Rough Collie
🧠 Temperament & character
The Rough Collie is gentle, friendly and very sensitive. He is exceptionally people-oriented, easy to train and shows practically no aggression. Towards children and the family he is patient and affectionate, while with strangers he tends to be reserved. His balanced, sensitive nature makes him a wonderful family companion, though he copes poorly with a harsh tone.
📜 Origin & history
The Collie comes from the Scottish Highlands, where it herded flocks of sheep for centuries. Queen Victoria fell in love with the breed in the 19th century and made it popular throughout Great Britain. The Rough Collie finally became world-famous through the 'Lassie' books and films, which portrayed it as a loyal, clever hero. The former working dog thus became a popular family and companion dog.
✂️ Grooming, care & training
The long, lavish coat with its dense mane and undercoat is high-maintenance: regular, thorough brushing several times a week is needed to prevent matting — especially during the moult. In terms of exercise the Collie is moderate: daily walks, play and mental stimulation are enough for him. As a clever, willing-to-learn dog he is well suited to dog sports such as obedience or dog dancing. He learns best with patience and friendly motivation.
🩺 Health
The Rough Collie has a life expectancy of around 12 to 14 years. Typical of the breed are Collie Eye Anomaly (CEA) and the MDR1 gene defect, which can cause severe drug intolerance. Reputable breeders have the eyes examined and consistently test for MDR1. With these preventive examinations, the Collie is overall a robust, long-lived breed.
🏡 Who is this breed right for?
The Rough Collie is an excellent family dog and suits people looking for a gentle, sensitive companion who are happy to take on the demanding coat care. He gets on very well with children and, thanks to how easy he is to handle, is also suitable for first-time owners. With enough exercise he does fine in both a house and an apartment. Anyone looking for an affectionate, easy-going and beautiful dog makes a good choice with the Collie.