Lassie, a famous dog character, belongs to the Rough Collie breed

. Rough Collies are long-coated dogs of medium to large size, known for their herding and protecting abilities

. They are strong, loyal, affectionate, responsive, and fast, with a beautiful long coat that flows as they run

. The breed is now well-known through the stories of author Albert Payson Terhune about his dog Lad, and later with Eric Knight's character of Lassie and her novels, movies, and television shows

. The Rough Collie breed became more popular in the 1950s when Lassie became better known as the all-American family dog