Collies, Shelties, and similar breeds are considered ideal family dogs: they are good with children, easy to train, adaptable, and eager to work. They are often recommended as beginner dogs for people who are getting a dog for the first time, and they have been regarded as particularly intelligent, loyal, and faithful since the famous Lassie films and other cinematic productions. But do these dogs really live up to this ideal? Or are these perceptions rather unrealistic and do they lead to problems in ownership and training due to inflated expectations? In this book, Gabriela Henrich presents Collie-type breeds and their mixes. She describes not only their appearance, character, and original purpose but also how the breeds have evolved from today’s perspective, what living conditions should be met, and what breed-specific health issues one might expect.