Rough Collie

A Rough Collie’s mane has an air of elegance about it, thanks to the Victorians. While the earliest ancestors of the breed might have arrived with the Romans, it was Queen Victoria and her daughter-in-law Queen Alexandra who were devoted to Collies. Queen Victoria loved Smooth Collies and Queen Alexandra kept Rough Collies. She’s responsible for the popularity of the breed, developing it into the glamorous companion it is today.

Rough Collie owners need to enjoy grooming just as much as they do taking their pup out and about. Ideally, owners are experienced ones who live in the suburbs or rural areas and who have secure backyards. They are good family dogs but do best with those with no children or older children.

The Rough Collie breed is not a particularly demanding dog when it comes to exercise despite its size. They do well with about an hour of walking a day, some free running, and playtime. More likely, they’re interested in whatever their owner or family is up to, so trips to restaurants, family hikes, or the farmers market will keep them busy and happy.

Set your Rough Collie up for success with a reasonably large home for this reasonably large dog. A large, secured yard is ideal, or access to lots of walks. Like your friends in their 40s, they enjoy a quiet suburban or country life over a city one, as frequent noises can be distressing.

Like an 80s hair band member, the Rough Collie’s mane takes frequent grooming. Its double coat consists of a hard outer coat and a softer, more dense undercoat. This hair pattern requires daily brushing to keep it clean and tidy, plus more involved weekly groomings to prevent matting around the elbows, chest, ears, and stomach. Professional grooming might be required to blast out any excess undercoat.

Some Collie breeds have a reputation for being addicted to training, but the Rough Collie isn’t one of them. They enjoy training and working with their owners, but they are not overly demanding students. They’re just happy to be along for whatever their owner is up to. They do well with the basics and love positive reinforcement.

Rough Collies make good family dogs, although they do best with families with older children or no children. They can be sensitive to chaos, and small children might be stressful for them.

The cost of a Rough Collie from a breeder is significantly more than the cost of adopting one from a local shelter or rescue. The adoption fee usually covers additional items such as spaying or neutering, vaccines, and microchipping.