Rough Collie dog:
Rough Collie dogs are known for being strong, loyal, considerate, witty, and attentive. They belong to a canine breed renowned for its herding and guarding abilities. The rough-coated collie’s head is shaped like a smooth, beautiful wedge, and as he runs, his long, flowing coat flows. Although they may flourish in both urban and rural settings, rough collies like company and frequent runs or long walks. Even though they don’t have the same level of energy as border collies, rough collies still need to spend at least 45 to 60 minutes each day exercising outside. Unexpectedly, as soon as he enters, he becomes incredibly at ease and delighted to unwind with his owner.
The real rough collie, which has lengthy hair, comes in two varieties, as does the smooth collie, which has shorter hair. Although border collies and Shetland sheepdogs have similar coat patterns and facial features to members of the rough collie breed, they are two very different breeds.
Both the Smooth Collie and the Rough Collie originated as working sheepdogs in Scotland. Early Collies were typically smaller or tricolored than current Collies.
Perhaps the “glamour” of the coat is what drew so many people to the breed at the cost of the Smooth Collie, which was for a long time looked down upon.
The rough collie dog was formerly employed as a herding dog in Scotland and Northern England. This remarkable breed is instantly recognized by its stunning, multicolored coat of long, rough-textured fur. The most recognized rough collie personality feature is commitment to their owner, followed by their fondness for children. They are well known for their intelligence and ease of training. These fundamental qualities made the rough collie dog the ideal breed to play Lassie, the adored family TV programmed canine who always saved her little son, Timmy.
Size:
Weight of Range:
Male: 60-70 lbs.
Female: 50-65 lbs.
Dog Height
Male: 24-26 in. to the shoulder
Female: 22-24 in. to the shoulder
Dog Features:
Long, beautiful coat with brown, black, white, and tan fur
Expectations:
Exercise Requirements: 45-80 minutes of exercise per day
Energy Level: High energy level when outside, low energy level when indoors
Longevity Range: 10-14 yrs.
Tendency to Drool: Low
Tendency to Snore: Low
Tendency to Bark: Moderate (prone to excessive barking if left indoors alone for lengthy periods of time) (prone to excessive barking if left indoors alone for long periods of time)
Tendency to Dig: Low
Social/Attention Needs: High (loves people, children, and other animals, including cats)
Rough Collie Personality:
The Rough Collie develops strong ties and is a loving friend. It is kind and loving with family and those who are known to him or her as friends. The Rough Collie may be an effective watch dog since they have a propensity to bark to alert their owners to the approach of outsiders, but they are not naturally aggressive, so they will back off quickly when prodded.
Rough Collies are intelligent, fast learners, and flourish when their bodies and brains are kept active and stimulated. The rough collie mentality, which is categorized as herding, is well-known for being intelligent, perceptive, and fast to pick up new skills. Collies seem to appreciate the attention that comes with performance, whether it is tricks or participating in agility, obedience, or herding activities. Collies react well to regular, reward-based training. Due to their tranquilly inside and medium height, many collies also make excellent therapy dogs.
Rough collies, like the one in Lassie, are known for having loud voices. The barking of rough collie dogs that are bored is an obvious indication that they want attention. They also have a propensity to nibble at people’s heels when playing, which is another sign of their herding heritage. It’s crucial to teach your rough-coated collie not to nip, especially around kids since it might scare them. The rough collie has a high intelligence level, making him simple to house train and quick to pick up new skills. To avoid monotony, though, vary your exercise routine sometimes. You should be inventive with their instruction since they are really intelligent!
Rough Collie Health
Although collies are mostly healthy, they are susceptible to some health issues like other breeds. Even while not all Collies will contract one of these illnesses or another, it’s still vital to be aware of them if you’re thinking about getting one.
Find a reputable breeder that will provide you with the health clearances for both of your dog’s parents if you are purchasing a puppy. Health certifications attest to a dog’s having undergone testing and been declared free of a certain ailment. For hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, hypothyroidism, and von Willebrand’s disease, Collies should have health certificates from the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA), hip dysplasia from Auburn University, Thrombopathia from Auburn University, and normal eyes from the Canine Eye Registry Foundation (CERF). You can visit the OFA website to validate health approvals (offa.org).
