Rough Collie

Rough Collie

The Rough Collie is a breed of dog developed originally for herding in Scotland. It is also well known because of the works of author Albert Payson Terhune, and was popularized in later generations by the Lassie novel, movies, and television shows. There is also a smooth-coated variety; some breed organizations consider the smooth-coat and rough-coat dogs to be variations of the same breed.

History

For centuries the Rough Coated Collie was hardly known outside Scotland, but it is now one of the world's most popular breeds. Descended from generations of hard- working herding dogs, it is a conscientious creature of immense intelligence.
They are used as water rescue dogs and have served man as sheepdogs for centuries, guarding and herding flocks.
The breed's name probably comes from its charge; the Scottish black-faced sheep called the Colley.
Early Rough Collies were smaller, with broader heads and shorter muzzles.
The Collie is so intelligent that he has been trained for many purposes, as a rescue dog, guide for the blind, movie star, and as a guard dog.
Queen Victoria kept Collies at Balmoral Castle in Scotland and her interest launched the breed's subsequent popularity. J.P. Morgan and other members of the upper class have owned Collies.
At this point Collies were mixed with the Borzoi, and *ALL* show dogs had to have the Borzoi influence for them to win in the show ring.
The working dogs separated, branched out and became the different breeds (with the Scotch Collie remaining) and the show type became what we see now, the large dogs with flatter faces.
The Collies great beauty has made them a favorite show dog and family companion.
The Smooth Collie is more popular as a companion dog in Great Britain than in the United States, though he is gaining popularity in the U.S. today.
The Smooth Collie is the same as the Rough Collie, but without the long coat.
The AKC considers the Rough and Smooth Collies as varieties of the same breed.
They are judged by the same standard with the exception of the coat. The first Collie was presented at a dog show in 1860.

Appearance

A lovely, active, and agile, long-coated sheepdog made famous by the movie star, Lassie. The lean, blunted, wedge-shaped head gives an impression of lightness. The top of the head is flat.
The face is chiseled. The long, smooth, well-rounded, blunt muzzle tapers to a black nose.
The ears are 3/4 erect with the tips folding forward.
The eyes are almond-shaped and dark except in the case of blue merles that may have blue or merle eyes.
The trim, but muscular, body is slightly longer than it is tall. The chest is strong and fairly wide.
The tailbone hangs down to the dog's hocks. In the Rough variety, an abundant double coat forms a mane around the neck and chest.
The coat needs regular weekly grooming to look its best.
The Smooth variety has a one-inch coat that needs very little grooming.
With both varieties the hair on the head and legs is short and smooth. They both come in sable and white, tri-color (black, white & tan), blue merle or predominantly white with sable, tri-color or blue merle markings.
Three different Collie colours (from left to right): blue merle, pale sable and black tricolour
Height, Weight
Height :Dogs 24-26 inches (61-66cm.) Bitches 22-24 inches (56-61cm.)
Weight:Dogs 60-75 pounds (27-34kg.) Bitches 50-65 pounds (23-29kg.)

Temperament

A noble, highly intelligent dog.
Sensitive, sweet, kind, easy to train and loyal. Usually good with other pets and friendly with other dogs.
Very devoted to and protective of his loved ones. One Collie travelled 2000 miles to find his family after he became lost.
Collies have received the Ken-L-Ration Hero Dog award 5 times. An excellent children's companion, playful and gentle. Without a firm, but calm, confident and consistent owner who sets the rules and sticks to them, they can become willful, stubborn and indolent.
This breed should be trained gently, but with an air of authority or he will refuse to cooperate.
Some exhibit herding behavior as puppies, nipping at people's heels and need to be taught not to herd humans.
Adult dogs generally outgrow this behavior if you are consistant with them.
Collie puppies house train quickly, generally in about a week (after about 10-12 weeks old).
They are good-natured, friendly, dogs. They are energetic outdoors. Socialize them well to prevent them from becoming wary of strangers. It has a fairly good sense of protectiveness for its master, especially for children. They are not aggressive, but they do tend to be suspicious of people they do not like.
Daily pack walks are important.

Health

While Rough Collies are generally resilient and healthy, there are some health issues that can affect the breed.
Collie eye anomaly (CEA), a genetic disease which causes improper development of the eye and possible blindness, is a common ailment in the breed. More rarely, Collies can be affected by Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA), another genetic disease in which bilateral degeneration of the retina results in progressive vision loss culminating in blindness.
Through genetic testing and careful screening program it would be theoretically possible to eradicate both of these problems in purebred lines, however, certainly in the UK, the Kennel Club does not require these tests to be done either for registration or showing.
Some people claim that the problem is made worse with the less rigid breeding standards of home breeders and puppy mill breeders.
Collie puppies should be screened at an early age by a certified veterinary ophthalmologist to check for both of these problems.
Note, the UK Kennel Club "Accredited Breeder Scheme" requires eye tests and recommends the genetic test for this class of members, however, a very small proportion of UK registered puppies are bred under this scheme.
Canine cyclic neutropenia is a cyclic blood disorder that is usually fatal to affected puppies.
The disease is also referred to as "gray collie syndrome," due to affected puppies having a pale gray, pinkish/gray or beige coloring, none of which are normal Collie colors.
Puppies that survive through adulthood are plagued with immune disorders throughout their lives and rarely live more than a three years.
DNA testing can help detect carriers of the recessive gene that causes the disease.
Hip dysplasia: As with most of the larger breeds, hip dysplasia is a potential concern for Rough Collies.
Although this disease appears to be "multigene", careful selection by many breeders is reducing this problem.
The UK Kennel Club "Accredited Breeder Scheme" requires hip-scores this class of members, however, a very small proportion of UK registered puppies are bred under this scheme.
Collies may carry a mutant Mdr1 gene that results in a sensitivity to Ivermectin and related drugs. A screening test is used to determine if alternative medications are required. Overdoses from the proscribed medications can result in neurological imparement or even death. This faulty gene is present in several breeds, but is well known among collies.
Living Conditions
The Collie will dog okay in an apartment as long as they are sufficiently exercised. They are relatively inactive indoors and do best with at least an average-sized yard. Sensitive to the heat.
Provide plenty of shade and fresh water in warm weather.
Life Expectancy:- About 14-16 years
Famous Rough Collies

• Lad, the main hero of Albert Payson Terhune's early 20th century novels about his Sunnybank Collies.

• Lassie, a line of Collies originally owned by Rudd Weatherwax that have starred in numerous films, multiple television series, a radio program, and has been the subject of various novels and non-fiction works. One of the few animal actors to have a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

• Pal, the first Collie to portray Lassie and from whom the Lassie line is descended.
• Ch. Laund Loyalty of Bellhaven, a nine-month-old Rough Collie who is the youngest dog to ever win the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show.
• Reveille VII, the mascot of Texas A&M University.
• Colleen, a collie from London (voiced by Tress MacNeille) on Road Rovers.
• Wilson, a Collie who appears in the Japanese manga series Ginga: Nagareboshi Gin.
• The helpful Collie, from 101 Dalmatians. He leads Pongo, Perdita and the puppies into the safety of a dairy farm somewhere in Hertfordshire county.
• Sam, Martin Riggs' dog who appears in every movie from the Lethal Weapon franchise.
• Rob Roy and Prudence Prim, famous snow white Collies owned by President Calvin and First Lady Gracie Coolidge.
• Laddie a parody of Lassie on The Simpsons episode Canine Mutiny