What kind of dog was Lassie?

collie

Lassie was played by a male "rough coated" Collie in a color called sable.

Collies are great dogs, but the rough coats require a ton of grooming. There are smooth coated collies out there if you look.

Before you buy, talk to breeders and ask about health clearances---particularly eye exams. The popularity of collies led to many unscrupulous people breeding dogs with health problems. Blindness is just one.

My grandfather bred collies responsibly (his mother had collies before him) so I grew up with them and they are great dogs---but they can have their downside, too. Talk to knowledgeable breeders at shows and see if one really matches what you need. They aren't all like "Lassie."

To find shows, go to www.akc.org and look under events. They list conformation, agility, herding, obedience, tracking---all kinds of things you can do with your dog.

You can also use the AKC site to look for collie clubs near you and talk to breeders there. Ask the breeders about the good and bad points of their lines and if anyone gushes without a single bad thing to say---walk politely away.

Please consider a rescued collie---there are many fine dogs which are given up by owners through no fault of their own. Check out the local collie club or www.petfinder.com.

Now, my testimonial to collies: My tiny, fragile, grandmother was blind and so everything in her house had to be kept off the floor and out of where she walked. If a chair was left pulled out from the table by a careless grandchild (red face here) she might walk into it and hurt herself.

The dogs knew this and if a table/chair/whatever was in her way they would place themselves between her fragile knees and the object so she bumped a soft collie side instead of a hard piece of wood.

They never had to be told to do this and the only time she tripped or bumped something left out by one of the herd of grandkids was when the dogs were outside.

Lassie was a Rough Coated Collie.

Collie...I love Lassie

Collie

Lassie was a collie and a beautiful one was she. I love the collie.

Lassie was a collie and her coat was well kept,but by professional groomers.

Lassie was a collie, beautiful dog, there are alsosmaller dogs that look very similar called Shetland Sheep dogs, which basically look the same except for much smaller. Both loyal.

Lassie was a rough collie for real. A sheep dog !

To be specific, Lassie (female on the show) was always played by a male Rough Collie and was Sable colored. I have two pure bred Tri-colored collies (one rough and one smooth) and am on the look out for a sable which is what I was looking for to begin with, but saw these and couldn't leave them behind. They are very intelligent dogs. Very loyal as well.

Lassie was a collie!!