Rough CollieCharacteristics, history, training and care

Rough Collie. · WisewynD / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0. Cropped and resized.

The Rough Collie is a large, elegant Scottish herding dog with a very abundant coat, a mane and a wedge-shaped head. It is identical to the Smooth Collie apart from the length of its coat. The standard describes it as friendly, with no trace of nervousness or aggression, cheerful, active and good with children and other dogs.

Quick facts

Common name	Rough Collie (Long-haired Collie)
Scientific name	Canis lupus familiaris
Country of origin	United Kingdom
Official recognition	FCI, definitively since 13 April 1955 (group 1, sheepdogs; standard no. 156); also recognised by the AKC
Lifespan	12–14 years, according to the AKC
Size (males)	56–61 cm at the withers; 27–34 kg according to the AKC
Size (females)	51–56 cm at the withers; 23–29 kg according to the AKC
Coat type	Very dense, with a straight, harsh topcoat and a soft undercoat
Common colours	Sable, tricolour, blue merle
Energy level	Moderate
Suited to an apartment?	Only with plenty of exercise
Temperament	Friendly, cheerful, active, good with children
Tendency to aggression	Very low
Good with children	Very good
Good with other animals	Good
Genetic predispositions	Collie eye anomaly, bloat

Primary category:Dog breeds
Explore this animal's categories:
British dog breeds Dog breeds Dog breeds for first-time owners Dog breeds good with children Large dog breeds Shepherd and herding dog breeds

History and origin

The FCI standard says the breed is believed to descend from dogs brought to Scotland by the Romans, crossed with local dogs. The Rough Collie is the refined version of the old working collie of the Scottish shepherd, selectively bred for at least a hundred years.

Wikipedia says that after Queen Victoria bought a Rough Collie, seen at Balmoral Castle, the breed became fashionable. Breeding for shows changed its appearance considerably.

How the breed developed

Antiquity – The Romans bring dogs to Scotland.
19th century – Queen Victoria makes the breed fashionable.
13 April 1955 – The FCI recognises the breed.
1954–1973 – The “Lassie” series makes the breed famous worldwide.

Breed rating

Feature	Stars
Training and intelligence	★★★★☆
Easy to train	★★★★☆
Intelligence	★★★★☆
Independence	★★☆☆☆
Stubbornness	★★★☆☆
Behaviour and temperament	★★★★☆
Affectionate with family	★★★★☆
Friendly with children	★★★★★
Good with other dogs	★★★☆☆
Good with cats and other animals	★★★☆☆
Loyalty	★★★★★
Tendency to be aggressive	★☆☆☆☆
Tendency to bark	★★★★★
Needs and care	★★★☆☆
Shedding	★★★☆☆
Needs frequent grooming	★★★☆☆
Activity and lifestyle	★★★☆☆
Energy level	★★★☆☆
Daily exercise needs	★★★★☆
Suited to apartment life	★★☆☆☆
Health and longevity	★★★★☆
Life expectancy	★★★★☆
Predisposition to genetic diseases	★★★☆☆
Working abilities and uses	★★★☆☆
Good herding dog	★★★★☆
Good companion dog	★★★★★

Indicative rating: 5 stars means the highest level. It is based on the ratings the American Kennel Club gives the breed and on the FCI standard.

Physical characteristics

The AKC describes it as a large but lithe herding dog, 56–66 cm tall, with one of the most spectacular coats in the dog world.

General appearance

The head, seen from the front or in profile, resembles a well-blunted wedge, with a smooth outline. The coat follows the shape of the body and is very dense: the topcoat is straight and harsh, and the undercoat soft and very tight. The mane and frill are very abundant, and the tail is profusely coated.

Feature	Rough Collie
Size	Large
Height at the withers	males: 56–61 cm; females: 51–56 cm
Weight	males: 27–34 kg; females: 23–29 kg (AKC)
Coat	Very dense, with a mane
Head	Like a blunted wedge
Tail	Profusely coated

The accepted colours are sable (from light gold to dark mahogany), tricolour and blue merle, usually with white markings.

