Rough Collie

No breed causes so much consternation to buyers and those giving breed information as the collie. People tend to have a fixed idea of the type of collie they want, be it Rough, Smooth, Border, Old English or Bearded; and, having written to enquire about a collie, they expect the recipient of their letter to be on the same wavelength. If it's a dog like the film star 'Lassie' that you want, you arethinking of a Rough Collie, sometimes erroneously called a Scottish Collie; the Sheltie, or Shetland, is a 'Lassie' in miniature

The Rough Collie makes an Ideal family pet, being biddable, affectionate and loyal. It is hardy and, despite its thick coat, relatively simple to groom.

Origin and history

The Rough Collie is generally spoken of as a Scottish breed. In fact, its ancestors were introduced into England and Scotland from Iceland 400 years ago. But It was as guardians of the flock that they acquired their name In Scotland, where sheep with black faces and legs were known as colleys. Queen Victoria kept a Rough Collie at Balmoral in 1860, and in the same year a breed member was exhibited in a Birmingham show.

Rough Collie Puppies

Good points

Affectionate
Easily trained
Excellent pet
Loves children
Loyal

Take heed

Not keen on strangers

Size

Height at shoulder dog 22-24in (56-61cm); bitch 20-22in (51-56cm). Weight: dog 45-651b (20.5-29.5kg); bitch 40-551b (18.1-25kg).

Exercise

Normal daily exercise with off-thelead runs when possible.

Rough Collie Information

General appearance

The Rough Collie should instantly appeal as a dog of great beauty, standing with impassive dignity with no part out of porportion to the whole.

Colour

Sable and white, tric%ur and blue merle. (1) Sable - any shade from light gold to rich mahogany or shaded sable. (2) Tricolour - predominantly black with rich tan markings about the legs and head. (3) Blue merle predominantly clear, silvery blue, splashed and marbled with black.

Head and skull

The head properties are of great importance and must be considered in proportion to the size of the dog. When viewed from the front or the side, the head bears a general resemblance to a well-blunted, clean wedge, being smooth in outline. Whatever the colour of the dog, the nose definitely must be black.

Body

Firm, hard and muscular. The shoulders are well sloped, and behind them the ribs are well rounded. The chest is deep, extending to the elbows.

Tail

Should be long with the bone reaching at least to the hock joint. To be carried low when the dog is quiet but with a slight upward swirl at the tip. It may be carried gaily when the dog is excited but not over the back.

Feet

Should be oval in shape with soles well padded, toes arched and close together. The hindfeet slightly less arched.

Rough Collie Feeding & Grooming

Grooming

Frequent brushing. Don't be afraid to vacuum clean with the smallest brush, if it gets muddy. But get the dog accustomed to the noise of the machine first.

Feeding

Recommended would be 20-330z (587-936g) of a branded, meaty product with biscuit added, or 3-5 cupfuls of a dry food, complete diet, mixed in the proportion of 1 cup of feed to 1/2 cup of hot or cold water.