The Rough Collie is a medium-sized dog native to Great Britain. It originally comes from Scotland, where it used to be valued primarily as a reliable companion for shepherds. Although the Smooth Collie, as the breed is called in English-speaking countries, is quite rare, it is an excellent family dog that even beginners can get along with.
Key facts at a glance:
- FCI: Group 1, Section 1, Standard No. 296 (without working test)
- Life expectancy: 12 to 15 years
- Origin: Great Britain (Scotland)
- Size: males 56-61 cm / females 51-56 cm
- Weight: Males 20.5 – 29.5 kg / females 18 – 25 kg
- Colors: sable, tricolor, blue-merle
- Character: friendly, cheerful, attentive, affectionate, sensitive
Origin and history of the Rough Collie
The origins of the Rough Collie probably go back to the 13th century. There is evidence that shepherd dogs already existed in Scotland at this time. The sheep the dogs guarded are referred to as colleys. Their herding dogs were accordingly named Colley Dogs, which was later eventually changed to Collie.
For a long time, the Smooth Collie was found almost exclusively in its actual homeland, where it was used not only to drive and herd the herds, but also as a watchdog.
Unlike its long-haired relative, the Rough Collie has never developed into a real fashion dog. He only found his way to Germany in the early 1960s. Since then it has certainly gained popularity with us. Nevertheless, the Rough Collie is still rather rare. In Britain, even today, it is still one of the endangered breeds.
Description of the Smooth Collie
The Smooth Collie can live up to 15 years. His physique is lean and balanced, but at the same time indicates strength and endurance. Compared to the Rough Collie, however, it seems a bit more robust, which is also noticeable in the form of a higher body weight.
Males reach a weight of up to 29.5 kilograms and a maximum shoulder height of 61 centimeters. Bitches are slightly smaller and lighter with a maximum weight of 25 kilos and a shoulder height of no more than 56 centimetres.
The Rough Collie’s head is characterized by a long, narrow snout. Nevertheless, he has a strong dentition with teeth of good size. Its almond-shaped, slightly slanted eyes give it a lovely expression.
The Rough Collie’s fur is short with a hard top coat and a dense undercoat. According to the breed standard, the three colors sable, blue merle and tricolor are allowed. In all variants, white markings of varying degrees of severity are permitted.
Nature of the Rough Collie
Rough Collies are known for their extremely sensitive nature. On the one hand, this makes them a particularly easy dog breed to train, but on the other hand there is a risk that they will remember negative experiences particularly well.
When training a Rough Collie, it is therefore very important to ensure that it is treated lovingly right from the start and to offer the sensitive four-legged friend sufficient positive experiences as part of the training.
If a Rough Collie is treated well by its owner, it develops into an affectionate everyday companion who pays a lot of attention to its owner and also proves to be extremely patient when dealing with children.
Possible areas of application for the Rough Collie
The Smooth Collie is ideal as a family and companion dog. Due to his friendly nature and his docility, he is also a good choice for beginners in dog ownership.
However, it is important to take into account the high physical activity of active dogs and to ensure that they are mentally and physically challenged. Various dog sports, such as obedience, agility or Treibball, are very suitable for this purpose.
Apart from that, the smooth collie is also suitable for training as a protection dog or as a guide dog. He masters both areas of responsibility very reliably and with great attention.
Rough Collie Diseases
Although the Rough Collie is a strong and active dog, there are several health issues that they are susceptible to that owners should be aware of.
In particular, the following diseases can occur in the Rough Collie:
- Collie Eye Anomaly (a congenital eye disease that affects vision and can lead to blindness)
- MDR1 defect (common gene defect that causes hypersensitivity to certain drugs)
Additionally, like other medium to large dogs, there is some risk of developing hip dysplasia as well as experiencing torsion. In order to protect yourself against high costs in the event of a serious illness in your Rough Collie, we recommend that you take out dog health insurance
The famous long-haired relative of the Rough Collie
The collie is bred not only in a short-haired, but also in a long-haired version. The Rough Collie, which is also recognized as a separate breed, closely resembles the Rough Collie. However, he has a longer coat and a slimmer build.
In addition, the Rough Collie is much better known than the Smooth Collie and is also more widespread as a family and companion dog. The Rough Collie Lassie as the main character in numerous books and films may have contributed at least in part to this.