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Graceful, swift and strong, the Collie has been a favourite of shepherds in Scotland and England for centuries. A highly intelligent and protective breed, the Collie is particularly affectionate with children, making him a loving family dog. There are two varieties: The Rough-Coated Collie has a beautiful, long coat, and the Smooth-Coated Collie has a short, dense coat. Both types need moderate exercise.
DID YOU KNOW? The earliest illustrations of Collies are found in The History of Quadrupeds by Thomas Beswick dated around 1800. Queen Victoria kept Collies at Balmoral Castle in Scotland, sparking interest in the breed among the wealthy elite. The Collie was made famous in the 1950s on the television show “Lassie.”
ALSO KNOWN AS: Rough Collie, Smooth Collie, Border Collie
| Lifespan: | 14 – 16 years |
| Weight: | Males should weigh around 27-34kg and females a little less at 23-30kg |
| Height: | Males stand 56-61cm tall and 51-56cm for females |
| Colours: | Sable, sable and white, tricolour and blue merle |
| Size: | Large |
| UK Kennel Club Groups: | Pastoral |
| Family-friendly: | 5/5 |
| Exercise needs: | 3/5 |
| Easy to train: | 4/5 |
| Tolerates being alone: | 2/5 |
| Likes other pets: | 4/5 |
| Energy level: | 3/5 |
| Grooming needs: | 3/5 |
| Shedding: | 5/5 |
Friendly and affectionate with family and those known or introduced as friends, the Rough Collie bonds closely and is a loyal companion. Inclined to bark to alert to the presence of strangers, the Rough Collie can make a good watch dog, but will back down quickly when asked to do so, as they are not inclined towards aggression.
Rough Collies are quick learners and will thrive when both their bodies and minds are kept exercised and entertained.
Country of Origin: Scotland
The early ancestors of the Rough Collie are thought to have arrived with the Romans, around 2000 years ago. Originally shorter in both leg and nose, the Rough Collie is thought to have had some influence from the Borzoi, known for its elongated, chiselled head, though exactly when this occurred is unclear.
Queen Victoria was instrumental in popularizing the Collie, however it was the Smooth variant she kept herself. Later, Queen Alexandra kept Rough Collies, and it is likely she who is responsible for the popularity of the breed in the show ring and the development of the more glamorous appearance of the breed today.
As with many dog breeds the Rough Collie can suffer from various hereditary eye disorders, and hip dysplasia (a condition that can lead to mobility problems). Eye testing and hip scoring of dogs prior to breeding is therefore important.
The Rough Collie is not a particularly demanding dog when it comes to dog exercise, around an hours walking per day, some play and free running and general involvement in family activities is provided. More will be happily accepted if you can offer it, this is a dog who wants to be with their family, whatever they are doing.
This is a reasonably large dog, with a heavy coat, so not ideally suitable for the tiny home. A reasonably sized house and secure garden, with access to a variety of rural walks will suffice. Better suited to quiet suburbs or countryside living as the Rough Collie will alert to all manner of noises, and may find cities and busy towns too noisy and frantic.
Large breed dogs, as well as having large appetites, benefit from a different balance of nutrients including minerals and vitamins compared to smaller-breed dogs. Rough Collies may be prone to bloating and stomach problems; smaller, more frequent meals can help minimise this risk. Discover more about how to offer your dog a balanced diet with our easy-to-follow guide.
The Rough Collie has a double coat, a hard outer coat and a dense soft undercoat. This requires daily brushing to keep clean and tidy and a more thoroughly weekly groom to prevent matting around elbows, chest, behind the ears and in the trousers and knicker regions.
Professional grooming to blast out excess undercoat and provide a full bath and dry might be required if you do not have the facilities to do this at home. Find out more about dog grooming and daily care with our article.
Unlike some of other Collie or pastoral dog types, the Rough Collie is not a ‘training junkie’ and although they will enjoy working with their owner, is not overly demanding as long as the basics are taught and maintained and positive reinforcement methods used. As with exercise, the Rough Collie is happy to do whatever you are doing. Their enjoyment lies in working with their person, whatever the activity may be.
The Rough Collie can make a good family dog – although is better with older more sensible children as they can be sensitive to noise and family chaos!
While many dogs are traditionally thought of as being good with children, all dogs and children need to be taught to get on with each other and be safe together. Even so, dogs and young children should never be left alone together and adults should supervise all interactions between them.
