Winnie Colby, age 11, of Santa Fe, N.M., for her question:

WHERE WAS THE COLLIE FIRST BRED?

One of the most intelligent and handsome of all dogs is the collie. It was first bred in Scotland to take care of sheep.

The collie's long hair grows thick on top and soft and furry underneath. Its colors are brown and white, black, white and tan, gray and all white.

Collies make fine companions and pets. But they are also extremely useful in protecting and herding livestock on farms.

A collie has a long and narrow head. Its ears stand up straight but droop at the points. It has a bushy tail that curls at the top.

The dog is classified as medium large. It is about 22 to 26 inches high at the shoulder and weight 50 to 75 pounds. Some have smooth, short coats.