Aignaoi Collie

Like most of (if not all) the articles in the Inis Baile Mor category, this article is written with the assistance of Fiachra Mac Aignaoithe, my shapeshifter friend. Actually, it was his idea to write this article in the first place. His family are shepherds, and he grew up raising these sheepdogs on his family's land. He's very fond of them.  

Appearance

Size

When I'm in human form, it's pretty easy for the dogs to accidentally push me down, as used as they are to climbing up on me when I'm a dragon (in order to fly from place to place or for play). But it's with all the love in the world. They're just a little confused. They do still recognize me when I'm human, by the way, but I think that has more to do with them being used to me than anything that stays consistent. Not sure though. My parents swear there's a similarity in my scent.

— Fiachra

Compared to most native Crathlian dog breeds and the dog breeds of humans more broadly, Aignaoi Collies are very large. They can stand as tall as a short human's chin. Aignaoi sheep have also been bred to be quite large by human standards to accomadate the dietary needs of the aignaoithe, so the dogs that herd them need to also be big.  

Coat

I must say that it's somewhat easier to brush a dog's fur as a human than as a dragon. Having thumbs does make a difference. Though, of course, my parents manage well enough holding the brush in their teeth, and really, the dogs are much more used to that.

— Fiachra

Aignaoi Collies possess a long, thick double coat that should be brushed regularly to avoid matting. The undercoat is water resistant. They can be white, a tawny brown, or tawny with white markings. Their tails are fluffy and curled.  

Training and Work

Aignaoi Collies are typically trained to obey dragons' whistles and snorts, which correspond to particular commands in sheepherding. They're very intelligent, able to learn new commands quickly, and could certainly learn human voice commands as well. However, the breed isn't kept by humans due to the isolationalism of the aignaoithe, the distance between Inis Baile Mor and human-occupied nations, and the likelihood that the dog would overheat in most climates suitable for humans.

Honestly, I'm likely to get exhausted running over the hills before the dogs do, and I'm a trained warrior.

— Fiachra

Working Aignaoi Collies have strong stamina, able to run over the rocky and steep terrain of Inis Baile Mor better than a human can. While they can't keep up with a dragon in flight, shepherds typically coast and circle when moving the sheep while the dogs take care of the herding on the ground.   One of the most common commands to teach an Aiganoi Collie is to mount its shepherd's back and nestle in between the wings in order to balance while the dragon is in flight. Fiachra reports that the puppies are often scared the first time, but get used to it and begin to enjoy the ride as they age into their first year.