- Dermatomyositis: This condition, a hereditary autoimmune skin illness, results in lesions and muscular issues. According to studies, over 70% of Collies (both Rough and Smooth) may carry the disease. The genes that cause this condition are now the subject of research.
- Collie Nose: This disorder, also known as nasal solar dermatitis, causes the skin of the nose to peel, leak, and perhaps lose color. It can be uncomfortable or turn into cancer if neglected. Limiting sun exposure, using sunscreen, or getting a black ink tattoo to block off UV rays are all ways to treat collie nose.
- Collie Eye Anomaly: Sometimes, this genetic illness might cause blindness. Changes and abnormalities in the eye are brought on by the disorder. These alterations can include retinal detachment, coloboma, a defect in the optic disc, staphyloma, a thinning of the sclera (the white outer coat of the eyeball), and choroidal hypoplasia, an abnormal development of the choroid (an inner coat of the eyeball). By the time the dog is two years old, the Collie eye abnormality typically manifests. There is no cure for the illness.
- Progressive Retinal atrophy (PRA): This group of eye conditions causes the retina’s progressive degeneration. Early on in the illness, dogs develop night blindness. They also develop daylight blindness as the condition worsens. Many dogs can cope with partial or total eyesight loss as long as their environment doesn’t change.
- Nodular Granulomatous Episclerokeratitis (NGE): This illness, which is also known as nodular fasciitis, fibrous histiocytoma, or Collie granuloma, is assumed to be an immunological ailment. The cornea gradually becomes damaged. NGE is common in Collies with Collie noses. Anti-inflammatory and/or immunosuppressive medicines are used during treatment.
- Hip Dysplasia: This is an aberrant hip socket development that may result in discomfort and lameness. Hip dysplasia in dogs should prevent breeding. Ask the breeder for documentation showing the parents have had hip dysplasia testing and have been found to be healthy if you are purchasing a puppy.
Allergies: There are three main types of allergies that are quite common in dogs: food allergies, which are treated by removing particular foods from the dog’s diet; contact allergies, which are brought on by an allergic reaction to a substance applied topically, such as bedding, flea powders, dog shampoos, and other chemicals; and inhalant allergies, which are brought on by airborne allergens like pollen, dust, and mildew. The course of treatment depends on the underlying reason and may involve dietary changes, medication, and environmental modifications. - Drug Sensitivity: The Collie is infamous for having adverse reactions to medications like ivermectin (found in heartworm prevention pills), anesthesia, and pesticides. Before administering any medicine to your Collie or utilizing flea or tick prevention treatments, speak with your veterinarian.
Rough Collie Exercise
Collies tend to be extremely active and need frequent exercise, however there are variances between individuals and families. They require the opportunity to run around and play, as well as cardiovascular exercise. In addition to having a fenced yard where they can run and taking daily walks, teaching them to retrieve can help them get some exercise. For extended periods of time, they shouldn’t be kept in the backyard since boredom leads to barking. Collies are people dogs and priorities spending time with their owners. A Collie should ideally be able to relax when the situation calls for it as well as be ready to go when that moment comes.
The Rough Collie does not require a lot of activity; a daily walk of about an hour, some playtime, some free running, and general participation in family activities are sufficient. This dog likes to be with their family no matter what they are doing, therefore any additional will be gratefully appreciated if you can provide it.
Living With:
The rough collie has a strong sense of family and enjoys spending time with kids. He will sprint as fast as he can outdoors, but as soon as he enters the house, he will be content to unwind with the rest of the family. Even if the rough collie enjoys being active outside, he is not a dog that must only be kept outside; with regular exercise, he can live happily in a small house or apartment.
The tough collie is known for his unwavering devotion and loving nature, but he also has a ferocious sense of independence. Owners should attempt to cooperate with rather than against his autonomous instincts. Providing your rough-coated collie with daily access to a fenced-in area to run about on his own might be beneficial.