Training and socialisation

The standard describes it as having a friendly disposition, with no trace of nervousness or aggression: a wonderful companion, friendly, cheerful and active, good with children and other dogs.

The AKC says it is very bright and easy to train and enjoys learning. It responds best to positive methods and excels at obedience, agility and herding.

Tips for effective training

Use positive methods. The AKC says it responds best to them.
Go to puppy classes. For socialisation and training.
Teach it not to bark at everything. The AKC gives it the top score for barking.
Try dog sports. It excels at obedience and agility.

Activity needs and lifestyle

The AKC says it is usually fairly active and needs regular exercise: aerobic activity, the chance to run and play, fetch, a fenced yard and daily walks. It should not be left alone in the yard.

Activity	How often	Why it matters
Walks	daily	Exercise
Running and fetch	several times a week	Aerobic exercise
Obedience or agility	weekly	It enjoys learning

Tips for a balanced life

It suits families with children.
Do not isolate it in the yard.
Set aside time for brushing.

Care and health

Coat and skin care

The AKC says the long coat must be groomed to stop it tangling, especially behind the ears and at the elbows, and to remove the shedding undercoat. A weekly brush right down to the skin solves the problem.

Common health problems

The AKC says it is a healthy, robust breed with an average life expectancy of 12 years. Puppies should have their eyes checked at 6 to 8 weeks for:

Condition	Description	Common symptoms
Collie eye anomaly	Hereditary eye disease	From no visible problem to poor eyesight
Gastric dilatation-volvulus (bloat)	The stomach fills with gas and may twist; this is a veterinary emergency	Swollen belly, trying to vomit without success, drooling, restlessness

Other care

Ask for the puppy's eye check.
Brush its teeth regularly.
Go for annual check-ups.

Diet and nutrition

The AKC says it does well on good-quality food, especially meat-based, and that there is a risk of bloat.

Tips for a healthy diet

The table gives a starting estimate, calculated with the formula from the Merck Veterinary Manual. The first two calorie columns show the calories per day for a healthy adult dog. The last column shows what this means in dry food with 3,500–4,000 kcal per kilogram.

Dog's weight	Calories per day (neutered)	Calories per day (not neutered)	Dry food per day (approximate)
23 kg	1,180 kcal	1,320 kcal	300–380 g
28 kg	1,360 kcal	1,530 kcal	340–440 g
34 kg	1,580 kcal	1,770 kcal	400–510 g

Split the food into two meals a day to reduce the risk of bloat.
Do not let it run right after a meal.
A dog is at the right weight when you can feel its ribs under the coat without pressing hard.

Foods to avoid

Some human foods are dangerous for dogs: chocolate, coffee, grapes and raisins, onions, garlic, xylitol (a sweetener used in chewing gum), macadamia nuts and alcohol.

Reproduction and development

Physical and emotional maturity

In dogs, sexual maturity usually comes between 6 and 12 months, but in large breeds it can be delayed until about two years. The body also reaches its adult form later than in small breeds.

Mating and pregnancy

Pregnancy lasts about 63 days, counted from ovulation. Mating a female on her first heat is not recommended. The FCI standard requires that only healthy dogs of typical breed appearance are used for breeding.

Caring for the puppies

In large breeds, a litter has around 7 puppies on average. Socialisation starts in the first weeks: gentle handling, everyday noises and new people.

Interesting facts

Lassie. The most famous Collie in films and TV series.
The Queen's dog. Queen Victoria made the breed fashionable.
Only the coat differs. It is identical to the Smooth Collie, except for the coat.
Roman ancestors. It is believed to come from dogs brought to Scotland by the Romans.
Easy to train. The AKC says it enjoys learning.

In popular culture

Lassie

Wikipedia says Lassie was played by a line of Rough Collies belonging to Rudd Weatherwax, which appeared in numerous films, several TV series and a radio programme. The “Lassie” series ran from 1954 to 1973.