

Rough land Smootjh Collies have been identical in form, aside from coat, for almost three quarters of a century, but there are reasons for believing that in early days they were two separate breeds. Few types of dog have been more developed and improved in appearance than the Collies, and it is difficult to say just how breeders undertook this task. It is a matter of record, however, that by 1885, when the first specialy show was held for the breed in England, Roughs and Smooths were often found in the same litters.

The development of the Collie in North America has kept pace with that of England, and the strength of the breed here is evinced by the drop in the number of importations today. However, the Smooth Collie has never received the popular favour enjoyed by the other variety.