Although he will form strong bonds with all members of the household, not just the one who feeds him, a rough collie is an excellent companion dog for a single person. The rough collie breed is renowned for picking up on the unique traits and mannerisms of every member of the household. Again, this is why consistent training for your rough-coated collie is so important. Since rough collies are clever and always observing and picking up new things, it’s crucial to train them early and frequently.
Rough Collie Care
As long as she gets adequate exercise, the Collie may live happily in either the city or the countryside. All you need is a quick daily stroll and some yard games. She mostly likes to spend time with her family, thus she cannot live in the backyard.
She tends to bark a lot if left alone for an extended period of time. She alerted the shepherd of wolves, which is typical behavior for this herding breed, but she will bark incessantly when bored, lonely, or under other duress. Allowing the Collie to participate in all household activities and keeping her intellectually active with continuing obedience training or dog sports will help you prevent excessive barking.
The Collie is simple to train, but like any dog, she must be socialized from an early age to avoid developing timidity. She also gains from being trained in obedience; every Collie’s training regimen should include the command “Quiet.”
Rough Collie Feeding and Nutrition
2 to 3 cups of superior dry food should be consumed every day, split between two meals.
NOTE: The amount of food your adult dog consumes is influenced by his size, age, build, metabolism, and degree of activity. Like people, each dog is unique, thus they don’t all require the same quantity of food. A very active dog will require more than a couch potato dog, which should almost go without saying. The kind of dog food you purchase also matters; the better the food, the more effectively it will nourish your dog and the less you will need to shake into the bowl.
See our suggestions for selecting the best food, feeding your puppy, and feeding your adult dog for additional information on feeding your Collie.
The first thing a Collie owner can do to promote healthy skin, a glossy coat, and general wellbeing is to provide good nourishment. Collies thrive on high-quality dog chow that is mostly composed of meat and has less grains than the competition. Collies shouldn’t be fed meals that include maize or soy, according to several breed specialists. Due to their propensity for bloat, collies should have two or more feedings every day as opposed to just one. Additionally, adding some meat to their meal has been shown to lower their risk..
In addition to having larger appetites than smaller breed dogs, large breed dogs benefit from a distinct ratio of nutrients, including minerals and vitamins. Smaller, more frequent meals can help to reduce the risk of bloating and gastrointestinal issues in rough collies. With the help of this simple guide, learn more about providing a healthy food for your dog.
Rough Collie History:
In the Scottish Highlands, the rough collie’s forebears were employed as herding dogs. Little information about this breed has been documented over time as a partner to sheep herders. But in the 1860s, Queen Victoria brought the species to the public’s notice, and they soon rose to the status of a preferred breed of the affluent upper class.
Thanks to “Lassie,” the rough collie breed gained further notoriety in the 1950s as the ideal American family pet. Lassie retrieved Timmy from the well and forewarned her family of danger each week, demonstrating how dedicated and obedient the breed was for the course of the show’s two-decade run. Hollywood occasionally exaggerates, but the portrayal of the tough collie as a devoted guardian couldn’t have been more accurate.
The American Kennel Club now lists the rough collie as one of the top 50 most popular dog breeds, and they are still renowned for their protective, devoted, and devoted personalities.
Rough Collie Grooming and Coat Color
The Rough Collie has two coats: a thick, soft undercoat and a harsh, outer coat. This need daily brushing to maintain cleanliness and order as well as a more intensive weekly groom to avoid matting behind the elbows, chest, behind the ears, and in the areas of the pants and knickers.
If you don’t have the resources to accomplish this at home, professional grooming to blast away more undercoat and provide a complete bath and dry may be necessary. With the help of this article, learn more about everyday maintenance and dog grooming.
The Collie has two coat types: (Long hair) Rough and Smooth (short hair). The Rough Collie has a thick, straight outer coat that is rough to the touch and an undercoat that is soft and fuzzy but so dense that it makes it impossible to see the skin when the hair is parted. The Smooth Collie has a thick undercoat and a short, dense, flat outer coat. Both breeds shed in a modest amount.
The Collie comes in four colors: Blue merle (silvery blue and black), sable (conjure up images of Lassie), tricolor (black with white markings and tan shadings), and white (predominately white with markings).
The type of Collie will determine how much grooming is required. The Collie is a generally odor-free and clean dog. Rough Collie’s long, thick coat requires twice-weekly thorough brushing (even more frequently to keep her looking Lassie-like). For the Smooth Collie, once a week is plenty for brushing.
Typically every six to eight weeks, take a bath as needed. In order to clean and bathe their Collie, especially the Rough version because of the thick coat, many owners choose to engage a professional groomer. Brushing can be difficult for inexperienced owners, but with practice and guidance from a Collie breeder or knowledgeable groomer, it won’t become a depressing task.
Once a month, trim the Collie’s nails, and once a week, examine the ears for debris, redness, or an unpleasant odor that might be an infection. To avoid issues, you should also clean them out once a week with a cotton ball soaked with a mild, pH-balanced ear cleanser.
For the sake of removing tartar development and the germs that hide within it, brush your Collie’s teeth at least twice or three times every week. Even better than twice-daily brushing is prevention of foul breath and gum disease.
When your Collie is a puppy, start preparing him to accept being brushed and examined. Dogs are sensitive when it comes to their feet, so handle his paws regularly and examine his lips. Lay the framework for simple veterinarian checks and other handling when he’s an adult by making grooming a rewarding experience full with praise and incentives.
Check your pet’s feet, nose, mouth, eyes, and skin for sores, rashes, or infection-related symptoms including redness, soreness, or inflammation when you groom them. Clear eyes without any redness or discharge are ideal. You may identify any health issues early on thanks to your thorough weekly exam.
Rough Collie Training
The Rough Collie is not a “training addict” like certain other Collie or pastoral dog types, and while they will love working with their owner, they are not unduly demanding as long as the fundamentals are taught and maintained and positive reinforcement methods are employed. The Rough Collie is content to do whatever you are doing, just like when you exercise. Whatever the task, working with their person is what they like most.
Consider Clarence, a Rough Collie. Clarence spent his days chasing after cats, kids (who were easier to herd than cats! ), and adults in order to herd them all into place. In reality, after he had gathered everyone in one place, Clarence would cease herding. Since he knew where everyone was, he felt most at ease when the family ate together at the table.
Clarence tried to gather the entire family into the dining room whenever Mom or Dad entered the kitchen since he was so intelligent. He would either bark outside the door or scratch until they opened it if the kids were in their rooms with the doors closed (which was frequently the case due to his nipping habit). Clarence believed he had completed his task, but doing it out of irritation simply encouraged the habit!
Clarence would calm down and start watching them once everyone had been herded into the designated space. He would take immediate action, barring or barking at anyone who appeared to be about to leave. The family quickly became frustrated with this conduct.
After learning about and witnessing the relationships between the family and Clarence, we came up with a strategy to promote peaceful coexistence among all parties by utilizing dog-natural communication methods and behavioral principles. We gave the family activities to work on with Clarence to reinforce the idea that they were the ones making the decisions, not him, and we taught them how to “speak dog,” explain leadership principles, and do so.
Clarence’s herding tendency needed to be satisfied, so we created a game utilizing their huge, enclosed backyard: one person would kick soccer balls around the yard, and Clarence would herd them into a designated spot. He has innate talent! We were able to immediately alter Clarence’s behavior by carrying out this strategy consistently (a tenet of any dog training method). The family was relieved that they could stop worrying about getting their heels nipped, and Clarence was content.
Rough Collies are great dogs for families and adults who lead busy lifestyles, but they can have some rough edges due to their energy and herding nature. Get in touch with your neighborhood Bark Busters® trainer if your Rough Collie has some troublesome areas. He or she can assist in resolving them so that, like Clarence, you may have a wonderful relationship based on respect, trust, understanding, and love.
Best Family Dog Breeds
Although it is ideal with older, more mature kids since they might be sensitive to noise and family disturbance, the Rough Collie can make a nice family dog.
Even though it’s common knowledge that dogs get along well with kids, all dogs and kids need to learn how to get along and stay safe while they’re together. Still, caregivers should always oversee any interactions between small children and dogs and never leave them alone together.